Anchorage Daily News

Military may be safer than college

I feel sorry for today's young people; back in my day if you did not want to get shot at you enrolled in college to avoid the draft. Not so today. In fact the military might even be safer as they provide body armor -- perhaps a new item for the campus stores?

-- Robert J. Baldwin

Anchorage

Alaska investment of PFD dollars in Sudanese interests must stop

What type of investments hide behind our Permanent Fund? Would we feel the same about accepting the dividend knowing it is dirty, blood-filled, genocide-contributing money?

Each year we are excited and willing to deposit that ever-increasing amount into our accounts. For the past years we have had roughly $22 million invested toward the Sundanese government's ethnic cleansing efforts. Our PFDs are tainted with rapes, killing and ethnic cleansing atrocities.

State Affairs committee members Reps. Bob Lynn, John Coghill, Bob Roses, Kyle Johansen, Andrea Doll, Max Gruenberg and Craig Johnson are debating Alaska's continual involvement and support in the genocide in Darfur (HB 287). Why have we killed every bill regarding divestment from Sudan? Is it because Alaska is just that greedy, willing to sacrifice morals to increase the state's profits?

-- Ashley Straley

Anchorage

Commercial salmon interests should not get allocation boost

Regarding John Nelson's Feb. 8 letter, "Do not allocate more salmon to Alaska sportfishing interests" concerning sport and commercial fisheries, let me say this: Any outcry for more allocation of fisheries resources to commercial users is specious, aimed essentially at pandering to special economic interests and not a matter of need.

What is needed is rampant, out-of-control commercial fishing to be reined in out of respect for other user groups and to the benefit of all Alaskans. As you can see, Mr. Nelson, I just replaced the word sport fisheries from your letter with "commercial" and made the same point.

I and many other Alaskans use sportfishing as a way to put meat in the freezer for the winter. I spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars supporting the very community in which Nelson lives, but I doubt that he thought of that. I truly love to fish and many times I go home empty-handed, but if you think just because I go home empty-handed I will purchase the fish caught and sold in the store, with his attitude toward people who support his community, think again!

-- Mark Smith

Anchorage

Juneau is a much safer site for capital than Anchorage

In response to Diane Winslow's Feb. 8 letter "It seems apparent that Juneau is an ill-suited site for capital": Yep, as a newcomer to Alaska. I don't know where Winslow came from (or where she learned her geography!), but Anchorage and the surrounding region have a better chance of getting wiped out by a tsunami than Juneau does! Why? Go study geography and the mechanics of a tsunami.

Gee, if this tsunami idea is the best theory that she can come up with for moving the capital, I really wonder which Lower 48 area Winslow come from.

Anyway, welcome.

Oh, by the way, I and the rest of us Alaskans live in an area called the Ring of Fire. One word: earthquakes.

Hmmm, maybe we can move the capital to -- now where did Winslow say she came from?

-- Naresh Shrestha

Juneau

Stop whining about property taxes and offer some constructive ideas

Many people are born whiners. They moan and groan, expect the world to be a perfect place, it is always someone else's fault and they never have a constructive, original idea. They just love to hear the whine of their own voices.

Stanley F. Thompson of Kenai is obviously one of these people ("Fagan was right: Your home is your castle, shouldn't be taxed," Feb. 14).

He says that he should not have to pay property taxes and whines about what would happen if he failed to do so. Yet he never suggests an alternative. Sales tax? Income tax? Flat tax? Tax everyone else but him?

Property taxes help pay for the public safety services we receive on the Kenai Peninsula. If his house should catch fire I'll bet that he would welcome the firefighters who come to his aid. If he has a car accident and needs medical attention, I'll bet he would welcome the paramedic help.

When Mr. Thompson has some constructive ideas to support his whining, then I may lend a sympathetic ear. Until then, I don't hear you.

-- Phil Weber

Cooper Landing

Intent of quote at Service High was not meant to be degrading

As a student at Service High for the last four years, I believe I have made the most of my education. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for some of my classmates. I believe this district has provided me with the opportunity for an excellent education; however, I also believe your education is what you make of it. Recent events have surrounded my school and I wish to make something clear to this community. The quote put up by Beautiful Colors was not meant to be degrading, which seems to be well understood and accepted by our student body ("Thought-provoking or a slur?" Feb. 9). This quote was meant to stir awareness in our students; it was not a step backward: It was a step forward.

