Wake up to others' suffering
I read the heartbreaking story of the Stambaughs ("Death penalty would end punishment of victim's family," March 8). Their parents died with an unbearable heartbreak that only an incredibly strong family could endure, let alone go through parole request after parole request.
People need to wake up and understand -- you do not know their suffering.
Just like the couple who lost their beloved Rottweiler because someone baited the animal into a trap. That man should have been exiled to an island with a ball of string and a bait bucket. I felt their pain too.
Maybe all the right-to-lifers should go to the pound and try to save all those unwanted animals that are being killed for nothing.
-- Robin P. Smith
Anchorage
Money doesn't grow on trees
The city budget has swollen exponentially beyond inflation and growth, and the ADN has reported that the school budget has increased 80 percent in eight years. It seems our city/school leaders have been breathing the same toxic air as those who've led this nation into a financial crisis.
It doesn't take much more than elementary math to realize this can't continue. Close the cover on the fable; money does not grow on trees. And we, the people, need to take individual responsibility by electing leaders who walk a path we can afford. We also need to speak out at public hearings and not allow special interest groups to hijack those hearings.
-- JoAnne Yerkes
Anchorage
Decision good politics, bad policy
After boarding an early flight to a rural community on March 19, I notice an ADN article about the school district in the region to which I am traveling. They have a budget shortfall and may lay off staff and stop paying their bills. Once in the village, I hear about the hardships caused by ever-escalating food and fuel prices. The most vulnerable don't have money for both. I see village dwellings burnt down or partially charred. Many have started using wood to heat their homes, but the makeshift stoves some are using are often unsafe. Life in the village is becoming impossible, and many are planning on leaving. (Is that part of the plan?)
So it's striking when I arrive back in Anchorage later on this strange day and hear that our governor is planning on rejecting federal stimulus money directed towards education, emergency food assistance, energy and weatherization. Good politics, perhaps, but bad policy from what I've seen in the last several hours and in years working throughout our state.
Our governor needs to do more traveling -- within our state, keeping eyes and ears open. And not just when there is a photo op with a political luminary.
-- John Kokesh, M.D.
Anchorage
Hey, IRS, can I have money back?
It would be nice if the debt that I owe to the IRS could be returned to me as part of the stimulus package. I greatly dislike the idea that my earnings are helping to pay a bonus to those fellows at AIG.
-- Hank Warren
Eagle River
Mayoral pay cut replies revealing
I finally found a completely useful political article. Saturday's paper showed which mayoral candidates would take a voluntary pay cut.
Mr. Kendall says he can use less than the $114,000 amount as well as not use some of the other perks of office. As a resident of Anchorage who earns less than half that amount after I add my pay to my wife's pay and still manage to feed, cloth and house my family, I say any candidate that cannot give up a little will not get my vote.
Are these money-hungry politicians related to the bonus-hungry executives in the Lower 48?
Mr. Claman and Mr. Sullivan both are quoted as saying that the Salary and Emoluments Commission establishes the mayor's pay. As the head of the city, they can request the commission to lower some pay to help balance the budget. I don't know about them, but I would take a little less money if the choice was less pay or no job. Ask around, candidates; see what the city employees think. -- John Lime III
Anchorage
Spend only what we can afford
I can only assume that those who are picketing in the streets to spend the entire stimulus belong to one of two groups: the 32 percent that pay no federal taxes or the group that has enough income that they can pay their share and for those who can't.
True, money we don't spend will be spent by someone else. But we need a conversation on what it is going to cost Alaskans in the long run. Maybe you don't mind spending the Permanent Fund, but I do!
I am certain that Superintendent Comeau knows how to put the money to use, and with her $165,000 salary she can probably write a check for her $40,000 share of the national debt as well as another $40,000 for a non-tax contributor. If our schools were showing improvement I would say that it might be a good investment, but as shown over and over again, throwing more money at a problem does not necessarily translate into results. Investment? Or is it just more tax?
Can't we just for once, as a government, look at our income and spend somewhat less? Yes, I want it all and I want it now, but I can't afford it, so I will have to work a little longer -- not charge it to my grandchildren.
-- Lawrence H. Adams
Wasilla
Baseball coverage is horrible
Once again the Anchorage Daily News believes there are not enough baseball fans to warrant running the daily standings of the World Baseball Classic and spring training. They are wrong.
No standings appeared in Sunday and Monday's editions (March 15 and March 16).
It remains to be seen what day the Daily News will acknowledge the existence of the many baseball fans in Anchorage.
-- Michael Krug
Anchorage
Need for regulation is obvious
Saturday's "Cryptoquote" was from Alexander Hamilton, our first secretary of the Treasury: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls or government would be necessary."
Actions by corporation boards affect everyone -- in the way we live, what we have, what we do, even what we think. In effect, they govern. Yet corporation boards govern without being accountable except to their owners. They are not elected, and their primary aim, their bottom line, is to make money for shareholders, not to promote the general welfare.
The directors of AIG clearly are not angels, and we are seeing how they have "governed" without internal or external controls. This one egregious case should make clear that regulation of the structure and actions of corporations is not merely wise; it is essential.
Regulation of corporations is decried by self-styled "conservatives" in the name of their badly misused mantras "freedom" and "liberty." They call it "socialism," "communism," "fascism," etc. On the contrary, done by democratically elected legislatures and executive departments, appropriate and well-considered regulation of corporations is democracy in action. It is not just good government; it is essential. Why? Because corporations are not angels.
-- Fred Hillman
Anchorage
Alaska has a chance to reap benefits of energy efficiency
Alaska has the opportunity to create jobs, save money and reduce our carbon footprint by utilizing valuable weatherization and energy efficiency monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the Stimulus Act).
Hopefully, Gov. Palin will ultimately choose by April 3 to accept approximately $55 million for three very beneficial programs: weatherization assistance, energy efficiency and conservation block grants, and state energy conservation. If not, it will be time for the Legislature to act to obtain these important revenues for our state.
These programs represent outstanding investments in our future and will save money.
With respect to the energy efficiency and conservation block grants program ($8.5 million for our state), the monies can be used for many very helpful purposes, including developing or installing renewable energy technologies and implementing more efficient energy distribution technologies.
The weatherization program ($18.4 million for our state) would provide many families with energy savings assistance up to $6,500.
Sen. Begich and President Obama have demonstrated farsighted thinking in seeking to stimulate our economy with the long-lasting benefits that come from energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy conservation. It is now time for our state government to accept these monies and let us put them to work in our homes, businesses and communities.
-- Deborah L. Williams
Anchorage