Anchorage Daily News

Try to explain $12 billion a month

The bill for one month in Iraq: $12 billion. Let's see, the Alaska Permanent Fund would last about 90 days if it were funding the Iraq war. Iraq's oil revenues were supposed to fund the war. Where does that money go? Rather depressing to say the least.

-- John Warren

Anchorage

Leave my Town Square brick alone and direct your zeal at potholes

In answer to Sharon White-Wheeler's March 8 letter "Trying to change Town Square just more government waste," I agree with her. I would like the waste in government to go to some revamping of our city streets. I can name 10 streets that are in need of repair -- not patch, but repave -- so that we can get to the beautiful buildings we have downtown, along with the Town Square which is in excellent condition.

I don't want my brick removed or thrown away. Please look at our streets and let's make this town look good instead of a place called "pothole junction."

-- Mary J. Anderson

Anchorage

Once elected, politicians forget every promise they ever made

I have a problem with the way politicians ask us to support them and vote for them. They come up with all these good things that are supposed to benefit us voters, without any explanation of how this is going to be done, or if it can even be done.

I am tired of all these promises to people and in the end, the working people end up paying the full bill for the pipe dream. All the presidential candidates get on their soap boxes and present all these new changes, but at no time are we, the voters, privy to how it is to be paid for or who is eligible.

-- Ann Whipple

Anchorage

Columnist Pitts allows emotion to blind him to his own prejudices

Leonard Pitts' March 2 column was the usual condescending leftist myth-building couched to seem like reason ("Reason, sadly, appeals only to minds").

Pitts wrote that you can only convince people who have persuadable minds. In other words, unless you buy his "facts" and "logic" you are obviously ignorant and beyond redemption. What he fails to say is that you can only buy his "facts" if you're ignorant of the facts and easily lead by the nose. He claims not to hammer the opposition in his columns then continually insults those of the opposing view throughout his column.

I understand Pitts' emotional connection to his subject. Unfortunately he has allowed that very emotion to blind him to his own prejudices, leading to what appears to be thinly veiled race baiting and the encouragement of regional sectionalism on his part. Perhaps before he again tries to change someone's mind, he should at first admit to himself he has a bigoted agenda based on his own misconceptions of the subject concerning the Confederacy, the war between the states, slavery and the Constitution.

-- Larry Brown

Kenai

Bicyclist wearing dark clothing re-enforces negative attitude

To the bicyclist who was riding westward in the suicide lane on DeBarr Road at 7:30 a.m. March 11: Once more you have shown me why bicycles should be outlawed on major roads in Anchorage during the winter.

This bicyclist had no reflective tape on any part of the dark clothing he was wearing, nor did he have any on his dark backpack. Also, there were no reflectors of any sort on the bicycle. With no snow on the trees to reflect light, he was almost impossible to see as morning traffic rushed by at 45 mph.

I didn't see the rider until I was practically upon him, and several other vehicles had to brake sharply too. I think they were just as unsure as I was to the direction he was riding. It seems that only by sheer luck did anyone wanting to turn left manage to miss hitting him.

Thank you for reinforcing my opinion of bicycles on busy thoroughfares in the winter.

Next time, ride a bus.

-- Maryjo Snyder

Anchorage

No PFD investments for firms supporting genocide in Darfur

I attended a hearing of HB 287; to divest the Permanent Fund from companies that support and give money to further the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. I did not speak at the hearing, but this is what I would have said.

I attend Juneau-Douglas High, and am a member of the Juneau chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND). I am also a proud recipient of the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. When November comes, a smile shines across my face. Whether that money goes into my college fund, a vacation, or to going to movies, it makes no difference. But I would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant that I could stop genocide.

Genocide is defined as the systematic killing of a racial or cultural group just because they belong to a certain group. The U.S. government has labeled the war in Darfur genocide. Currently 450,000 Darfuris have been slaughtered and over 300,000 have been displaced to Chad. I don't support this, and giving money to companies that support annihilation of people, any people, is wrong. I don't want this money to put me through college. I support divesting, and I believe that if Alaska takes a stand, more people, states and countries will take a stand as well. Please take action to protect human life, all human life.

-- Laurel Stark

Juneau

Tough to think someone could put monetary value on the unborn

Dr. David Alexander wrote about the discussion concerning banning abortion ("Before banning abortion outright, consider job of raising a child," March 10). One finds it interesting how the doctor places a monetary value on the unborn child. He states that it costs about $150,000 per child to get through high school. So for those children who may not be properly cared for or raised, "preventing the delivery may be a proper decision." That is a delicate phrase for the real meaning of killing the unborn child. Many of us wonder how ending the life of the unborn would be acceptable, but letting the unborn live would be " terrible for that child as well as for society."

So at least the doctor has put an upper limit on the value of those who will soon be born. There are, however, many of us who obviously place a much higher value on the unborn. And we are willing to walk the talk and continue to pay taxes and volunteer at schools and other organizations to help less fortunate children and families in need.

But doctor, don't overly fret about things. Somehow you likely have sufficient money to keep you well taken care of through your last years in spite of the taxes.

-- Charles Z. Christian

Anchorage

A ski area at Hatcher Pass should be funded by state

The state should build a Hatcher Pass ski area without a real estate development. The state should fund a ski lodge and chair lift at Government Peak. The Valley has a large enough population and lots of kids to support the operation. Other states have state-run ski areas. America's greatest ski racer, Bode Miller, learned to ski and race at a state-run ski area.

Most everybody opposes a real estate development, while supporting the concept of a simple ski hill development. It's safer for the kids; no more avalanche fatalities.

-- Steve Howze

Girdwood

Think 'safety first', not 'road rage'

"Road rage" is a relatively recent term. Much older and better is "safety first." Are our roads safe?

Technology can now prevent intoxicated persons from starting vehicles. Should its installation in the vehicles of DUI offenders be mandated by law? Drunken driving kills. Always, always safety first. Action please.

-- Norman Hogg

Anchorage

Palin is the best thing to happen to Alaska since Jay Hammond

Thanks for a great article on our great governor!

I think Gov. Sarah Palin is the best thing to happen to Alaska since Gov. Jay Hammond. She's as real an Alaskan as Gov. Hammond, as principled and tough as Hammond, and is attracting excellent national attention to our great state. She and her family are something we can be proud of and I hope she never loses her way in the ugliness of politics. I sincerely hope she can bring some ethics back to our Legislature, which seems unable or unwilling to clean up its own act.

I am following with great interest her administration's stand on our very important pipeline issue. She has her work cut out for her but we've seen what it's like with the oil companies and their friends running the show themselves and that didn't work. They have shamed our state forever. I'm willing to give her carte blanche support to do what she and her advisers think best.

I do hope she runs for a national office and I personally think an absolutely great place to start would be removing King Don Young from his throne! I believe Palin is a principled conservative and we need that in our country now more than ever. She can show the way for Alaska and hopefully for the nation someday soon.

-- Terry Luther

Anchorage

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