Thank you, onealaskan, for a respectful and thoughtful comment. I wonder what your "over time" statement is about, however. 

Watching our credit ratings fall, our savings account depleted and our way forward stalled...not to mention a few years wallowing in this quagmire...how much longer can we afford to wait? Until schools close, agencies collapse, mass emigration...until we look like Northern Alabama? 

It would be easier in a way...lots of letters get missent due to the AK-AL confusion...stay on our tack and we'll be in the same State!