Romney proves himself no diplomat

In spite of Mr. Romney's vaunted decision-making skills, his analysis of the preparations made by the London Organizing Committee proved to be completely wrong. The manner and place where he made his remarks showed a complete lack of diplomatic acumen, an essential skill needed for anyone who aspires to be president. Calling Boris Johnson, Lord Mayor of London, a buffoon, without supplying any factual evidence to support this derogative term, denigrates the writer more than Mr. Johnson.

-- Peter Jenkins

Eagle River

Take a pass on this Paul supporter

For Republican voters in Senate District C, one choice that GOP voters must sift through and pass on is David Eastman of Palmer. Eastman is well known in the state for his support of the Ron Paul presidential campaign. He is well versed in Ron Paul talking points but tends to be speechless when it comes to specifics on actual public policy. Although I am a Ron Paul supporter, I see a real problem with the Ron Paul faithful being able to translate the energy and enthusiasm of the Ron Paul campaign to working with others who do not share the Paulian political dogma. The Ron Paul supporters in Alaska need to work on etiquette and not burn bridges, but build friendly alliances. Essentially, if Eastman were elected, he would be a polarizing minority of one, who, while keeping his philosophy pure, would get nothing done.

-- Michael Dunton

Fairbanks

Some good legislative choices

I am writing to ask voters in "the Lakes" to vote for Lynn Gattis for the state House. Gattis is a farmer, a pilot and a longtime Alaska resident who knows the people of her district and who will be effective in serving her district. In the North Pole area, vote for Lynette Bergh for state House. A social and fiscal conservative, she will be an effective advocate for the residents of District 1.

In Senate D, please vote for Mike Dunleavy. Previously, Linda Menard raised $20,000 on her word that she would NOT join the bipartisan working group. When elected, Menard joined it. Menard now insults us by sending fliers asking for support as a member of the bipartisan working group and against the Republican Coalition. Such duplicity deserves rejection by voters. Dunleavy is a solid Republican conservative who deserves your vote.

-- Barbara Haney

North Pole

Vote on Proposition 2 depends on feelings about life in Alaska

I was having difficulty deciding whether to vote yes or no on Proposition 2. Because the news and mailed literature weren't helping, I read the proposed Alaska Coastal Management Program Act. Then I read the sunsetted Coastal Management Act that Proposition 2 is to replace and compared the two. I discovered they are similar and that the new act addresses the same goals as the old act.

Which means -- if I have been happy enough with any changes in the quality of fishing, boating and hunting in Alaska over the past 30 years and also believe there has been adequate employment opportunity and development during that time, I will vote for Proposition 2.

If, however, I believe Alaska will always have enough fishing, boating and hunting resources for the future and that Alaska experienced unreasonable unemployment and restricted development over the past 30 years, I will vote against Proposition 2.

If I have been happy enough -- yes; if not -- no. Now I know how I will vote.

-- Kelly Fisher

Anchorage

Decisions about exemptions to property tax should be local

Ballot Measure 1 does not change residential property tax exemptions. It simply allows each local government and its voters to make the decision themselves of potentially granting a larger tax exemption for home owners within their own municipalities. They cannot do so now under state law.

Such a decision should be made locally. Apparently, municipal leaders in Fairbanks want to extend additional property tax relief to homeowners. Our leaders in Anchorage, however, apparently do not want to do so.

Each municipality and its voters should have the right to make this decision for themselves. They should not be prevented from doing so by state law. Also, local leaders should not be allowed to avoid the issue by telling homeowners that state law prohibits any property tax relief.

If additional property tax relief is available and debated, maybe the municipality might also consider reducing expenses!

Measure 1 is simply a matter of local control and tax relief. Give each municipality the right to decide for itself. Vote yes on Measure 1.

-- Ken Jacobus

Anchorage

In education and health care, we just don't get what we pay for

Wow! The opinion page Aug. 22 addressed two of my hottest personal issues: public education and health care. In both cases nationally we pay the most and rank poorly.

Joann Pantages' well-written "Public education system needs competition" summed up my feelings well. Thank you.

Ron Fuhrer, the president of the NEA, a union that does more to further the interests of teachers than students, wrote the usual platitudes, needing more money among them. The fundamental issues are choice, quality and our ability to compete in the global economy.

If money could solve all our problems, we'd graduate at least 95 percent of high school students prepared for the world right now, given the bill we pay. If you want to see what the NEA does for education, rent the movie "Waiting For Superman."

Crippling costs and inequity sum up our health care. Obamacare doesn't address the real issues.

Elise Patkotak's "Everyone in the US should have health care" is more to the point. One of the rare times I agree with her.

-- William Ahrens

Eagle River