For once, you ask something nicely without sneering. I appreciate that, Kon. I have, indeed, considered running for office. I've reached the point that the sickness in Juneau is so revolting to me I'd be willing to enter the Swamp (as per The Donald) and wrestle with the alligators. Ran into 3 problems right off the bat. Working all day, paying the bills, takes a lot of time. Being poor makes for a daily struggle, with little money left over for a campaign. But the BIG one was this: watching people enter the political arena, good people with good ideas, honestly wanting to help Alaska, and they can't even get through the primaries because people are too scared to vote for someone new. They blindly pull the lever for Same 'Ol Joe because, "dad-gummit, I can't take the chance (fill in the blank) will win if I *waste my vote*, so gotta vote for Joe! gotta keep (fill in the blank) out!" 

And Joe has a lot of ca$h to buy his seat again. Wasn't our last election the most expensive ever?