Hyder AK is a nice little place a couple of hours from where I live and great place to watch bald eagles and grizzly bears, but not much else. It is great that there is such a positive energy between the two communities of Hyder and Stewart that a Peace Officer, whether they originate in Canada or the USA are respected enough to handle the decisions in either country. Keep in mind that there are more people going into a 7/11 store on a Saturday than live in Hyder, which is located at the end of a very long, often, closed for mudslide/avalanche/washout conditions, highway.
Agree on all points (that don't involve my ever having visited|), but it still begs the question, what claim does the US lay on the territory? If government's primary purpose is the offering of protection services, and the United States is not even offering that, is it really the US?
Kind of brings into question the whole meaning of "government".
Hyder is at the end of a very long channel The west side of the channel is Alaska, the East side is BC. The next closest US settlement is the Native American Village of Metlakatla - some 350KM away and only accessible by boat. If the boundary had been placed where the Brits wanted it in the 19th Century, Hyder would be part of Canada. If it was where the 'Mericans wanted it, Steewart would be part of the US.
Yes, a very interesting history. Which raises the question: If government's primary purpose is the offering of protection services, what claim does the US lay on the territory? If it is able to lay claim, and does not offer these services (or any services really), the arbitrariness kind of brings into question the whole meaning of "government".
The whole thing would be resolved if the 60th Parallel was extended to the North Pacific, and everything south of that point was BC - However, that is not going to happen. Questioning your statement: IS the government's primary purpose to offer protection services OR is the primary purpose to collect revenue (taxes) from a specific well defined land base for the greater good of the entire political realm? There is lots of fishing in that area that bring in a whole truckload of tax revenue for the USA - whether or not it is spent in Podunk outposts or down town Big City USA.
Are protection services not for "the greater good" (a statement that makes me shiver in fear)? I would say that protection is the most basic of the services that you are speaking of. There may be others, but protection is the first to come, last to go.
I think we disagree on the details of the purpose of government, but are close enough to move forward with the initial question. If the US government is not supplying services "for the greater good of the realm" (protection, education, healthcare, etc.), should the population be paying taxes at all? Who collects taxes in the region? If Canada, are they a US territory? If not Canada, why is Canada supplying the services? Is Canada the legitimate authority of an abandoned US territory?
The US claims authority, but is not taking any action "for the greater good". Our definitions are close enough that the question still stands, what gives government power? what is the nature of governmental power?
I would agree, Jeff, IF protection is of primary concern. Consider the only sense that you are crossing into another country is the presence of Canadian customs office (none for the US side). It is reasonable to take a leap of faith to consider that Hyder does not consider 'protection' to be a major issue, and are happy for the RCMP handle emerging issues. It would take at least a day for US officials to arrive from Anchorage to resolve issues (closest international airport is six hours by vehicle), and < 5 minutes for the RCMP.
I did not mean to bring shades of Orwellian "The Greater Good" to your conscience, I could not think of a better term at the time.
"The Greater Good" implies "A Lesser Evil". Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Every asset has a cost.
I think policing is clouding the issue, but can be left out of it, and the question still stand. Pick the service that is of primary concern to you: does the US offer that service? Roads, education, phone, electricity, healthcare, postal service (I know they have a US postal outlet), something I haven't thought of? Which is/are the important service that defines government? Who supplies it to Hyder?
It is great that there is such a positive energy between the two communities of Hyder and Stewart that a Peace Officer, whether they originate in Canada or the USA are respected enough to handle the decisions in either country.
Keep in mind that there are more people going into a 7/11 store on a Saturday than live in Hyder, which is located at the end of a very long, often, closed for mudslide/avalanche/washout conditions, highway.
Kind of brings into question the whole meaning of "government".
More info here: http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/BC/bc_alaska_boundary_dispute.htm
Questioning your statement: IS the government's primary purpose to offer protection services OR is the primary purpose to collect revenue (taxes) from a specific well defined land base for the greater good of the entire political realm?
There is lots of fishing in that area that bring in a whole truckload of tax revenue for the USA - whether or not it is spent in Podunk outposts or down town Big City USA.
I think we disagree on the details of the purpose of government, but are close enough to move forward with the initial question. If the US government is not supplying services "for the greater good of the realm" (protection, education, healthcare, etc.), should the population be paying taxes at all? Who collects taxes in the region? If Canada, are they a US territory? If not Canada, why is Canada supplying the services? Is Canada the legitimate authority of an abandoned US territory?
The US claims authority, but is not taking any action "for the greater good". Our definitions are close enough that the question still stands, what gives government power? what is the nature of governmental power?
I did not mean to bring shades of Orwellian "The Greater Good" to your conscience, I could not think of a better term at the time.
I think policing is clouding the issue, but can be left out of it, and the question still stand. Pick the service that is of primary concern to you: does the US offer that service? Roads, education, phone, electricity, healthcare, postal service (I know they have a US postal outlet), something I haven't thought of? Which is/are the important service that defines government? Who supplies it to Hyder?