“…In Alaska, more than 92,000 people rely on SNAP…” (6,000 are on a waiting list because of the state’s self-imposed starvation budget…) See today’s ADN Article State again falls behind on processing food stamp benefits, creating new backlog for thousands of Alaskans

Ponder that… one in eight Alaskas rely on public assistance for their food. Paid for mainly by our friends and businesses in the lower 48 paying federal taxes to help subsidize our AK economy.

When will we wake up and acknowledge that our stagnant and declining economy is broken and serves those who have and leave too many camped out in our parks and begging administrators to process paperwork?

I’m rereading Ken Follett’s ‘Pillars of the Earth’ series. Life in 1000AD reads too much like life in Alaska, with elite classes enjoying and arguing over the land’s riches, building beautiful tall buildings (pipelines, fish plants, roads…), and leaving the rest of the people on the edge of survival.

The “Alaska Disconnect” is a real economic characterization of our broken economy (UAA/ISER) and a practical description of the lives of too many in our state.

One in eight on food stamps! And I have to assume many have given up, or don’t even know about the programs or have the capability to apply!

(If you’d like to help, reach out and donate food or money to Lutheran Social Services of Alaska and their food pantry. They can’t keep up and need our support. Thanks to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church and Dan Bollerud for their Beer and Hymns events that just raised another $13k recently to help LSSA.)

Ky

10/29/23 Poll: Many in US say household expenses are outpacing earnings. About 8 in 10 Americans say their overall household debt is higher or the same as it was a year ago.

10/29/23 My Facebook post on this topic is attracting a number of scam posts. I’m seeing some p-Ebt comment posts that appear to be an Instant Cash EBT Card Scam (06/26/23) “…There may be a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card scam asking people to signup for instant cash. This is not real. Any social media platform asking you to sign up to receive instant cash is fake. Do not click any links or give your information to anyone. If you are not sure, contact your local SNAP office…” Ky