Emperor's Rants and Observations

Alaska’s Assets in Sudan Targeted.

Lauren Tibbitts-Travis, a 16-year-old sophomore at the local high school, plans to use her Alaska Permanent Fund dividend to pay for college.

But she sees a problem — a problem of conscience.

“Who wants to go to college on blood money?” she said.

Tibbitts-Travis is among supporters of a bill two state lawmakers from Anchorage are sponsoring to force managers of the $38 billion Permanent Fund to dump the stocks of companies doing business in Sudan, the African country whose government has been blamed for genocidal killings in the Darfur region.

First off I’d like to offer a tip of the cap to the 16 year old young lady Lauren Tibbitts-Travis. Regardless whether we agree with her opinion or not, it’s gratifying to see young people like her engaged in our society. Too often the news we read about teens is of the bad variety. Nice reminder that there are still a lot of good kids out there.

The Sudan/Darfur situation is absolutely appalling which I think we all agree on. I don’t believe any of us would want to support the Sudan Government in the midst of this genocide. The US government already forbids US Companies from doing business in Sudan, so all we are talking about is a handful of foreign companies. Something I’m not too excited about anyway. 22 million out of 38 billion is a minuscule percentage (%0.0006 unless I fat fingered the calculator), so I don’t really buy the cost argument against dumping those stocks.

The real question is whether we want our Permanent Fund Managers to invest in a socially conscious manner. I know that Rep Gara has set the limit at “one genocide” but the truth of the matter is that if we start down that path, there is no way to put the genie back in the bottle. What if we find that we are investing in a company that is conducting stem cell research? Or a company that is using child labor? How about companies that do business in Iran or North Korea? Wouldn’t all those be considered good targets by some not to invest in? Or even my feeling about investing in any foreign company?

Other states are already investing in socially concious ways. For instance, a core group of state treasurers and controllers are moving their investments into environmentally friendly and clean tech funds, while thinking big about climate change.

I think it’s a discussion worth having, but I think we need to discuss the topic of “Socially Conscious Investing ” of the Permanent Fund, not just this one set of businesses doing business in Sudan.

adn.com | money : Governor gets a frosty reception from Mat Maid

“We can’t have a whole entourage waltzing through the dairy,” he said. “You just can’t do that unannounced like that and come in. I don’t care what anyone says. The fact is everybody is treated the same. I don’t care whoever you are.” Palin and the board, which oversees operation of Mat Maid, have been sparring over the decision to close the dairy.

…give me a minute while I compose myself. I have been having laughing fits everytime I think of the Good Queen P sitting in the lobby of a dairy waiting for permission to enter the STATE OWNED DAIRY. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny rite thar.

Ok. So where to go from there.

It really doesn’t make much sense to throw good money after bad. I’m sympathetic to the farmers and the employees of Mat Maid. It also concerns me because any disruption in the supply lines into the state like another Teamsters strike, and we could be without fresh dairy products which isn’t a good thing.

What can we do to keep the farmers and dairy in operation without wasting more money. What could be profitable?

Alaskan Premium Ice Cream.

HotLicks Homemade Ice Cream in Fairbanks has a proof of concept operation. We connect them with Authentic Alaskan Native Made Syrups and Alaska Wild Berry Products. We cut a deal with Princess Lodges and Tours to be the exclusive Ice Cream source for them. We get it into the finest restaurants around the state. We get it into the duty free stores wherever Alaska Airline flies. We package 1/2 pint sizes for sale on Alaska Airlines flights like they do with Alaskan Beer. Alaskans passion for Ice Cream is legendary. We should capitalize on that status and market our own brand of Premium Ice Cream. Let’s get this thing going, who do we contact at Made In Alaska, Alaska Grown (sell it at the farmers markets around the state) and Buy Alaska. Perhaps the Alaska Small Business Development Center can help develop a business plan and find investors or a loan. Are there any grants available for the Dairy Farmers that may help?

Perhaps we need to look at this as an opportunity rather than a problem. Clearly a new approach is needed, and trying to bully the creamery board didn’t work out so well. Perhaps an approach like Cooperative Community Marketing would work where we involve a wider circle of stake holders. It’s part of Alaska’s history, and is worth saving if we can. I’m ready to help if others are interested, you can email me.