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Rodney Dial: Earth 41, a cautionary tale (that could never happen here)

Editor’s note: What follows is the purelyย fictionalย story of Earth 41, located far away in a parallel universe.

By RODNEY DIAL

On Earth 41, the population has exceeded 7 billion and will soon reach 8 billion.ย ย Resources are being depleted and the environment is failing.ย The elites and global leaders have determined that the only way to save the earth is to dramatically reduce the population. ย Efforts to accomplish this task require years of planning and coordination.ย As part of this reset, the partial justification and โ€œnoble goalsโ€ include the end of wars, famine and poverty; a world without borders with peace and security for all.

Global leaders, realizing that a transition of this magnitude will throw the entire world into chaos, develop a plan to achieve these goals and control the process using a method called the Hegelian Dialectic; Problem-Reaction-Solution.   

  1. The government creates a problem and attributes blame to others.
  2. The people react by asking the government for protection and to solve the problem.
  3. The government then offers the solution that was planned by them long before the problem occurred. 
  4. Rights and liberties are exchanged for the illusion of safety and security.

Leaders of Earth 41, commit to the following: step one; a disease will be created of low lethality, for a โ€œvaccineโ€ that already exists[1].ย The โ€œvaccineโ€ being designed to confer limited protection to the recipient of the lab created disease; concealing the intended purpose.ย โ€œVaccineโ€ protection will function similar to sugar given to a child: an initial burst, followed by a dramatic crash.ย Vaccinated individuals will become more susceptible to immune system failure over time without regular boosters that the body will be trained to become dependent upon.ย 

On our earth, a fictional story, that could almost be seen asย โ€œpredictive programmingโ€ย occurred between 1993-99, in the television series Deep Space Nine (DS9).ย In the series, a mortal enemy of the good,ย โ€œThe Dominion,โ€ย threatens the galaxy.ย The Dominion, led by a group of leaders called the โ€œFounders,โ€ genetically modify the DNA of their working class called the Jemโ€™Hadar, to be physically reliant upon a substance called Ketracel-white.ย As long as they have this substance, they live. Without it they eventually die.ย ย ย 

As a result the Jemโ€™Hadar became dependent on โ€œThe Foundersโ€ for life and religiously follow any order given.

On Earth 41, the government soon reaches saturation of those who can be coerced into taking the immune damaging shot.ย Simultaneously, after nearly a year has passed, the effects of damaged immune systems become increasing difficult to hide from the citizens.

Like our earth, Earth 41 has a number of viral diseases that lay dormant in the nerve cells of the host, held at bay when the immune system is healthy.ย As Earth 41 distributed the โ€œvaccine,โ€ a resurgence of viruses such as shingles (from chicken pox) and herpes, appears as a side effect of the damage being caused to immune systems.ย The state-run media immediately dismisses this as a rare side effect and of no importance.ย ย 

The public becoming numb to the initial outbreak and increasingly aware of the inconsistency of governmental messaging is quickly moved into phase two.ย In this step, another pandemic will appear and be portrayed as random and unconnected to the original pandemic.ย This new monster will be calledโ€ฆ monkeypox.ย ย ย 

Monkeypox, nearly indistinguishable from smallpox, has now (from the publicโ€™s standpoint) jumped from being a โ€œrareโ€ disease confined to rural Africa to a worldwide concern.ย The elites know, and are counting upon, no one asking why the outbreak is limited in mostly unvaccinated Africa, but is suddenly running rampant in mostly vaccinated Europe.

The Elites know, that theย โ€œpoxโ€ย virus exists in most adults in dormant form[2], and count on the weakened immune systems of the vaccinated to allow this virus to present. Virtually everyone who contracts monkeypox is โ€œvaccinatedโ€ but the State-run media once again buries the information and labels it as fake news. Monkeypox produces painful sores on its victims and fear grows worldwide.

