Tourism industry provides a sustainable economy

The Compass by Mr. Greg Wolf ("Alaska is poised to cash in on the future," Aug. 26) was a disappointment to me. He never mentioned the successful and sustainable economy we already have in the state -- tourism.

The tourism economy serves a domestic, national and international clientele. It is a sustainable economy that supports many residents in this state. People are coming from all over the planet to see a natural, scenic and unique landscape, a landscape that lets visitors observe plants and animals interacting as they have for millennia without the human impact felt in almost any other place on earth. This is valuable!

Here is a location that illustrates some of the balances and dynamics in the biosphere that we must learn from, respect and emulate so that we, too, are able to live in harmony with our only Earth.

Nowhere in Mr. Wolf's piece did I see a reference to "environmentally sound development" nor a statement about "sustainable economies" that should be in the forefront of any discussions on these most important matters.

-- Rick Ernst

Trapper Creek

Navy SEAL author from Aniak

It's interesting that former Navy SEAL, Matt Bissonnette, author of "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden" grew up in Aniak -- a Yup'ik word meaning, "place where it comes out."

-- Rick Boots

Anchorage

Mayor should be leading parade for Nunaka champs

In front of my fellow baseball and softball parents in this community, I want to address the mayor and Anchorage Assembly. I ask that you show us some positive leadership before your attention goes back to sitting on sidewalks.

Mayor, some of our future taxpayers and voters, the Nunaka Valley Little League Junior Girls Softball team, just won the 2012 World Series. This city is not declaring a parade?

Show us some leadership and recognize this work and call for a parade so this community can come out to welcome them back and show our recognition. The years these girls have worked to get to this very moment should not be forgotten so fast.

This is what a city should be focusing on, our youth and their contributions to putting Anchorage on the world screen.

-- Nancy Tone, RN

Anchorage

Third World countries live the Ryan budget vision

Are we, as a society, prepared for the results of Paul Ryan's (Republican vice presidential candidate) budget proposals?

He has constantly pushed for cutting welfare and most other social programs, and the associated government, based on his belief that these people are just lazy. Is this true?

Are we, as a people, prepared to ignore the poor and watch them beg and die in our streets? What about the children of these poor people? Do we allow them to perish also? What happens to the elderly after their life savings are gone for medical expenses? Do we expect their children to pay the $100,000 bill for their hospital stay?

Can we, as a society, really stand by and watch this happen? Are we to become so "self-centered?" Do we really want this extreme Republican vision of a smaller government to govern our society?

There are Third World countries living this vision of a small central government.

-- Steven Lyons

Anchorage