Alaska News

Readers write: Letters to the editor, July 11

No respect for Miller

Joe Miller lied about his illicit use of computers while working for the Fairbanks North Star Borough and then, after the records he tried to keep hidden were made public, lied again about having lied to begin with.

He cheated an elderly gentleman out of a $1,500 generator after purchasing a piece of real estate in Willow from the man. Throughout their negotiations the man repeatedly stated he would retrieve his generator and other personal property should they finalize the terms of sale. After they did, Miller threatened to have the seller arrested if he set foot on the property to reclaim those items. This was thoroughly detailed in a two-part series in the Alaska Dispatch as was the dubious land trust Miller then set up using a friend of his wife as trustee, this friend later admitting she did not understand at all what she was signing.

Miller's hypocrisy has been demonstrated through his railings against government "largesse," yet having his hand out, year after year, for a farm subsidy in Kansas (did Farmer Joe actually grow anything?) as well as falsely claiming "hardship" to obtain a greatly discounted hunting and fishing license following his move to Alaska. Those Ivy League lawyers (Yale) sure have it rough.

Most Alaskan adults have heard of Miller's thugs manhandling and handcuffing an Alaska Dispatch reporter at a public event during his 2010 Senate campaign. Why Miller felt the need to surround himself with this unlicensed cadre of bullies is anyone's guess. We can only infer a strong quota of paranoia on Miller's part, as further exemplified by his ridiculous, public funds-consuming suit against those who revealed his malfeasance in regard to his aforementioned employment in Fairbanks.

Vote for Joe Miller? No way, Jose.

— Martin Becker
Fairbanks

Literacy starts at birth

Last week the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that it is asking its 62,000 members to tell parents to read to their children beginning at birth. For the first time, doctors will promote early literacy as part of a standard of care.

This groundbreaking step adds a formalized pathway for delivery of this critical information: what happens in early brain development affects individuals for the rest of their life.

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This irrefutable understanding should form the basis for Alaska's education policies and spending. When I served on Alaska's Ready to Read, Ready to Learn Task Force, we learned that nearly half of the children who enter school are unprepared to read or learn. We can change that dismal statistic.

Alaska should be a committed partner in providing a mix of early childhood opportunities. Preschool should be available for low or no cost to every family who wants it. Support for parents, as modeled by the Best Beginnings coalition, should be available to any family. The state, alongside businesses and foundations, should ensure that every new Alaskan is enrolled in the Imagination Library, which mails a book each month to youngsters from birth until age 5.

I am the only candidate for governor who has stated unequivocally that education is my No. 1 priority. Why? It grows everything else: capable, productive citizens; innovation; and a skilled workforce. All of which contribute to a robust economy and reduce dependence on public services. That's a win-win.

— Byron Mallott
Candidate for Governor
Anchorage

Give SB 21 probationary period

With all the back and forth about Prop 1 over the past few months, the one suggestion that I have not seen involves giving the new tax program a chance for a year or two ... a probationary/trial period. And if it doesn't come close to doing what its supporters tell us it will do, then have our legislators make adjustments. They have spent over two years producing what we are now arguing over. Instead of throwing all that time and effort out the window, why not give it a chance? Not only should making any needed adjustments in a year or two go more smoothly and quickly than having to start all over again from scratch, but also this approach would clarify exactly what, if any, changes are really needed.

— Jim Lieb
Palmer

Protest Enstar rate increase

The proposed increase of almost 50 percent for natural gas by Enstar is completely unacceptable and needs to be investigated by whomever regulates rate increases.

This amount of an increase , estimated to be about $400 per month for residential customers will drastically affect those of us on a fixed monthly income and our working poor ... those who are trying to work and do the right thing but are constantly being beaten down by this type of increase.

I liken it to a restaurant perhaps ordering too many hamburger buns based on their expectation of a busy weekend, and when that doesn't happen being stuck with too many buns. The seemingly best way to deal with it would be to lower the price of a hamburger in order to use up the excess ... certainly not to charge the customer more to make up for their error in good business management.

I am writing each of our senators, representatives as well as congressman asking for their help in this issue. Please join me as it's the "squeaky wheel that gets the grease."

This issue should not be ignored.

