Letters to the editor (8/19/08)

What's this tripe about gas prices being so high because it's what the market will bear? How's that work? If the price of a new car is too high, you make do with the one you have. Price of a flat-screen TV too high? Keep your old one. Even if the price of a gallon of milk is too high, you don't drink as much. What are you supposed to if gas is too high? Stop buying it? Hitchhike to work? Quit your job, stay home and collect unemployment? No, I got it: Just park your car at work and live in it until the price of gas comes down because you're not buying any! Face it, folks, we're being gouged. I hope the state attorney general gets to the bottom of it.

-- Robert Pessa

Wasilla

China's Olympics just a facade

I think the incident involving the phony singer at the Olympics in China clearly illustrates the hypocrisy the leaders of that country practice. Meanwhile, many people seem to be genuinely impressed by the show they are putting on. And that's all it is, a show. We all know what is really going on behind the scenes.

-- Jack Abraham

Anchorage

Don't just complain; turn dogs in

People must report aggressive dogs to Animal Control. It is simply not enough to complain to one another. Pit bull and Rottweiler owners love to say that it is all about their dogs' upbringing. I always reply that these breeds often attack someone within their own home. Oftentimes the attacks involve children or grandparents. Google "dog attacks" and see for yourselves. The phone number for Animal Control is 343-8118.

-- Esther Jurasek

Anchorage

No interest to pay? What a deal

The decision as to whether Exxon has to pay interest has far-reaching implications. If they don't have to pay, is there any reason that anyone should have to pay interest on overdue debt? Umm. Get an Exxon credit card to buy gas and just forget about paying for it for 20 or so years -- interest free. Can't beat that deal.

-- Don Corneliius

Petersburg

Feds to get chunk of rebate; wine sounds like good investment

Surely all Alaskans are thinking how they could best spend their $1,200 energy rebate from the state of Alaska. While I applaud the majority of the decisions made by the Legislature with respect to our current budget surplus, this one leaves me pondering if this decision was thought through.

An example of a great program is the home energy rebate administered by AHFC where Alaskans can receive up to $10,000 for approved modifications to their homes. Not only will this save energy, but it will boost the sagging residential construction industry.

Unfortunately, a great portion of the $1,200 will go directly to the feds in the form of income tax. The remainder will be spent as the recipient chooses.

Having allotted considerable time to thinking about my $1,200 windfall, I have decided to spend the entire rebate on good wine. While many airlines have been hedging fuel, I have noticed the price of alcoholic beverages has climbed as well, and should the municipality be short on funds in the next cycle, history has proven this is one place where they look to levy a tax increase.

Wine, stored properly, keeps indefinitely and does in fact improve with age.

Additionally, being a responsible drinker, a good store of wine will keep me off the roads, thus saving money on gasoline.

-- Brian Sanders

Anchorage

Blame morning after on GOP

President Bush says that Wall Street got a hangover. But considering the party they had, it is not surprising Wall Street is feeling the effects of too much celebration. The party started when the administration served them cocktails of decreased federal policy. And then cocktails were immediately followed by an open bar policy of no fiscal enforcement of remaining statutes. Who could blame them? Who could resist? Those Republicans sure know how to throw a party.

-- Brian Moher

Anchorage

Cities were made for people, but wildlife belongs in the wild

Parks are for people, refuges are for animals. We are the dominant species here; we should act like it.

When animals begin to threaten people in parks we can no longer enjoy the purpose of the park. By displacing the bears in our adjacent parks we upset the balance of nature, but we have already done that by building a city here. Cities are created for people -- for their livelihoods, collective well-being and protection. Anything that does not coexist with us, whether criminal or animal, must be dealt with. Cities protect people, not wildlife.

The animals live in nature, where natural law prevails. They don't have human rights, they don't have animal rights, they only have animal behavior:

Eat or die.

Claim and retain territory.

Kill or be killed.

The weak hide, move or die.

If people want to see any of the thousands of bears in Alaska and the environment where they are the dominant species, we have thousands of square miles to choose from.

The animals were here first, but we are here now.

-- Wes Sutterlin

Anchorage

Alaskans must protect Bristol Bay

I am writing to encourage Alaska residents to make sure to vote in the primary election this year. There are some very important issues on the ballot, chief among them the Clean Water Initiative.

We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the precious natural resources of this state that have sustained our people for thousands of years -- clean water and wild salmon.

My family has fished the waters of Bristol Bay for centuries, and I hope to continue that tradition through my children and grandchildren. Compared to countless generations of families who have subsisted and earned a living from commercial fisheries, it is ludicrous to even consider forfeiting one sustainable resource for 50 years of mineral extraction at the proposed Pebble mine.

Please come out to vote in the primary election to protect clean water and wild Alaska salmon.

-- Izetta Chambers

Naknek

Eklutna campground bear refused to be shooed away

I read with interest in the Daily News Aug. 11 regarding the black bear shot by the APD.

I witnessed an incident at Eklutna Lake camp ground. A black bear walked into the camping site, where people eating were forced to leave as the bear came and took food they were eating. Much noise was made by several people, and two others went to find a ranger who wasn't available. Despite attempts to run it off, the bear remained, became aggressive and stomped the ground and "huffed," returned to the table and wouldn't leave.

Shots were fired into the air to get the bear to leave, which it did. This brought much wrath from the local ranger when he arrived four hours later, because firearms aren't allowed to be discharged in the camp site. The following morning a bear was ambling around as if no one was present.

What concerns me is that Eklutna has many families with children there. Being at one with nature is all well and good as long as mankind is in control. Unfortunately, it would appear to me that the system that runs Eklutna does not avail themselves of this. How long is it before someone is badly injured by a bear there?

-- Victor Graham-Hole

Northampton, UK

Don't want $1,200? Donate it

For those who do not want the extra $1,200 or do not need it, it would be very nice of you to set up a fund to help those who really do need it. I could use it to get a tuneup on my old car so it would hopefully use less gas. I certainly am not happy with the price of gas I pay for. It used to be $25 to fill up and now it is $80 for the same vehicle. I will be happy to take the money off your hands.

I do know many, many people for whom this money, combined with the Alaska dividend, will make a big difference in whether they buy groceries, pay their rent for a few months, pay their bills, etc.

I cannot see why anyone would complain about getting it, and I do understand why those same individuals would want to promote alternative energy sources.

Some just need the help more than others, and those who do not can always say no.

-- Frieda L. Byars

Anchorage