Because monkeypox is harder to transmit than the first virus, a plan is developed to increase the number of carriers to maximize the impact.ย Years prior, as part of this plan, over 100 million doses of smallpox vaccine (effective at preventing monkeypox) were stockpiled.ย ย ย This vaccine, called ACAM2000, was horded by the government in large quantities for seemingly no reason; considering that smallpox was declared eradicated in the 1980s.ย ย ย ย 

It was seen as quite a success that no one questioned why the government needed enough smallpox vaccine for nearly one third of the country.ย Unfortunately, ACAM2000 comes with known side effects and is not recommended for people who have โ€œweak immune systems.โ€ย ย ย ACAM2000 uses a mild strain in the same family as monkeypox and smallpox to confer immunity, however the mild strain can replicate in those with a weak immune system leading the host toย transmit the virus to others[3].

Earth 41 quickly declares monkeypox a pandemic and uses a group of its citizens known to be highly compliant in taking the first vaccine, as early adopters for the monkey pox vaccine.ย This group with already damaged immune systems is now used as carriers to spread the next pandemic.

As monkeypox grows, Earth 41 leaders declare an emergency.ย They say the virus has mutated and may possibly be airborne.ย New efforts are made to โ€œboostโ€ those who took the immune damaging vaccine, as well as push flu and monkeypox vaccines.ย Seemingly overnight, multiple pandemics are occurring at the same time.ย Additionally, by changing the official definition of what โ€œvaccinatedโ€ means; those not up to date with their vaccines are counted as unvaccinated, making it appear that a pandemic of the unvaccinated is taking place.

A segment of the population is vilified and blamed (Hegelian Dialectic), division grows, lockdowns, and restrictions are reimposed.

Over time, Earth 41 citizens become dependent upon regular boosters to live, their immune systems fail without support every six months or so.ย To hide their actions the Elite impose draconian penalties for the few remaining holdouts that have refused the injections, as no control group can be allowed to exist.ย Simultaneously, the world economy is destroyed, hyperinflation occurs and a one-world digital currency is introduced.ย ย ย 

A leader rises up who appears to have the answers to fix everything.ย Through 10 appointees, Earth 41 rulers now control the peopleโ€ฆat least most of them.ย To get the last few, regulations are imposed preventing the buying or selling of those not up to date on their vaccinations.

A few holdouts remain and due to reports of forged vaccine documents and a need for a faster method of verification, a universal ID that cannot be forged is necessary (they say).ย Proof of compliance must be bodily and unique to the individual and will come with privileges (formerly known as rights) such as buying and selling.ย Through fear the public complies and laws are passed to implement the process. The two approved locations for identification are the right hand (ease of scanning), and forehead for those without a right hand.

The Earth 41 government now controls the population by controlling money and health care.ย Physical health becomes dependent upon the latest vaccine, money is digital, buying and selling allowed only to compliant citizens (social credit), and movements are tracked and privacy is eliminated[4].

The End.

Moral of the Story: Be glad we donโ€™t live on Earth 41 and that this could never happen here.ย ย ย 

Rodney Dial lives in Ketchikan, where he also serves as borough mayor. He writes this allegory in his capacity as a citizen and guest columnist.


[1] https://www.swfinstitute.org/news/91484/scientists-discover-dna-chunk-in-covid-that-matches-moderna-patented-sequence-from-before-pandemic

[2] https://www.uclhospitals.brc.nihr.ac.uk/news/researchers-discover-how-chickenpox-and-shingles-virus-remains-dormant

[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/23/who-declares-spreading-monkeypox-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency.html

[4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/worldeconomicforum/2016/11/10/shopping-i-cant-really-remember-what-that-is-or-how-differently-well-live-in-2030/?sh=1644562a1735

Glen Biegel: The seven politically deadly sins of Lisa Murkowski

By GLEN BIEGEL

I know many who desperately want to support Sen. Lisa Murkowski.ย  Over 20 years, Murkowski has made personal connections to many people I know.ย They have worked with her, fought beside her, and many have spoken to her or know her personally.ย 

The folks who elected Murkowski over the last 20 years are often good, conservative, salt-of-the-earth people.ย This piece is written to present an honest opinion that the Murkowski you knew 20, 15, or even 5 years ago is not the person who has become the most left-wing Republican in the Senate in our nationโ€™s history.

