The great tax debate in Alaska sounds similar to the age-old question of whether it is less painful to yank off the bandage quickly or peel it off slowly and gently.

I have found that it just doesn’t matter all that much how I pull off the bandage. Neither way is pleasant, especially when there is scab underneath.

It’s the same for taxes in tax-free Alaska: None of the options are pleasant; all will hurt at first; there are a lot of political scars and scabs that will break open no matter what tax is adopted, an income tax or a sales tax.

Regardless, the only way the state budget and public se...