Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Oct. 1, 2014

Hand over responsibility?

Concerning the article (ADN Sunday) about Scott Hawkins seeking to restrict "nuisance" ballot initiatives: It is easy to understand why Hawkins and his affiliated groups would wish to eliminate voter initiatives. Even though it has been amply demonstrated that massive infusions of money can determine the outcome of an initiative, and that the Legislature can co-opt an initiative with the intent of gutting it later, it is all just so irritating to have to go through those steps.

Decisions about things like habitat destruction from giant mines and the giveaway of Alaska's resources and money to huge multinational corporations should be made by those who have the intelligence to understand such things, and the benevolence to want to do what's best for the rest of us.

In fact, why not eliminate all of that pesky voting altogether and adopt a simpler government than our messy democratic system?

Leif Simcox

Anchorage

Obamacare saved this life

I guess I drive a snowmachine like Mark Begich. I'm terrible at it. I have always hated them. Loud, obnoxious machines that drowned out the beautiful silence of Alaska. But I drove a dog team 1,100 miles in the Iditarod and didn't have to dis people who chose a different way of life.

Yesterday I had a double mastectomy. Without Obamacare I would have been dead by next year. So I am grateful for a president who quietly and with great determination made sure all Americans had a shot at health care. I think the discourse of this election has been shameful. Alaskans used to be able to accept each other and joyously celebrate our differences. Now there is this loudmouth Spill, Drill, Kill bunch of bullies who think they run things when what we need is determination, courage and kindness. Mark Begich isn't perfect. Neither am I. I'm voting for him anyway.

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Shelley Gill

Homer

Educating refugees candevelop the work force

Andrew Halcro's excellent column in Monday's paper on the need for workforce development focused on improving public school education. Another rich source of workers in our midst, who also need a strong educational foundation, are the refugees seeking safety, security and hope. For four decades, their English language education has been provided typically by volunteer teachers at the Alaska Literacy Program (formerly Anchorage Literacy Project).

But in the last 10 years, ALP's mostly grant-driven budget has dropped 36 percent and the nonprofit's staff has dropped 61 percent — at the same time the number of students has barely dropped. In 2004, ALP had about 520 students; in 2014 so far, 474. This quarter's session has a waiting list of 35 students and growing, because the number of volunteer teachers has dropped 23 percent.

Most students pay a modest fee for classes and books. The students I have observed over the years work diligently, sometimes two jobs, and gratefully pay taxes because they know they are helping pay for all the services we Americans take for granted. I invite Mr. Halcro and the Chamber of Commerce members he leads to join the fight for social justice by promoting adult literacy — it can only make our community stronger.

— Catherine Stadem, ALP volunteer

Anchorage

Fight cartels: Legalize pot

Regarding Craig Medred's thoughtful Sept. 24 column, Big Marijuana already exists in the form of violent drug cartels. These are ruthless people who cut off heads to resolve business disputes, sell drugs to anyone regardless of age, and have a vested financial interest in providing cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin to consumers. Like it or not, marijuana is here to stay. We can collect taxes on legal marijuana or we can subsidize drug cartels. Punitive marijuana laws have little, if any, deterrent value. Despite the dire predictions of drug warriors, the sky is not falling in Colorado. There is no societal benefit to having consumers purchase untaxed, unregulated and potentially unsafe marijuana from criminals. It's time to put public health before culture war politics. We can close the gateway to hard drugs by taxing and regulating legal marijuana.

— Robert Sharpe, policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.

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, email letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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