According to the National Institute for Literacy (2001):

"By age 17 only about 1 in 17 seventeen-year-olds can read and gain information from specialized text, for example the science section in the local newspaper. This includes: 1 in 12 white 17-year-olds; 1 in 50 Latino 17- year-olds; and 1 in 100 African-American 17-year-olds." This is exactly what needs to be brought to the forefront of the debate. We cannot live in the past; we must use this as a way to step forward. These students are the future of this state. As we look toward a brighter future the first step is through education.

-- Toni Nelson

Anchorage

Lack of real political leadership energizes massive voter turnout

In spite of a spiraling budget deficit, agonizing wars on two fronts, and dysfunctional, uncooperative legislative relationships, there is a ray of sunshine emanating from the White House. Voters are being energized to take responsibility for the electoral process.

Statewide Republican and Democrat caucuses were overwhelmingly successful. Turnout exceeded the wildest dreams of organizers and the biggest problem was not enough room for everyone! What a wonderful problem! At the District 35 Democratic caucus in Homer, almost 300 voters were registered as they changed their party affiliation or became first-time voters.

This was truly democracy in action and we can thank our own lack of political leadership (and not any threat of terrorism) for mobilizing the nation. Thank you, President Bush. I look forward to primary, state and general elections this year with real voter turnout.

-- Angie Newby

Homer

Gas pipeline seems unnecessary with Northwest Passage opening

Why do we need a gas pipeline?

In 1969 a specially strengthened oil tanker, the SS Manhattan, tested a route for the shipment of Alaska crude oil through the Northwest Passage from Alaska, and then on to East Coast refineries. Although the Manhattan successfully made the trip, it was considered unfeasible for commercial use at that time. In the summer of 2000, the Canadian ship St. Roch II made the same journey in just three weeks. "Last summer, three cruise ships made their way through the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to Alaska's North Slope." ("US needs to prepare for Arctic traffic surge," Feb. 12.)

So why do we need a gas pipeline? Now that climate has changed, if cruise ships can make these voyages, liquid gas carrier ships can make the voyage. Perhaps the Northwest Passage will be feasible only in the summer, but the voyage from Prudhoe to the Pacific should be feasible year-round.

-- Howard Louderback

Anchorage

Failure to negotiate a solution with Conoco would be a mistake

Why is the state of Alaska and this administration at such odds with the producers? They are not our enemy. I agree with Conoco Phillips, Gov. Sarah Palin and her administration do not understand the economic realities of this huge project. Her point that AGIA is the only competitive process out there and that it is unfortunate that Conoco Phillips elected not to participate is flawed. Even TransCanada recognizes that the economic terms under which oil and gas is produced and the construction of a pipeline are not independent -- they are entangled.

In looking at the governor's gas team I can't help but wonder how they can have a full breadth of objectivity. Marty Rutherford is no friend of the industry, unless having worked for TransCanada qualifies as a friend. Third-party ownership is not the only answer to a gas pipeline, and we do need the producers on board if we are going to build a gas pipeline.

If this administration does not sit down with Conoco Phillip and the other producers and come up with a reasonable solution, which should include TransCanada, then I am afraid we are going to make a big mistake. This one is going to cost us $500 million and for what, another study.

If the governor will not consider Conoco Phillips' proposal, hopefully the Legislature will.

-- Stephen T. Lewis

Anchorage

Anchorage police cars should not be driven home beyond city limits

KTUU news had a report on Anchorage police taking home their police cars, including officers who live in Mat-Su ("Weighing the costs of public safety," Jan. 23).

The original program was started in the early 1970s before unification with the Municipality of Anchorage and the greater Anchorage area borough. It started with marked police cars only to be taken home. Every officer had to live in the city limits. It started as a crime deterrent. Putting marked police cars in neighborhoods shows a police presence. It wasn't meant to park 20 or 30 police cars at the Eagle River police substation and drive a personal vehicle home to the Valley. Over time unmarked police cars were allowed to be driven home by higher-ranking officers. The cars are not a crime deterrent, marked or unmarked. They are a very expensive employee benefit. Thirty-two officers live in the Valley. What will it cost when there are 100 or more and gas is $5 to $7 a gallon? Keep the police cars in the city limits.

-- Warren Schimmeyer

Anchorage

There's no reason for city to get involved in recycling program

Why on earth would our city government decide it makes economic sense to manage its own recycling program? Mayor Mark Begich is talking about buying garbage trucks, building a recycling center and administering a program that measures people's garbage. In addition, who knows what it has cost the municipality to study and propose a recycling program.

We have a local company, Alaska Waste, which is not only professional and profitable but is willing to make curbside recycling happen for our community.

Is it any wonder we have lost faith in our elected officials?

-- Bette Ross Anchorage

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