Ballot results show that we dream of a shabby city

We Americans all have a dream. Immigrants came to this country with dreams of affluence, dignity and freedom. Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of a land where a person would be judged by the content of his or her character. Bloody Mary dreamed of happy talk.

Judging from our recent election, Anchorage voters too have a dream -- a dream of corduroy streets, of dilapidated schools, of cramped and unhappy police facilities -- because in Anchorage our noblest dream is of low taxes. We dream of receiving services from our city government and of paying nothing in return. Or it pays us to live here, as the state of Alaska already does with the Permanent Fund dividend.

The candidate who promised to tax us least will likely be elected our next mayor, but only because he backed off of his proposed sales tax.

Sales taxes are demoralizing -- I'm always charged more than I expected -- while property taxes are comparatively painless, because they're rolled right into my mortgage payment and go up in small yearly increments to offset inflation. But any tax is better than seeing our city crumble around us while our kids are badly educated and essential services degraded.

Come on, Anchorage: We can dream better than that!

-- Robert Crosman

Anchorage

Those who didn't vote have no right to complain

Good to see that some constituents are concerned about their city government as we are heading into a runoff election. Like everyone else, I also have an opinion on who is the best mayoral candidate. Rather than wasting space to debate politics (I'd prefer to save my breath for cooling my soup), I'll reiterate some troubling facts:

• Less than 25 percent of registered voters performed their civic duty.

• Historically, voter turnout declines during runoff elections.

I am certain more than 25 percent of registered voters are using their time and energy to complain about city government, yet are unwilling to do anything about it.

Voting is exceptionally simple and easy to do these days. You can cast a ballot with less effort than casting a fly rod!

If you are not willing to contribute a small portion of your time to independently research, apply judgment and "shade a few circles," how do you expect things to improve? You reap what you sow. It takes more than just polluting the air of the employee break room with your opinions to make a difference.

There is a wealth of information and scores of volunteers willing to assist the general public with elections. Please, vote in the May 5 runoff election!

-- Sherman Anderson

Anchorage

Try Ted Stevens again -- and reveal all the evidence

Stevens should face all evidence

Does the former senator for some of Alaska really think he can spin his way out of $80,000-$200,000 in "gifts" from an oil exec? Does he have such contempt for Alaskans that he expects us to believe that just because the prosecution did a lousy job he is innocent?

Let's have a new trial with all the evidence this time. Shame on you, prosecutors, and shame on you, Ted.

-- Shelley Gill

Homer

Make streets safer: Ban use of cell phones when driving

Alaska's roads are dangerous enough with moose crossing them, winter driving and distracted drivers. The No. 1 cause of distracted driving is talking on a cell phone while driving. This is a dangerous thing to do on the road: In 2003 a Harvard Center of Risk Analysis study found that talking on a cell phone caused 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths, with a bill totaling $43 billion.

Alaska should create a full ban on talking on a cell phone while driving -- both hand-held and hands-free.

A person who talks on a cell phone is over five times more likely to get into a crash then an undistracted driver. The University of Utah did a study and found out that a person who talked on a cell phone had the same response rate as a person with a blood-alcohol level at 0.08 percent.

When a person talks on a cell phone and drives, it never has a positive effect.

-- Erik Kuper

Anchorage

No reason to discard old TV; instead, use it until it dies

Boy, we could see that one coming from a mile away, couldn't we? In this day and age of disposable everything, it's no big shock that many folks have decided to just chuck the old TV in favor of a new one rather than connect a little black box to it. Evidently the picture on the new one will be a teeny bit sharper, and heaven forbid we should miss out on that perk.

So it's tough luck to this planet we call home in favor of a habit that encourages slothfulness and obesity. With so many outstanding alternatives for recreation in this state, I feel the need to relate what I saw on a bumper sticker the other day: LIFE. GET ONE. Please, if your TV works, use it till it doesn't.

-- Tina M. Faulkenberry

Anchorage

Driver who hit young moose should start taking the bus

To the woman who hit a moose on Northern Lights near Village Inn on Sunday afternoon:

This yearling moose calf lived all winter between the Chester Creek greenbelt and College Village, causing no problems and entertaining the kids in the neighborhood.

On a brilliant afternoon on a road with a wide boulevard, how could you not have seen it? Your lack of attention and driving skills resulted in a slow death for this young moose, waiting for a police officer to put it down. I'm glad it was not a neighborhood kid you did not see.

Consider public transportation.

-- Jim Richardson

Anchorage

'Socialism' benefits ranters

Ranting and raving about socialism? Receive a free K-12 education? Ever cash a PFD check? Can you smell the hypocrisy?

-- John Oxley

Anchorage

We should tax ourselves to pay for our runaway debt

During the Great Depression, a Tom Mix cowboy movie cost a dime, made with real silver. A big bag of popcorn cost a real nickel. A decade from now a movie may cost a $50 bill.

The Chinese, who are financing our debt, are well aware of the erosion of the dollar and they may refuse to finance the rapid rise in federal spending, knowing that they may be paid back in cheap dollars. The past and current excessive cost of big government and social expenditures should be paid by U.S. taxpayers and not burden future generations to pay for debt that we have incurred. If we desire runaway debt, then we should pay for it in the form of increased taxation. A debtor nation that spends borrowed and printing- press monies creates irresponsible voters and elected officials.

A wise man once said, "A government that promises you everything that you want takes everything you got."

-- Dick Griffith

Anchorage

Capital budget's first draft shortchanges the Valley

Facts can't be ignored. The Matanuska-Susitna valley area (particularly District 15) is the fastest growing area of our state, with the dubious honor of having some dangerous roads or, in some residents' cases, no roadways.

The imbalance in the first draft of the capital budget that directs funds is shameful. Clearly a disproportionate amount is going to the Bush and Anchorage, and disappointment doesn't begin to describe what the citizens at our end of the state should feel. A reduced budget should be equal, but this draft doesn't begin to address equality.

How did the area with the third largest population be so shockingly ignored when it came time to make these crucial decisions?

Anchorage residents who own property and plan to retire here should be outraged as well. Don't expect any infrastructure when you get here!

The first draft of the Senate Finance Capital Budget is full of disparity for Valley residents.

It's popular to say, "Do the math." That's what residents of the Valley should be telling our legislators, who have just a few days to fix this before they recess.

-- Terry Snyder

Big Lake

Begich won fair and square; special election unnecessary

Having a special election for senator is ridiculous. Mark Begich won fair and square.

The only people to blame for Ted Stevens' not filling the senator seat are those who did not vote for him because they had no faith in him. Now they are feeling guilty and want a special election to clear their conscience.

You can't expect to have a special election every time something doesn't go your way, or every election would be challenged because of something: A sign was too close to an election place, a misleading commercial, etc.

You need to make certain you do your research and vote correctly the first time.

I supported Stevens and I have no regrets.

-- Laura Kelly

Anchorage

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