Letters to the editor (5/13/09)

Few things in today's culture disgust me more than the moral relativism of the anti-torture crusaders. How does one argue the moral superiority of opposing a few harsh interrogation measures against a single-digit handful of enemy prisoners at Guantanamo, when those measures could prevent the far worse torture of thousands, tens of thousands, even millions of your fellow citizens? For those who are not killed, but merely maimed, burned or disfigured in indiscriminate terrorist bombings -- and for the victims of 9/11 -- is not the "torture" they endured indescribably more horrific than anything the prisoners at Guantanamo face from CIA interrogators?

This crusade against "torture" is a lie. If torture was the issue, you wouldn't have opposed removing Saddam Hussein. You would be protesting the rapes, beheadings and other atrocities that are daily fare in the Islamic world. You'd be crying out for the tens of millions slaughtered across Africa in recent decades.

-- Bob Andrews

Anchorage

Let's declare independence from those idiots down south

Are you content with the stupid, greedy financial management in the Lower 48 U.S.A. states dragging down our economy and potentially destroying the value of our currency soon? Are you happy to let a federal government down south stop us from developing our offshore and mineral resources and our land? If not, then let's stand up for independence! Let's join with all peoples in arctic lands to declare our "Polar Federation" as an independent nation under the Great Spirit.

-- Dan Russell

Willow

Card Check isn't new; it has a long history among unions

I have been hearing a lot of political noise about "Card Check" or the Employee Free Choice Act and how it will ruin the "secret ballot."

Let's be clear: Card Check is nothing new. It is an organizational tool used by unions since the beginning. It is simply putting your name down on a piece of paper saying that you would like to join a union, much like how anyone puts down their name to be on a mailing list.

The Employee Free Choice Act would take this sign-up method and turn it into a valid form of union creation, making it easier to unionize. In a state where 25 percent of workers are uninsured and the cost of living keeps rising with higher gas costs, it only makes sense to offer more choice to workers looking to form a better life. Rep. Don Young and Sen. Mark Begich have signed on in support of helping Alaska's working class; why does Sen. Lisa Murkowski feel the need to skirt the issue of helping Alaskans?

-- Rachel Moore

Anchorage

Errors make us look bad, so editor's eye should be sharper

Re 2009 Visitors' Guide/Dining Section and Tuesday's Sports section -- it looks like we're hooked on phonics in the Great Land. At Kinley's, they serve a saute of candy striped and golden "beats." Dane Ferguson talked about his friend who had "past" away.

Come on, don't you have spell-check? I can almost excuse the Ferguson quip, as you were quoting from his blog. Putting out a guide for all who will visit our state with that type of carelessness, however, just makes us look like hicks.

-- Keri Scaggs

Anchorage

Don't treat terrorists like run-of-the-mill criminals

It would seem that 9/11 has been forgotten, with all the people worried about whether a terrorist was mistreated or not. These people do not think like us. They obviously do not value life the way we do. So how is it they should be handled like a run-of-the-mill criminal?

The death and destruction terrorists cause should be evidence enough to know they are different and therefore should be treated as such. Enhanced interrogation techniques are the only way a message is received.

Our justice system is useless when it comes to dealing with a terrorist. I'm surprised there is so much difficulty with this.

-- Daniel Hellyer

Wasilla

For Point Thomson, thanks

Thank you, Gov. Palin, Commissioner Tom Irwin and Deputy Commissioner Marty Rutherford. Finally, Exxon is doing more at Point Thomson than putting words on paper. Real drilling going on! While the media and talk show spouters did not give credit to the aforementioned leaders, I want to acknowledge their willingness to stand up to Exxon and insist on more than just meaningless words on paper. Kudos!

-- John Wolfe

Wasilla

Maybe Fagan should look in the mirror

I nearly fell out of my chair when I read Dan Fagan's opinion ("New mayor well equipped to lead city in new direction," May 10) Sunday morning:

"Nobody likes a naysayer, a critic, an obstructionist. You know, the guy who is always trying to put a damper on things, slow down progress, etc., and so on ..." Dan went on to laud mayor-elect Dan Sullivan, which is fine, but I could not help but wonder as Fagan offered this reflection if he'd taken time to listen to any of his own broadcasts, written or otherwise? Food for thought eh?

-- Ken Flynn

Anchorage

So-called free market is a lie

In Sunday's editorial ("Just what happened?" May 10), you wrote "Government interference doesn't explain the subprime mortgage debacle or the decline of the U.S. auto industry."

As far as Detroit, I can't imagine you haven't heard of CAFE standards, import quotas, or the UAW? The first forces the big three to produce certain cars at a loss, the second lessens competition and the last is what you must join to work at the big three.

Finance and lending? I can't imagine you haven't heard of the Federal Reserve, FDIC, SEC, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act, the American Dream Down Payment Act, HUD, or the FHA? These all distort the market.

If this doesn't qualify as interference, nothing will. To call this a free market is dishonest.

The U.S. is moving to a system where people have only nominal control of their private property. The system of the controlled market is called fascism, pioneered in Italy in the 1920s. ADN: have the guts to say what you actually want.

-- Ashley King

Wasilla

The blame game continues

We always want to find out who is to blame for our troubles. Most recently our Democratic Senators Begich and Murkowski (no misprint) voted for the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act while our Republican Congressman voted against it.

Possibly the first place to find blame is in the mirror. We can't do that for it would be an admission that we might have looked at quick easy money as a way to increase our wealth.

The Congressional Research Service came up with over two dozen causes for the current crisis so why do we need to spend millions of dollars more? To find a scapegoat. I guarantee you it will not be a mirror. I guarantee you it will not be a Democrat.

My money is on a Republican going to disgrace and jail because that is how the blame game works. If there is one thing we have been able to learn in the first couple of months of the Obama Administration it is that public money will be spent to settle grudges, silence opposing views and pay off political allies.

-- Arthur Solvang

Anchorage

Arctic 'upgrade' ruins the road

I realize the Midtown "upgrade" on Arctic Boulevard has been with us for some time, but I simply cannot yet fathom how it is considered to be an improvement. The redesign took a perfectly good four-lane street and turned it into a three-lane slalom course. Lanes appear then disappear; islands pop up at intersections and heaven help the driver unfamiliar with the layout when the winter snow covers the lane markers.

As a taxpayer, I certainly hope I'm not expected to fund additional projects of this nature. I'd love to know if the residents and merchants along this stretch of road feel that they've been well served?

-- Richard W. Garner

Anchorage