As I present the ways Murkowski has moved away from you, please conscientiously reconsider putting Murkowski as your first, second, or third choice on the ranked choice ballot.

1. Trust – Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships. – Stephen Covey

Murkowski was the sole Republican supporting the left-wing election tampering bill, blaming Republicans for wanting one person, one vote and open, free, and fair elections

2. Wisdom – A person must be big enough to admit mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. – John C. Maxwell

Murkowski was the sole Republican to fail to vote for Justice Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

3. Consistency – It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently. – Tony Robbins

Murkowski fell in love with her “independent” status: She voted for Biden Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, and she opposed the Pebble Mine process.

4. Values – It is our choice of good or evil that determines our character, not our opinion about good or evil. – Aristotle

We need only watch her on codifying Roe v. Wade and federally redefined marriage

5. Representing Alaska – โ€œI mean, Iโ€™m not here to be the representative of the Republican Party. Iโ€™m here to be the representative for Alaskan people. And I take that charge very, very seriously. So, when there is a conflict, when the party is taking an approach or saying things that I think are just absolutely wrong, I think itโ€™s my responsibility, as an Alaskan senator speaking out for Alaskans, to just speak the truth.โ€ – Lisa Murkowski on CNN

Environmentalists love Murkowskiโ€™s support for Bidenโ€™s appointments like Interior Sec. Deb. Haaland. And whatever you think of Trump personally, there is no question his presidency was fantastic for Alaska. Murkowski, however, did not vote for Trump.ย  Also, her campaign is funded almost entirely by Lower 48 special interests.

6. Priorities – If you knew Murkowski in the past, that doesnโ€™t mean she represents you today.ย 

How do conservatives and public unions both support Murkowski? See these links: Public Unions Support Lisa, Global Warming 5 Years ago and now.

7. Where do you fit in with Murkowski’s new group of friends?

What happened 12 years ago remains very relevant today.ย  After losing to Joe Miller in the 2010 primary, Murkowski stood on stage with the NEA and public unions to announce her plan to get back to the Senate.ย  Doing so, she made a fundamental move away from you, to her new group of friends.ย Over the last several years, these are friends she has gotten to know even better, follow more closely, and rarely or never break trust with.

Is that what she still does for you, never breaks your trust, fellow conservative?

Glen Biegel is a talk show host and cyber security professional in Anchorage.

Report: At least 72 now reporting missing ballots in Anchorage; voters encouraged to go to Loussac Library, or City Hall to vote

GOP central committee: Thumbs up for Joe Wright for Eagle River Senate, second censure for Rep. Kelly Merrick and no endorsement for Kurka for governor

An effort by gubernatorial candidate Christopher Kurka failed today at the Alaska Republican Party’s State Central Committee’s quarterly meeting. The vote was overwhelming against it.

Kurka, a Republican who is running to the right of Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, requested the endorsement through his supporters. He has been a harsh critic of Dunleavy since announcing his candidacy in November. He is running a lean campaign, having raised $112,000 but having spent most of it. Overall, he raised $112,692, spent $114,885 and has campaign debt of $8,400. His campaign cash-on-hand in his official 30-day report was $2,653.

As a candidate for governor, he is not able to be a candidate to return to the Alaska House of Representatives, where he has served since January, 2021, representing Wasilla.

Meanwhile, Joe Wright, a candidate for Senate Seat L, received the party’s overwhelming endorsement. Other Republican candidates for that seat are Rep. Ken McCarty and Rep. Kelly Merrick.

After debate, Rep. Merrick (shown in photo above) was censured by the Alaska Republican Party for caucusing with the Democrat-controlled majority in the House. She is now running for Senate but the party sent her a big message today — her behavior has cost her the support of the party officers, who voted heavily in favor of the censure, the second one the officers have passed regarding her in the past year.

