‘There’s no tomorrow without people,’ Dunleavy says

Gov. Mike Dunleavy populated his State of the State speech with straw men and the word “people,” which he repeated 40 times.

For a moment there I though he would start crooning a Barbra Streisand standard and belt out, “People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world.”

Dunleavy didn't mention abortion or the right to privacy in Alaska, but that was part of the the unspoken message in his riff about people.

“You see, like many of you, I happen to like people and, more importantly, we need more people in Alaska. Not less. We need more people in our jobs. We need more people in our schools. We need more people who create wealth. We need more people solving Alaska’s problems and the world’s problems,” he said.

“We need more families achieving the American dream. People are not a nebulous abstract concept. People are what this is all about. Everything we do here is for the people or it should be. Government is about serving the people. And the people are why we’re here. The people of Alaska today and certainly the people of Alaska tomorrow.”

“That’s important to remember because there’s no tomorrow without people.”

Among his many straw men was the one who accepts abortion, hates children and hates families. Dunleavy made quick work of those who are anti-child and anti-family.

“I know this may sound strange to some, but we have to make it OK, we have to make it OK again to have families, to put a family together and have children,” he said.

“With new revenue from our carbon initiative we can enact policies that are welcoming to kids and families,” he said. “For Alaska to compete for the next 50 years we need to be a place where families want to be.”

At this point, had Dunleavy been serious about families, he would have mentioned that he would fight to put more resources into public education, from preschool to the University of Alaska.

He didn't. Instead, he whined about unidentified government policies that make young people think they have no future and there is no point in having kids.

Enter another straw man, this one calling for the end of humanity and claiming that kids are a burden.

“We’ve been fed a narrative over the years that ultimately, conclusively, if followed to its logical conclusion, leads to our own demise. We’ve been fed a false narrative that you can have it all, as long as you don’t have children and maybe a family. I believe that doesn’t have to be. I reject that narrative. You’ll see policies that come forth that reject that narrative as well.”

“Kids give us hope. They are the future. They give us something to live for beyond ourselves. Kids are a blessing they shouldn’t be viewed as a burden,” he said.

Inflation, housing costs, food and energy costs, are “making people think twice about growing their family or even starting one. Our policies should not be a disincentive to forming families and having children. But if we’re successful at our jobs, if we do what we’re here to do, we’re going to enact policies that reduce the cost of living in Alaska and make it affordable to raise a family and have children.”

He said he wants Alaska to lead the nation in jobs, education, qualify of life, affordable housing, economic opportunity and valuing families and children “from the moment of conception on.”

“That’s my goal and I hope it’s your goal as well. If it isn’t, then what’s the point? Why are we here? I believe we’re here to achieve this goal.”

“If this is truly about our children, then it really needs to be about children, supporting children, valuing children, valuing families and valuing each individual life.”

Rather than this laundry list of feel-good superlatives that will remain beyond reach, it would be better for the governor to fight for improved state services for families and children. Those are essential. Taxes and lower dividends are needed.

Let’s start with a specific promise from Dunleavy to put more resources into education, which is the key to creating better opportunities for children. Dunleavy has backed away from the issue, saying it’s up to the Legislature, exposing his people-pleasing pablum for what it is.

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