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The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates a state vote which includes several options, including increased state autonomy, territorial status, becoming a separate nation or commonwealth state, and, failing that, for increased Alaskan control of Alaskan land, gun rights, privatization, home schooling, and reduction of governmental intrusion in the private lives of its citizens with adherence to the founding documents of the United States. The party has appeared on the ballot in Alaska in all state elections since 1970.

At other times, party members have also proposed that the state explore the possibility of joining Canada. Other members have expressed opposition to joining Canada in its present form but are open to the possibility of joining an independent Western Canadian state comprised of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Neither of these scenarios form part of the party's current platform.

At the national level, the party is affiliated with the conservative Constitution Party.

History

In 1973 Joe Vogler began arguing about the validity of the Alaskan statehood vote. Early in that year, he began circulating a petition seeking support for secession of Alaska from the United States. Alaska magazine published a piece at that time in which Vogler claimed to have gathered 25,000 signatures in 3 weeks.

During the 1970s, Vogler founded Alaskans for Independence to actively pursue secession for Alaska from the United States. In 1984, he founded the AIP to explore whether the 1958 vote by Alaskans authorizing statehood was legal.

The Alaskan Independence Party quotes Vogler as stating "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

Vogler would serve as the AIP's standard-bearer for most of the party's first two decades. He ran for governor in 1974, with Wayne Peppler as his running mate. Jay Hammond was elected over incumbent governor William Egan, with Vogler trailing far behind. Typical political discussion of the day contended that Vogler was a "spoiler," and that the result would have been different had he not been in the race. However, this campaign opened up the doors for non-major party candidates to run for major offices in Alaska, and generally this accusation is leveled during every election cycle.

Vogler's running mate in 1986 was Al Rowe, a Fairbanks resident and former Alaska State Trooper. Rowe took out a series of newspaper ads, fashioning himself in the image of Sheriff Buford Pusser. These ads were a major attention getter during the race. Between Rowe's ads and the turmoil existing in the Republican Party over the nomination of Arliss Sturgulewski, the AIP gained 5.2 percent of the vote, becoming a recognized party in Alaska for the first time.

In 1990, Walter Joseph Hickel, a former Republican, won the election for governor as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, along with Jack Coghill as his running mate. This was the only time since Alaska joined the union that a third-party candidate has been elected governor. However, Hickel never agreed with the party's call for a vote on secession, leading to demands from party diehards that he be recalled. He rejoined the Republican Party in 1994, with eight months remaining in his term.

Registered members

As of June 2006 the Alaskan Independence Party has 13,542 registered members, making it the state's third largest party, behind the Republicans with 111,526 and the Democrats with 66,218.

On September 2, 2008, the Associated Press reported that the Alaska Division of Elections said that Todd Palin, the husband of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, had registered as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party in 1995 and 2000; he no longer is registered as a member of the party, having registered as "undeclared" since 2002. Sarah Palin was never a member of the Alaska Independence Party according to a statement released by AIP chairman Lynnette Clark on September 3, 2008.

Goals

According to the Alaskan Independence Party's web site:

"The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:

1. Remain a Territory.
2. Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3. Accept Commonwealth status.
4. Become a State.

The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, that Alaskans achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, and promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences."

The Alaskan Independence Party maintains that Alaska's vote for statehood is "invalid" because "the people were not presented with the range of options available to them" and because "federal government has since breached the contract for statehood". Their web site addresses many questions about Alaskan Secession, including:

1. If Alaska became independent, wouldn't we lose a lot of federal money?
2. If Alaska were independent, what would happen to my social security check, federal pension, or military retirement?
3. If Alaska became independent, would U.S. military bases leave?
4. Under independence, what would happen to all the federal controls and regulations?
5. Would I lose my U.S. citizenship?

The party did not get involved in presidential elections until 1992, when it endorsed Howard Phillips, the candidate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, now the Constitution Party. The AIP is listed as an affiliate of the Constitution Party on the latter party's website.

Presidential nominee

• 1992 - Howard Phillips
• 2004 - Michael Peroutka
• 2008 - Chuck Baldwin

See also

• Secession in the United States
• Legal status of Alaska
• List of political parties in the United States
• Puerto Rican Independence Party
• Republic of Texas (group)
• Hawaiian sovereignty movement
• Second Vermont Republic
• Proposals for new Canadian provinces and territories

References

1. ^ Introduction to the Alaskan Independence Party
2. ^ Constitution Party Alaska page.
3. "Curiouser and Curiouser". CBS News. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
4. Introduction, Alaskan Independence Party.
5. Ballot Access News, Ballot Access News, July 1, 2006.
6. "Palin's husband was member of third party". Associated Press. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
7. "Statement by AIP chairman Lynnette Clark, September 3, 2008". Alaska Independence Party statement. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
8. AIP (2008-06-06). Welcome to the home of The Alaskan Independence Party. Retrieved on 2008-09-02 from http://www.akip.org/.
9. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Alaska Independence Party.

External links

• Official website

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