Alaska News

Letters to the editor (3/27/11)

Time to get a grip on reality

First: Tell the Arabs we will not enforce the no-fly zone unless they pay us. We are broke. Second: Why people don't vote -- because there is an election every six months or less, we hate political ads. Third: Congress is prosecuting a baseball legend for lying to them. Where do they get the money to pay for lawyers? They are broke ... save the money, stupid, and get back to work and earn your money by balancing the budget. Did we really elect such stupid people who only take and cannot run a business?

Bring all our troops home, quit spending money on countries that hate us and use the troops to curb the drugs and illegals in this country. Have them help feed our poor and homeless. Get a grip on reality, for our sake.

-- Paul Felthauser

Palmer

Conserve oil for our grandkids

Fifty years from now oil could cost $1,000 a barrel. That may be far-fetched but it is also entirely possible. Let's assume that it's true. What's the rush with getting it out of the ground? We should treat it like the precious resource that it is. The faster we pump it, the sooner we run out. Let's be conservative. Our grandchildren will thank us for leaving some in the ground.

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-- Mike Casey

Eagle River

Legislature turns a blind eye

Oil revenues fund 90 percent of the state general fund, and the industry supports one of every three jobs here. With oil production declining at a faster rate than predicted, development being blocked at every turn and TAPS potentially heading for a premature shutdown, what is our future going to look like? I was born in Alaska, spent most of my adult life working and raising a family here; why isn't there more concern about the looming crises in front of us? Why is our Legislature so focused on short-term revenues and turning a blind eye to the problem: the long-term sustainability of our oil economy?

My question is simple: If you are against changing taxes to stimulate more investment, what is your plan? It is easy to be against something, but as leaders of this state, what do you envision for our future? My kids will be going to college soon; it is sad that they won't have opportunities that their father or grandfather had.

-- Eric Espe

Anchorage

Outsiders take Alaskans' game

This year, many Alaskans and their families will be denied meat and sport hunting privileges guaranteed and provided for them under the state Constitution. For years the state has breached the rights of many in order to politically show favoritism toward Alaska's wealthy big-game guides and their nonresident and foreign hunters. This denies families right of access to a common resource afforded under the Eighth Amendment of the Alaska Constitution. No nonresident or foreign national should be given access to Alaska's wildlife until every Alaskan who applies for a permit is awarded one based on availability of wildlife.

I hate to think of how many Alaskans will be forced to poach meat for their families this year because the state gave their hunting privileges to a nonresident or foreign national.

-- John A. Anderson

Kenai

Make gambling legal

Anchorage's property tax bubble has yet to pop, but when it does, it may be more like an explosion of unexpected costs. Each year property taxes continue to go in an upward fashion as if paychecks continue to go up and debt on properties goes down. The Assembly needs to get a handle on the School District and set a firm budget that is not abusive to the bond process as a scapegoat.

We need to seriously look at legalizing gambling in Anchorage, with specific regulations on how much of those profits goes to property tax relief and funds for education. Florida has a very successful track record and should be used as an example. Houses should be like any other commodity if a tax is to be applied, and that is just on the initial purchase. Implement a sales tax and ditch the property tax, but do not price families out of their hard-earned homes because we have a broken tax structure.

-- Ryan Kegley

Anchorage

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