Dear Big Pile of Awesome,

First off, thanks for sticking around so long and doing so much good for Alaskans. Since you started, you’ve put kids through college, paid off credit card bills, helped launch small businesses, and allowed Alaskans to purchase luxuries and necessities otherwise too costly. Plus, during lean times your political entertainment value often outstrips your actual value.

You were created in part as a way to fairly distribute and save Alaska’s oil wealth for citizens, but we’re concerned that you’re not being used to your full advantage. This year you’re providing $1,174 checks to every qualifying Alaskan, and we The Concerned think that’s awesome. The Alaska Constitution provides that Alaska’s resources must be developed for the “maximum benefit” of Alaskans, who own the bounty, and you’re a big part of the reason that the state looks to be fulfilling its obligation.

We’re sure you know it, but every year when your checks go out, businesses start to offer deals to soak up all that extra liquidity. Dividend time means screaming deals on airfare, furniture, electronics, vehicles, and all manner of other large consumer goods. Many Alaskans jump at the chance to upgrade their material circumstances.

Who can blame them? Snowmachines that can go 70 mph or faster totally rule. As do flat-screen televisions and movies on Blu-ray.

Unfortunately, consumer goods start to lose value immediately after leaving the store. And in the case of electronics, as few as six months can mean the difference between ‘wired’ and ‘tired’. We’re not sure what “maximum benefit” means exactly (it seems intentionally and reasonably vague), but we do know that consumer goods, while beneficial, are not good investments.

It seems to us that Alaska has suffered because its constitution lacks a clear distinction between individual benefit and community or statewide benefit, and of course, also lacks a clear idea over which one should be the state's priority. That about sums up our main concern every time your yearly pie is sliced up and handed out.

For instance, every year, some of The Concerned cross their fingers that certain neighbors will finally hire a semi to haul away all the old industrial junk in their yards, or at least build a taller, less transparent fence. And every year, they’re mostly disappointed. Usually, the check results in more junk.

But not all Alaskans use you to buy more stuff to litter up the yard or clog the rec room. Many Alaskans use your yearly payout to get some relief from debt accrued by normal living over the previous year. Fuel, energy, travel, housing, health care and food are costly across basically all of Alaska, and it’s great that you’re there to cushion the blow for Alaskans who need it every year.

But it seems to us that in that regard, you’re acting like half a life-vest thrown to people trying just to keep their heads above water. You are called "permanent," after all. We’re not sure, but don’t you get tired of not being used for as much lasting good as you could be? Does your name refer to your intended longevity or to the type of contributions you hope to make to Alaska?

Not all of your yearly payout is squandered, though. Some wise Alaskans, probably the minority, sock their free money away into various appreciating real assets and interest-bearing financial accounts, and despite the uncertainty of investing, that money often leads to things way more permanent than a copy of the latest Gears of War sequel for Playstation3. Other wise Alaskans didn’t have to take out massive student loans to pay for college or technical school because they saved your yearly gifts. Unfortunately, with education’s costs rising and its public funding declining -- with the economy dragging -- using you to improve oneself isn’t as easy as it once was.