Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Nov. 20, 2014

Deport law-breaking corporations

Now that corporations are people, why can't we deport chronic lawbreakers like BP?

Geoff Kennedy

Anchorage

Haste makes waste — slow down

In the last five days, I've seen four cars totaled on the bridge over Ship Creek to Government Hill, and I've driven that span less than 10 times in that period. It's slick out there. Bridges freeze before roads. It seems like the city could figure that out.

For the last 20 years when I lived on Hillcrest Drive, we watched from our living room window almost nightly wrecks on Minnesota Drive where it crosses Chester Creek, by Westchester Lagoon. I've never seen it identified as a dangerous roadway by the state, perhaps because the engineers like to focus on intersections. I'm guessing that there's something wrong with those curves, inbound and outbound. But whether or not there is, most of those wrecks could've been avoided by slowing down. The sanding trucks always come along later.

I often drive too fast, too, but it's never too late to slow down.

Mike Macy

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Anchorage

Civil War was fought over slavery

Of course the War Between the States was fought over slavery. The Southern leaders viewed the election of Lincoln as a win for the abolitionists and therefore fired upon Fort Sumter. Sure, some non-slave owners saw the Northern troops invading their states as a provocation for fighting, but their slave-owning leaders were mainly afraid their economy would go bust without slavery. If Lincoln hadn't pursued and won the war we wouldn't be the United States of today with all our prestige and power and, who knows, some of the Southern apologists who write letters to the editor would probably still be attempting to obtain slaves.

Perhaps, though, shame of the history of slavery prompts some Southerners to deny the reason their states provoked the Civil War. But what does Gen. Grant's ownership of slaves, if indeed he did, have to do with the true reason the South seceded? I'm sure he obeyed the 13th Amendment after he went on to preserve the Union to the benefit of us all.

Dick Palmatier

Willow

Critical info left out of oil tax debate

Critical information was withheld from Alaskans by the Parnell administration on oil taxes in the last legislative session. Our consultants at Gaffney, Cline & Associates were kept from giving us their advice, and (partly) as a result, Alaska now faces serious budget problems.

Alaskans deserve to know the full truth of the matter, at long last. I'm calling on Gov.-elect Walker to convene open, televised hearings, with Gaffney-Cline, so that we may learn:

1. What was their assessment of ACES, before it was scrapped?

2. What is their view on SB 21?

3. What was their advice to Gov. Parnell and legislators, in closed door meetings?

4. What is their advice, going forward?

Then hold similar hearings with the state Department of Revenue, to ascertain how much revenue they anticipate, as a result.

With this information fresh in everyone's mind, the Legislature should then convene and arrive at a balanced budget. If legislators advocate the interests of others, over Alaskans, let them do so in the open light of day.

Although this Legislature is not likely to cooperate with the new administration, Alaskans are going to learn the truth of these matters, one way or another. Better for everyone, that we get these things out in the open, sooner, rather than later. All the better for dealing with the states fiscal problems, head-on.

Peter Blanas

Anchorage

Great leaders recognized in hindsight

Dean Cox argues that the Civil War was avoidable by compensating slave owners for their property. Hindsight is generally pretty good vision.

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Failed leadership you say. The failed leaders were all those prior to Lincoln who concocted all the compromises that kept slavery alive, thriving and growing. As compared to the Civil War, how easy would it have been to end slavery in 1809 when the law went on the books to stop importing slaves? Why didn't slavery end when they all knew how wrong it was? Answer: Everyone making the laws back then — framers, founding fathers — all had slaves and to end slavery would be the end to their commerce. How's that for some hindsight?

Great leader aren't recognized while they are in office and there are those that would still argue the greatness of Lincoln even though he's ranked as No. 1 among the great presidents. There are those who still despise FDR (No. 2) because of Social Security. A few years back America was the only industrialized nation in the world that didn't take care of its workforce. Obama may even surpass Lincoln as No. 1.

Patrick Knowles

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, 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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