There were numerous other endorsements today, including one for Elijah Verhagen for State Senate representing Fairbanks. The SCC did not, however, endorse the sitting incumbent Sen. Click Bishop, a Republican. The party endorsed Republican Sen. Mia Costello of Anchorage, who is facing off against Rep. Matt Claman, a Democrat. Tuckerman Babcock, running for Senate for Kenai, was endorsed by the party; but Jesse Bjorkman, his Republican opponent, was not.

Heath Smith of Homer was endorsed for Senate but incumbent Republican Sen. Gary Stevens was not.

Biden mulls monkeypox maxim, while World Health Organization declares global health emergency

The Biden Administration may declare monkeypox a public health emergency, as the number of cases in the U.S. nearly doubled in a week. Fifty Democrat lawmakers from the U.S. House sent President Joe Biden a letter asking for the emergency declaration, along with additional funds to be spent to protect the vulnerable from the disease, get more vaccines manufactured and

The administration is looking at “what are the ways the response could be enhanced, if any, by declaring a public health emergency,” said White House Covid response coordinator Ashish Jha on Friday, who said the topic is an active conversation at the Department of Health and Human Services.

On May 22, Jha had a different viewpoint on it, saying he doubted monkeypox would have any widespread impact in the United States.

โ€œI feel like this is a virus we understand,โ€ he said on ABCโ€™s โ€œThis Week.โ€ But that same week, President Biden said monkeypox is something “everybody should be concerned about.”

The number of U.S. cases in May were less than 200. On Friday, there were 2,891 confirmed cases in the country, double from the previous week, and the disease was present in all but six states. In the United States, 99% of the cases are related to male-to-male sexual contact, WHO reports. The CDC puts the number at 97%. The first two cases of the disease in children have ben confirmed — one is a toddler in California, and the other was an infant who is not a U.S. resident. Both are presumed to have caught the disease from someone in their household.

The World Health Organization has issued its highest-level emergency alert over the monkeypox outbreak, which has grown to more than 16,000 cases in 75 countries. Only five deaths have been reported from the outbreak, said WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The global health alert came at the end of a WHO emergency committee meeting on the virus. Only two other such global health emergencies are current from WHO: the Covid-19 pandemic and polio.

The WHO emergency comes with a set of directives and advice for countries, which can be read at this link. In the advice, it asks those who are having large gatherings where casual sex is part of the expectation to hold off.

Other points made in the WHO declaration refer to the initial stages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic:

  • The multi-country outbreak of monkeypox meets all the three criteria defining a public health emergency (PHEIC) contained in Article 1 of the Regulations (1. an extraordinary event [โ€ฆ] 2. constitut[ing] a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease 3. which may potentially require a coordinated international response);
  • The moral duty to deploy all means and tools available to respond to the event, as highlighted by leaders of the LGBTI+ communities from several countries, bearing in mind that the community currently most affected outside Africa is the same initially reported to be affected in the early stages of HIV/AIDS pandemic;
  • The observed rising trends in the number of cases reported globally, in an increasing number of countries, and, yet, likely to reflect an underestimation of the actual magnitude of the outbreak(s);
  • The cases of monkeypox reported in children and pregnant women, which are reminiscent of the initial phases of the HIV pandemic;
  • Future waves of monkeypox cases are expected as the monkeypox virus is introduced in additional susceptible populations;
  • The modes of transmission sustaining the current outbreak are not fully understood;
  • The changes in the clinical presentation of cases of monkeypox currently observed with respect to the clinical picture known to date;
  • The need to generate further evidence related to the effectiveness of the use of both, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures in controlling the outbreak;
  • The significant morbidity associated with the monkeypox outbreak(s);
  • The potential future implications on public health and health services if the disease were to establish itself in the human population across the world, particularly for an orthopoxvirus causing human disease, as global immunity has greatly declined after smallpox was eradicated.

Trudeau moving ahead to severely curtail use of fertilizer to address climate change with more organic farming

“Let them eat cake” seems to be the message from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The princely prime minister wrapped up meetings Friday with provincial ministers, and signaled he will move ahead to reduce the allowable use of fertilizer by Canadian farmers as his next step in fighting climate change.

