Comment: MA:  obviously you have never read the Economic And Workforce Development data about the resident and non-resident Workforce in Alaska.  Go read it for some facts before spouting off with your opinion.  Of course that assumes you value facts over opinion.  Regarding the 200,000 accepting the PFD, if the state is dumb enough to offer it, they are smart enough to take it.  Even you should understand that.  For starters there are only about 4000 non-residents workers on the slope.  Many of their jobs are high paying.  Better question to ask is why don't we have the qualified Alaskans to fill those positions?  Oil companies are about profit and minimizing expense.  It is cheaper to hire a local work force than pay for airfare etc, except that the work force has to be qualified and apparently not enough Alaskans are.  I'm not sticking it to anyone nor am I giving anyone a pass on paying for state services.  Regardless of how you or I characterize the PFD our characterizations are irrelevant