Begich tried to use procedure to block Sunstein nomination

I would like to reply to Julie Hasquet's clarification of what she deemed as confusion of the Cass Sunstein nomination votes cast by Sen. Mark Begich. The letter I wrote was published on Saturday, Sept. 12, but it was written after the cloture vote and before the confirmation vote.

Sen. Begich, along with everyone else, knew that if cloture was passed, Cass Sunstein would be nominated by a simple majority. His only chance to stop this nomination was to hold hearings and stand up to his party as he'd claimed he would do, but he failed in this. Alaska voters aren't going to be fooled by gestures such as voting no on the nomination when it was meaningless. -- David Roe

Anchorage

Some would be glad to know what the president has to say

To Ms. Dalton's editorial asking for a rest from Obama's talk, I would desperately like to know what Obama has said. I have no TV reception where I live so I get the ADN, but they never print the speeches, just the reactions to them.

-- Donna Klecka

Eagle River

Health insurance is to protect against catastrophic losses

In her excellent and insightful Sept. 23 column "Let's call it illness insurance," Elise Patkotak bemoans the fact that her health insurance does not cover preventive care. She confuses health insurance with a health care benefit. Both are important, but they are two very different things.

Insurance is to protect you financially against catastrophic loss. Thus the proper role of health insurance is to protect you against catastrophic medical bills.

Since medical problems caused 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies in 2007, and 78 percent of those filers had medical insurance at the start of their illness, the current system is not working and needs reform.

There are excellent arguments to be made for mandating preventive care, but that is a discussion about providing health benefits, not insurance.

As a nation, we need to come up with health care reform that addresses both health insurance and health care benefits. It would simplify things if people kept the distinction clearly in mind.

-- Chris Dickey

Anchorage

Outside hunters' lust for the best hurts quality of our game

Rod Arno's letter explaining how aerial hunting is allowing more nonresident trophy hunting was at best misleading and glossed over many unpleasant truths.

When aerial hunting returned under Gov. Frank Murkowski ,we were told it was to increase ungulate numbers for subsistence hunters. But the large majority of the program has been carried out near road systems, thus benefiting mainly urban hunters.

Now a surplus has been declared and we see how trophy hunting may be increased. The Board of Game, which sets hunting regulations, is composed almost entirely of Alaska Outdoor Council members. The AOC, in turn, receives significant funding from such Outside groups as Safari Club International, an organization of trophy hunters. The interconnectedness of this all becomes apparent.

The law does require meat be salvaged but as many villagers will tell you often the meat that comes from these extended-stay hunts isn't even dog food.

Finally, consider what Mr. Arno's trophy hunters want: the best. Each year wealthy Outsiders come to Alaska to kill the biggest moose, the biggest caribou or bear or sheep, etc. Each year the gene pool is decreased in quality by the loss of the best.

-- Art Greenwalt , board member

Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Fairbanks

Public can regain control by financing political campaigns

It is not the angry right who will kill meaningful health care reform. It is congresspeople owned by corporate America.

It is not a party issue. Insurance companies may own the Republican party, but trial lawyers own the Democratic party. The solution is public financing of national political campaigns. Once elected, congresspeople lose interest in such reforms. Election to national office automatically gives access to lavish corporate "donations." We, the public, must demand reform. After all, Congress was elected to serve the public, not corporations.

There are those who would say "We cannot afford public financing of political campaigns." We cannot afford not to.

-- Alan Van Horne

Kenai

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