To disagree makes us strong
Re: Dave Young-Williams' letter ("Tired of the bleating, hateful rants of purported newsman," Sept. 27):
Why is it that people who are not willing to give away everything they have worked hard to earn are labeled as racist, nationalistic, homophobic, war-loving and minority? Or anarchists, UnAmerican, etc.
The United States of America was founded upon the basis of being able to disagree with our leaders, neighbors, etc. It made us a stronger nation than everyone agreeing on everything. Have we forgotten there is such a concept of compromise? Or the fact there are two sides to every story? Apparently.
-- Yvonne Hubbs
Eagle River
Contract dispute is not witch hunt but search for the truth
Re: "Starr's witch hunt wastes money" (Oct. 1) -- I don't think so!
1. A lie is the intent to deceive.
2. On Dec. 9, 2008, Sharon Weddleton (CFO) e-mailed ex-Mayor Begich that November investment returns were "horrible," attached a spreadsheet detailing problems and suggested that PERS could be moved for "cosmetic" improvements.
3. Responding to Starr's request for the city's financial status, Ms. Weddleton advised that the situation was too complex for an e-mail response. This was after her e-mail to Begich!
4. The mayor is required to apprise the Assembly of the city's financial condition. Why didn't he? Why did Ms. Weddleton blow off the Assembly's request? Did the ex-mayor and CFO conspire in this? Why did the ex-mayor approve these contracts?
5. Would the Assembly have approved the union contracts knowing the true situation? 6. At the Assembly's direction, the city attorney is investigating and will report in mid-November.
This is not a "witch hunt," but an effort to find out what happened, who's lying and if crimes have been committed.
-- Harry Young
Eagle River
People here bring beauty too
I have the privilege of looking east toward the mountains out of my office window, and have enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and foliage a great deal this year. Nature is truly awe inspiring, and I am grateful for its beauty and majesty.
I am also grateful for the work that has been done by many others in this community over the years to make this a much more liveable city.
The fountain in front of the Loussac Library is one such example. I have had the pleasure of its company all summer and fall, and what a year to have been able to enjoy it. The water, its spray and the light shining through has been remarkable at times. Truly beautiful in fact, and I reminded of the work of Kay Linton and many others who supported her efforts in fixing the fountain after years of neglect.
In Kay's memory and the other, thank you very much. You have brought beauty through my window.
-- Christopher Jay
Anchorage
Health care plan reasonable
As a mental health care professional, I have seen the suffering of many people who are unable to seek help for personal and family problems because they have no insurance which would help them receive services privately, or because they must wait for assistance at one of the few sliding-fee-scale, government-funded agencies in the Mat-Su valley.
It is time to reform our health care system. The government already provides health care coverage for government employees, veterans, military personnel, the poor who qualify for Medicaid, people with serious disabilities, Native Americans and senior citizens. It seems time for the government to assist other people who work but who have not been able to purchase private insurance.
President Obama's plan offers this assistance. I urge people to read for themselves the health reform ideas that the president proposes. The ideas are reasonable and thoughtful.
-- Vivian Finlay
Wasilla
Few options for self-employed
Both my husband and I are self-employed. I am an artist and he is a real estate agent. Our money is earned randomly -- sometimes enough and sometimes not enough.
I stopped paying for health care back in 2003 when even catastrophic health insurance proved too expensive. Fortunately Doug is taken care of under the VA. That government-run program enabled him to have his double hip replacements and get him back to a solidly healthy lifestyle of hiking and outdoor life.
I don't dare get sick. I want coverage, I can't afford it and I would jump at the chance of a government-option health care plan. You who are currently covered because you work for a company may not understand that as a sole proprietor I don't have many options.
-- Mary Hertert
Anchorage
Alaska's wild game is farmed for benefit of Outside hunters
In Ann R. Whipple's letter ("To those in Alaska's Bush, wild meat is worth protecting," Sept. 25) she made the case that predator control should be OK in Alaska because ranchers and farmers in the Lower 48 practice it. She then asked if there were any questions. Well, I have one. When did we start farming our wildlife in Alaska?
In the past year under intensive management 259 wolves and 89 bears have been killed in their natural habitat in the wilds of Alaska, not raiding Farmer John's henhouse. Because the Department of Fish and Game would rather not have you see the graphic depiction of this slaughter they will not release these photos for publication.
Now, Rod Arno tells us that because of predator control the department has been able to issue more of the higher-priced nonresident hunting permits bringing in increased revenue ("Predator-prey management benefits hunters from here, Outside," Sept. 23). So the department benefits financially from predator control. We are essentially game farming for the benefit of out-of-state trophy hunters. If the motivation behind this extreme measure was simply to feed subsistence hunters, these nonresidents would have been excluded.
-- Linda Donegan
Anchorage
Blue Ice trail a great bike ride
Portage Valley's Trail of Blue Ice extension is now complete. We rode it a couple days ago and were absolutely entranced by the beauty. The trail, which runs between the Portage Glacier Visitor Center and the Moose Flats Day Use area, is less than 10 miles round trip over a flat route whose surface is superbly designed for walking, running, skiing -- and best of all, easy biking.
It wanders through the woods away from the road, providing access to a wonderful encounter with one of the northernmost reaches of Southeast's fabled rain forest. Tall Sitka spruce, beaver ponds, eagle perches, salmon streams, huge amounts of bright green moss, waterfalls ... vistas everywhere.
Park at either end and take a bite to eat for a rest stop at the other end. Explore side trails. Smell the freshness. Hear the rustle of falling leaves. Spot wildlife galore. It's nature at its best in a leisurely, relaxed bike trip and so close to Anchorage. Go!
-- Steve Williams
Anchorage
Radio Right uses its fallacies to further the agenda of fear
OK, dittoheads, time to sprinkle some learning into your brainwashing cycle. Count the seconds before one of these fallacies comes from your radio. (Before we start, I'm not saying left-wing loudmouths are innocent, it's just that Radio Right attracts a much larger audience in Alaska.) Ready? Go!
The False Cause fallacy has the propagandist putting forth two unrelated facts and claiming one causes the other, such as: People eat ice cream in summer. People drown in summer. Eating ice cream causes drowning. Or: The recession got rolling this year. Obama became president in 2009. Obama caused the recession.
Appeal to Fear fallacy: If you do x, y will occur. y is scary, so don't do x. If x equals health-care reform with a public option, Radio Right equates y with socialism, euthanasia, death squads, etc.
The ad hominem fallacy has the propagandist attacking the person instead of the policy. Met a "birther" lately? Some have even labeled Obama a racist, also a form of "Hit 'Em Where YOU'RE Weak" propaganda, which we'll discuss in our next lesson.
-- Tony Bickert
Anchorage
Dimond-Old Seward a mess
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the messed-up traffic pattern at the intersection of Old Seward and Dimond? If the traffic manager and his staff are mad at the mayor for reducing their staff and budget, don't take it out on John Q Public.
In fact, maybe the mayor could get rid of the entire department and replace them with chimpanzees; they would only work for bananas and probably do a better job.
In all seriousness, the traffic backs up so badly in the left-turn lane heading east that trying to get onto Brayton is like playing a game of "Frogger."
Come on, let's reevaluate the pattern and correct your screw-up.
-- Pete Rasher
Anchorage