The Trudeau government wants a 30% reduction in emissions, but farming experts say that reducing nitrous oxide emissions can’t be done without reducing fertilizer use, which will hurt their ability to stay in the farming business. Farmers also say this will result in less food being produced by Canada and will lead to food shortages at a time when there are already global food shortages.

In 2021, the agriculture andย agri-foodย system employed 2.1 million people, provided 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, generated $134.9 billion (aroundย 6.8%)ย of Canada’s gross domestic product, according to the Canadian government.

โ€œThe world is looking for Canada to increase production and be a solution to global food shortages. The Federal government needs to display that they understand this,โ€ย said Alberta Agriculture Minister Nate Horner. “They owe it to our producers.”

Horner said that this year’s crops are the most expensive that have ever been planted, “following a very difficult year on the prairies.”

“We’re really concerned with this arbitrary goal,” said Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture David Marit. “The Trudeau government has apparently moved on from their attack on the oil and gas industry and set their sights on Saskatchewan farmers.”

Fertilizer emissions reduction was not on the agenda of the annual meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial ministers of agriculture. Provinces pushed the federal government to discuss this topic, and were disappointed to learn that Trudeau had already set the 30% target.

“The commitment to future consultations are only to determine how to meet the target that Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister [Marie-Claude] Bibeau have already unilaterally imposed on this industry, not to consult on what is achievable or attainable,” the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan said in a combined statement. Bibeau is the nation’s agriculture minister.

“Western Canadian farmers already produce the most sustainable agri-food products in the world, and they’re continually being asked to do more with less. We cannot feed the growing world population with a reduction in fertilizer,” the provincial leaders said. “Western Canadian producers base fertilizer inputs on realistic targets based on moisture availability. Producers are conservative in the use of fertilizer inputs and don’t add more than what is needed. They alone simply cannot shoulder the impact of this shortsighted policy.”

Canada is a net exporter of food staples such as grain. It has 0.5% of the global population,ย but produces aboutย 1.5% of the food in the world, while consuming about 0.6% of world food production.

Sri Lanka has been the test kitchen for the organic-only policy. In 2021, President Rajapaksaย bannedย synthetic fertilizer and pesticide imports, which forced the millions of farmers in that country to go organic, practically overnight. The result has been disastrous, with major food shortages, social unrest, and ultimately a protest that took over the capital and forced the resignation of the government.

Sri Lankan scientists and agriculture experts hadย warned of dire consequences for many crops, such as cocoa, coffee, soybeans, and other staples.

in Sri Lanka, rice production dropped 20 percent in the six months after the organic-only policy was implemented. Instead of feeding itself, the country spent $450 million on rice imports. The production of tea, which is the country’s biggest export, fell by 18 percent. The population of Sri Lanka is now facing imminent starvation.

Notes from the trail: Walker picks up new co-chairs

Twenty-four days left in the regular primary election and the special general election to fill the remainder of Congressman Don Young’s term in office (until January). The long election season hits that speed bump on Aug. 16 on the way to the Nov. 8 general election.

Endorsements: Jim Jansen, CEO of Lynden, has jumped ship from Gov. Dunleavy, who he supported in 2018, and is now a co-chair for the Bill Walker for governor campaign. He is joined as co-chair by Jim Dodson of Fairbanks, Bruce Botelho, of Juneau, Mike Navarre of Kenai, and Meg Nordale of Fairbanks in the latest announcement of endorsements.

Charlie Hardesty of Cordova has endorsed Kelly Tshibaka for Senate.

BIPAC, known as the oldest business political action committee in America, endorsed Nick Begich III for House. The late Alaskan politico Scott Hawkins of Advanced Supply Chain International was the president of BIPAC until he died in 2019. Business-Industry Political Action Committee is a premier private sector political action group that has 7,000 companies in the group.

Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA fame endorsed Kelly Tshibaka for U.S. Senate.

