Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, Dec. 24, 2014

Why delay pot regulation?

Gov. Walker wants to extend the timeline for marijuana regulation. Grace Jang is quoted as saying the "new industry will require regulatory infrastructure that Alaska has to create from scratch …" (ADN Dec. 20).

Three thoughts:

1. The Alaska Department of Law lists the minutes from the Constitutional Convention, which took all of 72 days to complete. Voters have given the Legislature nine months.

2. Why start from scratch? There are four other examples already on the books: Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Alaska alcohol. Alaska is not them but we're close enough to start from their efforts. Think they have forgotten some little nook or cranny; it will be easier to identify if you don't start from scratch. The topics and subtopics ad nauseam are known, the outline is there. Four big flip charts and an outlined fifth ought to do it.

3. Nobody complained about the time frame before the ballot. Any legislator who didn't start thinking about this the day the initiative made the ballot hasn't been listening or doing their job. Lobbyists on both sides certainly have. If you cannot do the job, get out of the way for those who can.

Brian Bennett

Anchorage

ADVERTISEMENT

Headline was too provocative

In response to Mr. Wetherell's letter (Dec. 19): Re-read my letter of Dec. 15, which the ADN took upon themselves to re-title "Don't do the crime; stay alive." My title was "America in turmoil" (less provocative), and the letter went thus:

"Forget race, culture, education, age and drugs; the bottom line on the Ferguson, Mo., debacle is: If Michael Brown had not committed strong arm robbery/burglary of the Ferguson convenience store and had not committed assault and (technically) battery on the store clerk, Michael Brown would be alive today.

"End of story."

I wasn't giving advice or explaining anything. I was stating a fact.

— Terry L. Chambers

Anchorage

Give us the lights list

Please post the houses with the best Christmas lights. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

— Deb Reef

Anchorage

Tradition is priceless

When I was a child, my parents and brother and I would get the Anchorage Daily News and look at the map of the city's best Christmas lights. We would listen to the radio station and drive the route, looking at all the beautiful hard work the different communities had done.

This year Alaska Dispatch took over Anchorage Daily News and I haven't seen the map or anything related to the "city of lights" campaign. I became worried we had lost this institution. So I called ADN, and since the transition they haven't had time to do the map again. It made me really sad because she didn't know if they would do it next year. She asked me to write a letter to the editor to request it.

I know most of the people that see this won't realize what we are losing if we don't continue it, but believe me in this day and age, traditions like this are priceless. Sir or ma'am, I implore you to continue this tradition next year. The togetherness and unity that special occasions like this provide can never be reproduced. Please print this, and give us this small and yet huge community activity back next year.

— Kacey Bond

Anchorage

Article lacked certain details on insurance

While the article in Monday's (Dec. 22) paper regarding the cost to the state of Alaska for employee and retirement health insurance may be factually correct, what is missing are a few important aspects of retiree coverage. The article pointed out the large number of retirees and dependents covered under the state health care plan. It did not mention that coverage for retirees is available only after it is earned under the terms of employee coverage, typically a minimum of 10 years of service. If the employee retiring lacks sufficient time in service, he can be supported by a retiree-paid monthly premium, which easily may exceed $1,000 a month for a retiree and dependents. Optional vision and dental coverage require a separate retiree-paid monthly premium.

Additionally, all retirees covered by Medicare at the age of 65 automatically lose the state retiree insurance as the primary insurer. Medicare becomes the primary insurer for all claims and the state system pays less than 2 percent of the cost of most claims, also based on the Medicare allowable payment to the provider. The state insurance therefore acts as the Medicare co-pay provider responsible for only the 20 percent of the allowable amount by Medicare (which is already significantly less than most providers actually bill for services).

While retiree health insurance is certainly an ongoing commitment by the state, it may not impose as substantial a financial burden on the state of Alaska as implied in the article.

ADVERTISEMENT

— David M. Schauer

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@alaskadispatch.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.

ADVERTISEMENT