Don't bother writing to Begich about health care; he won't reply

A word of caution to those that would communicate to Sen. Begich their concerns about O'Bama's health care bill. Don't bother!. I've written three letters to the senator about the bill stripping $500 billion from Medicare and the negative effects that it would have on Alaska seniors. I received "one" form letter in reply! The reply didn't address even one of my concerns.

-- Don Rousseau

Anchorage

Take Federal Reserve to task

The criminal acts of Federal Reserve members are now so clearly identifiable it should be an embarrassment to Alaska's attorney general. Now is the time to aggressively prosecute the criminals in our financial services industry who are gambling the entire world into poverty.

Our Federal Reserve should be helping to finance infrastructure, agriculture, and industry, not hyper-inflating our currency to bail out the self-destructive derivatives market. We must finally realize our failure to prosecute the criminals and investing in new productive capacity can only mean a collapse into a decades-long world depression.

-- Charles E. Duncan

Anchorage

Parnell not protecting our waters

A big thanks to Sens. French and Wielechowski and to Reps. Doogan, Gara, Gardner, and Kerttula for protesting Gov. Parnell's forced resignation of the recently appointed clean water advocate, Gershon Cohen, to the advisory panel for the cruise ship wastewater treatment issues.

The Parnell administration seems to be a replay of the past two administrations under Murkowski and Palin, by cozying up to the tourist industry that wants to destroy the very oceans and wildlife on which it depends.

Because of the initiative passed by Alaskans two years ago, I am sure most Alaskans feel that a clean water advocate on the panel is more important than a "dirty water advocate."

Perhaps we need a new governor who will appoint a commissioner of DEC who will adequately protect Alaska's lands and waters from industrial pollution.

I recently did an eight-day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef where every passenger happily paid an Environmental Tax and all cruise ships are being further upgraded to higher standards of sewage discharge than currently exist.

-- Barbara Winkley

Anchorage

Supreme Court ruling on corporate giving all wrong

If this is to be a government for the people and by the people, the rights of the people need to be ensured and protected above the rights of corporations. This Supreme Court decision spelled out the reality of our oligarchy and the domination of corporations in our political system. I want to live in a democracy where my rights and access are protected and I am represented by you, not the corporations who have the Big $$$.

-- Elayne Hunter

Anchorage

Murkowski, work on ANWR issue

It is time for Sen. Lisa Murkowski to put her "money where her mouth is." I recall when she was running for the senate she said she was the one who could get the job done opening ANWR. She has a golden opportunity to fulfill that pledge. Since she can now be the 60th vote for health care reform she can have almost anything she wants. We've been waiting in Alaska for a long time for this opportunity, and she should be most happy to step up for her fellow Alaskans.

-- Janis Taylor

Anchorage

Legislative bureaucracy unneeded

Did you know that in Juneau it takes an average of two years for a bill to be submitted, processed and passed? Did you know that every bill must go through the Finance Committee whether it is requesting money or not? Many of the bills submitted are domestic, housekeeping bills, not requesting money or any other type resources.

Rather than paying extra for an extended session, why not use that money to fund an office that does nothing but manage domestic housekeeping bills so as not to clutter the process needed for more critical bills?

I am told that the way things are done on the hill in Juneau cannot be changed. Whatever happened to the concept of "... for the people and by the people."? We have grown dependent and stupid for allowing our machines and institutionalized processes to rule us instead of serving us.

-- Pat Wendt

Anchorage

Murkowski should pull Sealaska bill and listen to communities

Thanks for the coverage of Alaska State Sen. and Sealaska Board member Al Kookesh's attempt to strong-arm Prince of Wales Island residents into supporting a federal bill to re-open the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and cherry pick lands for logging and privatization throughout Southeast Alaska.

Many residents have avoided speaking out against the bill in the hope that a long-term, multi-stakeholder process could come up with a solution that works for Sealaska and Southeast communities. Unfortunately, hope for a balanced community-supported approach is fading and Sen. Kookesh is not the only one to blame. Sen. Murkowski is pushing a stand alone Sealaska bill in the U.S. Congress that could, ironically, be bundled in the coming months with wilderness bills coveted by Senate Democrats.

The Sealaska legislation, as it stands now, flies in the face of recent collaborative efforts, is not supported by Southeast residents, and smacks of backdoor politicking, not sound public policy-making. Sen. Murkowski should pull this bill and work with affected communities to foster cooperation and not reward threats and power politics.

-- Tim Bristol

Juneau

Property tax appraisal shocking

I wanted to add to the several recent letters regarding property tax appraisals. I was shocked to see my 2010 appraisal land value increase 19 percent and the structure 4.2 percent. With the current state of the economy and housing market I cannot fathom what this city department is doing.

I was particularly confounded to see that the nearest of the five comparables was 10 miles away in another community and the most distant was 17 miles. My home is in an established neighborhood with plenty of comparable homes. From my viewpoint this is a simple case of government mismanagement, with the taxpayer the victim.

-- Sam Johnson

Chugiak

Impeach 'Supreme Court 5'

The recent 5-to-4 party-line ruling by the Supreme Court, effectively granting corporations the right to buy our government, fails to even distinguish between U.S. corporations and multinationals or even foreign-owned corporations. It is thus an act of treason warranting impeachment and removal of the "Supreme Court 5." Predictably, these are all Republican appointees.

-- Lars Opland

Wasilla

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