— Donna L. Adams
Wasilla

Too many dudes deciding

Not long after the 2012 election, I listened to a Politico editor analyze the results. He stated that he found Mitt Romney “oblivious” on social issues. “I doubt Mr. Romney gets out of bed every morning thinking about birth control.” Further, he stated, “I’m 58 years old and my wife is 56; we don’t think much about birth control either.”

Well, millions of women do. With the availability of birth control, they plan their families, their education and their careers.

Why is it (mostly) men and (mostly) Republicans seem to feel they are better equipped to make decisions on the use of birth control by women than the women who are impacted by these decisions?

Oh, for five women on the Supreme Court. …

— Heather Flynn
Anchorage

Money talks

August 19th is your chance to “Have Your Say on the Oil Giveaway!”

With all due respect, the projected $2 billion budget shortfall just ain’t workin’ out for me, so I’ll be voting YES on Prop 1. Money talks and in this case, it’s speakin’ loud and clear.

— Kate Veh
Soldotna

JBER Colonel's other legacy

Reference the JBER Arctic Warrior article on June 6, 2014, “Colonel Brian Duffy says farewell to JBER Alaska.” A very nice article about his stay at Elmendorf AFB and what he has accomplished during his tour of duty here.

I feel he missed the most controversial thing he did, the closing of Eagleglen Golf Course on Elmendorf, the most outstanding golf course in Anchorage and the state of Alaska. This course not only was home to the airmen and soldiers of JBER but also accommodated Anchorage civilians, military retirees, other Alaskans and also was a golfing choice for out-of-state visitors and visitors from countries like Canada, Japan and Korea.

I also know the members of the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels enjoyed it during their visits for “Arctic Thunder” air shows.

— Will Branstiter
Anchorage

Stealing from my garden

On Tuesday July 8th, I watered and tended to my beautiful flowers late in the evening, when the beautiful sun was setting in the west, I gave my flowers their time to rest.

I was up late speaking with a friend on the phone and enjoying the sunset.

Between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m two of my beautiful hanging basket of fresh blooming nasturtiums and a statue of a child pushing a wheelbarrow with the face looking up to the sky (a very heavy one, there were two) were taken. These summertime garden statues have been with me for years adorning my garden. Now they are gone.

I spend many hours tending my garden for all to enjoy, taking pride in where I live is my passion and no one should steal from me.

— Verona H. Gentry
Anchorage

Investigate ammo shortages

This is an open letter to our D.C. delegation, Begich, Murkowski, and Young:

I understand from a variety of people that there continues to be a shortage of .22 shells available for purchase by citizens. Manufacturers state that they are making the shells, but they don’t know where they are going. It has been suggested that the U.S. Gov’t is purchasing them, and stockpiling them. The right to bear arms is meaningless if you don’t have the ammunition to fire. We don’t just “keep and bear arms” to hunt. We “keep and bear arms” to protect ourselves from invading governments, a government run rabid, and from criminals. I call upon our representatives to demand an investigation for the continued shortage of ammunition.

— Amy Trush Henry
Wasilla

TV should rerun Legislature's SB 21 "debate"

There is no doubt that anyone who watched the legislative passage of SB 21 on “Gavel Alaska” will vote to repeal it as they would have witnessed every reasonable safeguard to protect Alaskan’s interests unceremoniously shot down.

Maybe “Gavel Alaska” could run that program again before the election so that people who missed it can see it and make a better, informed decision.

— Della Dempsey
Wasilla

How to land a monster halibut

I know that words can be a powerful tool, but I was not aware that the International Game Fish Association requires a few ill-chosen words — and yet disallows a shotgun — in order to bring in a record-class halibut. (ADN Page A1, July 8).

By sheer coincidence, the word “gaffe” was used, this time correctly, in another ADN story appearing on page A-6 on the same date, in the penultimate paragraph of the story, “Begich campaign, Republican group spar over operative’s ejection from Fairbanks event.”

— T. E. Meacham
Anchorage

Aliens should pay their own way

When I read the Obama administration wants $2 billion to process 40,000 “fleeing” minors, I said to my daughter, “That’s $50,000 per alien. How much does a bus ticket cost?”

She replied, “That’s for a bus ticket, attorney representation, housing, meals, medical care, and education. You know, all the stuff we Americans have to work for.” Now I see.

— Arlene Carle
Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, e-mail letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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