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The statehood act mandated that fully 60% of Alaska be given to the federal government. This violates Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. Just what is the federal government entitled to possess?
The District of Columbia (not to exceed 10 miles square), forts, arsenals, magazines, dockyards and other needful buildings.
This violation is found all over the western US. We need to start reading the Constitution and holding the federal government's feet to the fire.
Furthermore, the removal of subsurface mineral rights is another outrage against people and their property.
We can and should recognize native property and restore their sovereignty, if such be their decision. The subsistence issue that separates Alaskans, thanks to Ted Stevens and ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act), can be solved by keeping federal ownership to 'forts, dockyards, magazines, arsenals and other needful buildings'. The natives can manage fish & game the way they want on the property that was given to them by ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act).
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