Spotted: Nick Begich was in Delta Junction attending Deltana Days and had a meet-and-greet in the evening. He was on the Dave Pruhs radio show in Fairbanks and was featured speaker at Friday Republican luncheon in Fairbanks. He is running for Congress.

Mary Peltola was blueberry berry picking in Bethel last weekend, then to Anchorage for Black Caucus of the Alaska Democrats, and now up to Fairbanks. She is running for Congress, for the Democrats.

Bill Walker and Heidi Drygas, pictured above, running for governor and lite gov, were spotted in Bethel meeting with a modest group; they were with Val Davidson, who was the push behind the expansion of Obamacare in Alaska, was the commissioner of Health and Social Services under Walker, when he was governor, and was briefly the lieutenant governor when LG Byron Mallott suddenly resigned in disgrace.

Events: Americans for Prosperity Alaska will be doing a seminar on Aug. 4 for anyone who wants to learn about ranked choice voting, the confusing new voting system brought to Alaska by outsiders. Americans for Prosperity Alaska doesn’t support the new system but is determined to help people understand how to vote with it. It’s a nonpartisan event.

Thirty-two people, including four families, moved from homeless campground to conventional shelters

Salvation Army, which is providing coordinated care services at Centennial Campground, said 34 people, including four families, were moved into family shelters at McKinnell House, Clare House, and other semi-permanent housing on Thursday.

Centennial Campground is serving as a sanctioned campground for homeless people in Anchorage. Leftists are referring to it as a “concentration camp.”

“As of 5 pm last night there were no more children at the camp,โ€œย said Lt. Colonel Doug Tollerud, divisional commander of The Salvation Army Alaska.

About 180 campers remain at Centennial, with 75% of them coming from illegal campgrounds in woods around Anchorage, and 56 coming from the now-shuttered Sullivan Arena, which was taken over by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz in 2020 to house homeless, transients, and vagrants.

โ€œIโ€™m grateful for all of our community partners who have stepped up immediately to place people in shelter, services, and permanent housing from Centennial Campground,โ€ย said Mayor Dave Bronson.ย โ€œAs we work together in collaboration to continue to make placements, this is a testament to the heart of Anchorage in helping our cityโ€™s most vulnerable get access to safe and successful solutions.โ€

Salvation Army is also facilitating donation management for the campground.

Salvation Army asks people to bring donations to the Salvation Army Safe Campus — McKinnell House — located at 1712 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, in order to maintain organization and prioritize items coming in. Salvation Army requests that no donations come directly to the campground due to limited storage there.

Three or four vehicles from Salvation Army, shown above, were at the campground Friday morning, and Parks and Recreation staff are walking through the campground hourly picking up trash, checking for food that could attract bears, and helping campers. The city has distributed over 100 bear proof cans to the campers. Security is on site. The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness is on the sidelines, not committed to helping campers at this time because the group objects to the campground for political reasons. Its CEO is Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel, who is firmly opposed to anything the Bronson Administration does.

Donation priorities:

โ€ข Handheld lamps (battery operated) or flashlights

โ€ข Rain ponchos

โ€ข New or gently used sweatshirts & sweatpants

โ€ข New or gently used boots or tennis shoes

โ€ข Bus passes

โ€ข Gas cards

โ€ข Camping mats (under sleeping bag)

Refrain from donating:

โ€ข Household electronics (toasters, microwaves, etc.)

โ€ข Furniture / Mattresses

โ€ข Sheets

โ€ข Food perishable or non-perishable

โ€ข Flammable liquids

โ€ข Sleeping bags

โ€ข Tents

โ€ข Tarps

All information related to the Salvation Army’s role as client care coordinators at Centennial Campground, as well as information about in-kind and monetary donations can be found on their website on the Centennial Campground Information link atย Alaska.salvationarmy.org

Ask Bernadette: If I vote for more than one candidate, am I essentially splitting my vote on the ranked choice ballot?

