"Confidence in an economy matters," Dan Robinson, research chief at the state Department of Labor, told the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this month. "There is an economic cost of not solving these problems."

He was talking with legislators about the state's job loss, population loss, economic

loss and inability to agree on a fiscal plan to pay for public services long term. For most of the past 30 years, Alaska has taken from savings, prayed for high oil prices and rejoiced at any federal aid coming our way.

That's not a plan, that's a dream, punctuated by fits of panic and luck....