Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, April 27, 2015

Calloused to partisanship

The state of Alaska is facing significant, long-term deficits. The Republicans in Juneau want to reduce the deficit by slashing funding, including draconian cuts to education. The Democrats would like to reduce the deficit by once again raising taxes on the big, bad oil industry.

We have become calloused to the constant fighting between Democrats and Republicans. I seriously doubt that these two groups could even agree on the color of the sky.

With apologies to the author of "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone" (Septimus Winner), I dedicate this verse to our illustrious Alaska State Legislature:

"Where, oh where has my common sense gone? Oh where, oh where can it be? I used it yesterday, but now it's gone away. It's no longer a burden to me."

-- John L. Hemmelgarn

Anchorage

New city administration can’t come soon enough

I'm so glad that Mayor Sullivan is doing his research, and coming up with new policy ideas for the end of his term, based upon stories in that austere socioeconomic journal, the Alaska Airlines Magazine. After reading a softball story about Schick Shadel, and hearing a presentation (sales pitch) by them about their program, I'm sure he has gotten enough unbiased, objective information about this treatment center, that he can now move ahead in committing our abundant city resources to a "pilot program" that will no doubt solve all our problems.

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Too bad his flight wasn't longer; think how many more of Anchorage's problems he could have solved! Or maybe this was the only story he had time for, before he reached cruising altitude and was allowed to turn on his electronic devices? It's a shame SkyMall went out of business — think of the brilliant solutions to our city's problems he could have come up with!

Seriously though, I know he hates the concept of Housing First, but sending people to Seattle for an unevaluated treatment, and then having "residents … move back into a section of Karluk Manor that would be designated 'non-drinking,' " is pretty blatantly undermining the process, even for him.

Come on, people! Let's elect a mayor who actually has a plan for this city, one that wasn't written out on a drink napkin before the in-flight movie began.

-- Jenny Blanchard

Anchorage

Erin’s Law failure shameful

I was extremely disappointed and ashamed to watch the Senate vote down Erin's Law (HB 180). I wrote to legislators to voice my support for the bill and one of the responses I got was about testimony for teachers concerned about the increasing amount of time being spent on mandated education that is not academic. I'm sorry to all the teachers who feel that way, but this is absolutely unacceptable.

Are there places we can cut or ways we can make more time for academic teaching? Probably. Is it a shame that we continue to ask more and more of teachers and yet refuse to fully fund education? Absolutely.

But frankly, I'd rather my child feel safe and empowered to speak out against abuse than keep up with the latest arithmetic methods. Alaska has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the nation, and if you don't think that starts early with not teaching children about ownership of their bodies, consent, and what to do when that consent is violated, you're just plain wrong. This Legislature clearly doesn't have their priorities straight and is allowing the public to make excuses for them.

-- Amie Stanley

Anchorage

In admiration of bison effort

Thanks for the commentary of Sam Cotten (April 21) on the reintroduction of the wood bison. I did not realize that hundreds of folks and so many businesses were so involved, many of them going back close to two decades. Thank you Sam for sharing with the readers. This reintroduction to Alaska makes all Alaskans proud.

-- Paula Krebs

Anchorage

Pass Medicaid expansion

I had the honor of speaking directly to several of our legislators regarding Medicaid expansion. I know they want the best for all Alaskans. With this is mind, I urge them to pass Medicaid expansion now. This will publicly acknowledge that they value each and every Alaskan and what they can add to strengthen our great state.

I am grateful for the hard work our legislators do for the people of Alaska.

-- Karol Libbey

Anchorage

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Show some respect for flag

This week I picked up my child from an after-school program from an elementary school I shall leave unnamed. I noticed the janitor taking down our American flag in such a disgraceful way -- holding it like dirty laundry and nearly allowing it to drag on the ground. I remember the anticipation of "Flag Duty" when I was a child. It was only for the older children and it was an honor (not to mention a break from the classroom). We learned how to properly care for our flag and what it meant.

Do they even teach what the flag represents in our public school system anymore? What is ASD policy for caring for our flag? What a sad disgrace. No wonder so many parents are choosing home school for their children.

-- Elaine Hedden

Eagle River

Great Water Wars coming

I did not get my prophet license from the back of a cereal box. Like most seniors, I earned my ability to see the future by living. I hereby predict that while selling water to California may make some business owner a rich man, sales of a natural resource which will be of extreme importance to all life will begin the Great Water Wars of the 21st century. At least until we run out of history books, we will learn to call the last chapter -- Selling Our Future. Whose water is it?

-- Kelli Mahoney

Wasilla

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.

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