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"Four Years Later" - Better or Worse for Alaskans?State largely unaffected by recessionRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Last night's vice presidential debate focused on how the economy has fared in the four years since Barack Obama was elected. But for Alaskans, the question of whether we're better off than four years ago has an answer that lies mostly outside of presidential politics. Says state economist Neal Fried: "We just have fundamentally a very different economy, you know, than the national average." The national political debate about the economy arguably has minimal relevance to Alaska. Vice President Joe Biden proclaimed: "We're in a situation where we inherited a god-awful circumstance. People are in real trouble. We acted to move to bring relief to the people who need the most help now." Paul Ryan, the Republican candidate, countered, "President Obama, he had his chance. He made his choices. His economic agenda: more spending, more borrowing, higher taxes, a government take-over of health care. It’s not working. It’s failed to create the jobs we need." But comparatively, jobs are not a particularly urgent matter in Alaska. Fried says there have never been more jobs here than there are now. "The fact is there are very few other states that can make that statement. I mean, the country is still at a huge deficit of jobs." Alaska’s stability comes in large part from North Slope oil production. "It's heavily price-driven. It was an increase in activity, as well, and employment, depending what years you look at. I mean, it's been fairly stable the last couple of years. But the price-driven, you know, has been -- last year we had $100 oil for the whole year. That’s never happened before." Federal spending in the stimulus package and through support of the military also has been a big factor, Fried said. Meanwhile, Alaska has reversed the longtime situation under which our employment rate has been higher than the national average. "I think the better way of looking at it is the national rate went above our rate, because that's how deep that recession was, more so than our rate dropped below theirs. Because ours also came up, because we have that interaction in our labor markets." But it's still a good time to be in Alaska. Four years ago, the average number of jobs during the year was 322,100. Last year, the average was estimated at 328, 800. 2012 data is still incomplete, of course. Despite the increase in jobs, the unemployment rate increased slightly, from 6.4 percent in 2008 to 7.6 percent last year, due to job-seekers from the Lower 48. But the rate is believed to be dropping this year.
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after 4 yrs of Parnell? said on Thursday, Oct 18 at 11:00 AM
uh we are paying more at the gas pumps while he attends churches to fund raise...how poetic...he avoids the inevitable in federal court to have to reinstate a HUGE account that he tried to launder to banks...You mean are Alaskans better off then 4 years ago? NO! Not by a long shot...thievery!!
104308431Robo said on Wednesday, Oct 17 at 7:38 PM
All I know is that Pres. Obama cost me over 4,000 in my IRA when he took over GM...stock became wothless...couldn't even write-off on taxes...thanks Mr. Prez, you saved the auto industry on the backs of the middle class that were invested in the market. The administration has broken law after law, and the media is silent...go figure, they are in the tank for Obama.
104213676TedtheBear said on Sunday, Oct 14 at 10:42 PM
Four years of President Obama and its a same old stuff. Nothing has change, nothing has been done, it same ol'politics as usual. I am not exactly sure who is worst...Bush or Obama. Tossing politics aside and the party line, I see totally no difference between the two. They are both incompetent.
103966601DC White boys hate Harvard Univeristy said on Sunday, Oct 14 at 2:20 PM
I know...isn't it ironic they bellow in their Bourbon in Washington DC about President Obama... so they are dissing Harvard University every time they diss the President...they hate Harvard? really?
103943841Anonymous said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 9:00 PM
After what the republicans did? no. but they have sabotaged the president because he is an educated black man...and they hate that and they hate him... that is the true reality of Washington dc...and those republicans are scheming every way they can!
103908096Fire said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 7:50 PM
Fire the writer of this tale so they can open their eyes. What bunk
103906285Don said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 2:37 PM
Oh treally, Lamestream makes up whatever they want. The oil production from the north slope has dropped. Obama wont allow any permits on federal lands for new drilling. Why was the PFD so low? fuel prices were higher in the last 4 than they have ever been, we are still US and we still have to pay for the debt from the last 4 years. Lamestream go back to bed
103895366guest said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 10:57 AM
'4 years later' better for Alaskans? What's a utter nonsense..
103885755errr said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 9:35 AM
So the gas prices being so high has nothing to do with Obama's economy, for commuters its gas or food. Gotta make the next check, plus our cost of living is enormous comparatively, groceries have went way up. fuel and groceries are accelerating faster than my pay raises and I have less money every month. Another big problem is student loan debt, 1-2 out of ten are involved in that and the interest is enormous, I may never get out from under the fed's thumb
103882166Old Timer said on Saturday, Oct 13 at 8:14 AM
More small business have gone bust. Maybe the big guys are doing better but if they are talking about the "middle class" we are sinking fast. I agree with "but" from yesterday, why are the food banks empty, why is the homeless rate going up if our "economy" is doing so good?
103878756Anonymous said on Friday, Oct 12 at 9:19 PM
I work with some people .they just begg boss don t give them full time job. That bother them get free gov money.they are very young.how sad !! What is Alaska future?
103858181Anonymous said on Friday, Oct 12 at 9:03 PM
How can be better?many Asian come live here make over ten babies .dont take full time job just for get gov food stamp.gov need change law . Don't make people used be greedy lazy way .
103857676But said on Friday, Oct 12 at 8:45 PM
Ok but credit card dept is sky rocketing in AK because everyone is doing so well, homeless rates are up, food pantries are empty, etc, etc. Something off or missing in this story. Unless the last line is the sum of all the other news stories.
103857251Clam Gulch Rich said on Friday, Oct 12 at 7:58 PM
'4 years later' better or worse for Alaskans? We should all praise God that Obama is not the Govenor of Alaska.
103855836Clam Gulch Rich said on Friday, Oct 12 at 7:55 PM
'4 years later' better or worse for Alaskans? I thank god everyday that Obama is not the Governor of Alaska.
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