This is the fourth in our series that will answer your questions about ranked choice voting. The subject expert is Bernadette Wilson, state director for Americans for Prosperity Alaska, who will answer questions about how to understand the new voting system that is in effect due to Ballot Measure 2, which was pushed on Alaska by Outside money from liberal entities. This series will continue until Aug. 16, the final date for the regular primary election and the special general election for the temporary placeholder for Alaskaโ€™s congressional seat.

Reader question: If I vote for more than one, am I essentially splitting my vote on the ranked choice ballot?

Bernadette Wilson: The short answer is no. If you vote for more than one candidate, your second pick is only being counted, or even looked at, so to speak, if your first choice is already out of the race.

If your candidate is already out due to lack of votes, only then would your second vote be counted. Itโ€™s as though your candidate was never in the race to begin with for this second round of voting. A fresh round of counting begins. If youโ€™ve picked a second candidate, then the vote is counted.

Itโ€™s important to note here that if your first choice is cut from the race due to to lack of votes, and you have not cast a second choice, your ballot then gets thrown out for the second round of counting. This lowers the number of ballots in play in round two and therefore lowers the overall numbers of ballots that the ranked choice system needs to get 50% + 1.

Letโ€™s say 100 people vote for a first choice: To win the first round, a candidate would need 51 votes to win (50% + 1).

Now let’s say out of those 100 original voters only half decide to vote for a second choice. 50 people have now participated in the second round. This means to win in round 2, a candidate now only needs 26 votes to win. The total number of votes needed to win is now lower because fewer people have opted to participate in that (round) election.

Itโ€™s important to understand that if you rank more than one candidate, not all of your choices are being counted in every round of counting.

Resetting your mind and viewing each round of counting as though itโ€™s a whole new election so to speak can help you as a voter think through this process.

Watch Bernadette Wilson explain how ranked choice voting works at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaAFP/videos

Add your questions in the comment section for future editions of this series.

Sarah Palin getting married? It’s being ‘negotiated,’ according to boyfriend Ron Duguay

In an interview on NewsNation with Ashleigh Banfield, congressional candidate Sarah Palin said that there’s lots of work that needs to be done in America and so she’s ready to “take one for the team, heck yeah, I’ll run again.”

Sarah Palinโ€™s boyfriend, former-NHL star Ron Duguay, joined into โ€œBanfieldโ€ toward the end of her interview. When asked if Sarah would soon become a Duguay, he said a marriage proposal was being โ€œnegotiated.โ€ย  When pressed on the question, he said, “If you get us back on the show, I’ll give you an answer.” Palin, who became flustered, joked that it sounded like he was negotiating a hockey contract.

Much of the interview, however, focused on Palin and the impact that criticism had on her children as they grew up. She said that coverage of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s adult son is “apples and oranges,” because Hunter is an adult. Hunter Biden is under investigation over his business activities that involved international schemes and deals.

Palin also said of the Jan. 6 hearings on the mob at the nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, โ€œWhat the heck was anybody thinking to go vandalize our Capitol? Nobody can think that is right. It was atrocious what these protesters did, and anybody that encouraged it needs to be held accountable.”

She said that at โ€œa hearing like this, there needs to be balance. There needs to be Republicans. Not just the two we have seen questioning but other Republicans onboard to do follow-up questions and present more evidence. I think itโ€™s a given that itโ€™s a one-sided type of hearing, but what weโ€™re hearing is quite disturbing.โ€

Continuing the theme, Palin predicted Republican control in Congress: โ€œAll this polarization. People donโ€™t want to hear the other side of the story. Theyโ€™re not listening to what the heck is going on, and so many things are going on in our country that are not being beneficial to the people,โ€ Palin said. โ€œSo much of the obsessive partisanship and the power-grabs going on. Thereโ€™s a lot of corruption in Washington, D.C. I think the American people are so sick and tired of it. I believe thereโ€™s going to be a red wave.โ€

Palin is running for Congress against Republican Nick Begich and Democrat Mary Peltola, as well as several other candidates who will appear on the Aug. 16 regular primary election ballot.

The interview can be watched at this link.