FROM THE PUBLISHER

It's good that President Joe Biden and members of Congress, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and members of the Alaska Legislature are all talking about doing more to help people hurt financially by the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting damage to the economy. The harm to people's lives and livelihoods has been terrible and, in many cases, long term.

But not everyone needs help, and we should not use the state and federal treasuries for one-size-fits-all solutions.

Workers who have been able to stay on the job from home; workers considered essential who have gone to the office, store or factory and collected paychecks; and retirees who have not lost any benefits due to the pandemic - they are not in the same category as laid-off workers, the self-employed who saw their income shrink or disappear, or workers who had to stay home after getting infected or to care for a family member with COVID or because their child's day center closed down.

In Alaska's case, the governor's proposal to pay out about $5,000 in Permanent Fund dividends to every eligible resident in 2021, in part to help the COVID-wounded economy, is just such a case of misdirected aid.

Much of the money would never get to Alaskans - it would be lost to federal income taxes. Besides, most Alaskans are still working and have not lost their job or suffered economic harm from the pandemic. Stress, anxiety and loss of enjoyment of life, yes, but not financial hardship that puts them at immediate risk.

Food banks statewide report doing a sadly booming business; almost 20% of renters statewide were behind in their payments last month; and workers in the service-sector, tourism and hospitality sectors have been hit the worst and need help. Giving $5,000 to every Alaskan far overshoots those who actually need assistance.

The idea that many Alaskans would spend their bonus money and bring workers back to the job ignores the reality that bars, restaurants, movie theaters, shops, airlines and hotels are months away from "normal," and much of that extra PFD money is not going to speed up vaccinations or slow down the virus.

On the federal level, targeted spending also is the right answer, such as help with child care services, boosting food stamp benefits, providing rental assistance, and additional funding for schools that are spending heavily on more equipment, cleaning and staff to provide safe classrooms.

State and federal loans and grants to keep businesses around until the pandemic eases and customers can return also are a wise use of public money. The intent is to ensure there is an economy to return to after the pandemic.

But sending out several hundred billion dollars more in federal "stimulus" checks to Americans, while well-intentioned for those in need, would direct too much money to people who aren't all that much in need. Even if they spend a lot of the extra cash on goods and services, it would be more efficient to send the assistance directly to those who need it most.

That applies equally to federal money and state of Alaska efforts to help the economy. All that extra money for Permanent Fund dividends would excessively draw on the state's savings when we could do so much better with a lot less for more people who really need it.