Anchorage Daily News

Naming Kopp was right decision

One important job for a governor is the appointment of a Cabinet. Surrounding yourself with good people with a common vision isn't always easy. The governor's decision to appoint Commissioner Chuck Kopp is the right decision and it's her decision. No one likes to get fired or do the firing. I'm certain that it would have been much easier to stick with what's been "working," or stick with the status quo. In all of this, Commissioner Walt Monegan was given a respectful alternative. He chose to get publicly upset.

It takes a smart leader to understand and communicate a common vision. It takes a tough leader to act on that vision. Gov. Sarah Palin seems to keenly understand that inaction rarely leads to growth or improvement. She is trying to make our Alaska government more transparent and efficient by taking some action.

Those who call for an explanation for this change ought to know that discussing personnel decisions can unnecessarily compromise laws and reputations.

It would have been much easier for the governor to work within established bureaucratic norms by retaining Commissioner Monegan. I look forward to a leaner and stronger public safety sector under new direction. To a man who came up from the ranks, good luck in your new position, Commissioner Kopp.

-- Phil Schneider

Anchorage

Corporations don't deserve bailout

Our Congressional delegation is being asked to approve a multibillion dollar taxpayer funded bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac along with expanded powers for the Federal Reserve. Otherwise, they are being told, there is a risk of "systemic failure."

Fannie and Freddie, whose stock is publicly traded, are ostensibly private corporations. They certainly pay like capitalists. Last year the CEO of Fannie received a total compensation package of $11.6 million and his counterpart at Freddie received $18.3 million.

But now they want a bailout. While millions of ordinary folks face the prospect of foreclosure, Congress is being asked to adopt socialism for the rich. The whole thing stinks.

As for the Fed, Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky said, at a hearing the other day, that he believes the real "systemic risk" is the Federal Reserve itself. Given the fact that a dollar in 1913, the year the Fed was founded, is now worth five cents, he obviously has a point.

I hope that Sen. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young don't allow themselves to be buffaloed about Fannie, Freddie and the Fed. The famous investor Warren Buffett once said that capitalism without failure is like Christianity without hell. I hope that our congressional delegation votes against bailouts for those who least deserve them.

-- Herb Berkowitz

Anchorage

Firing Monegan just Palin's job

Nobody has the right to know why Gov. Sarah Palin removed Walt Monegan from his job. That is her job and everyone knows that. Monegan knew he was to work for the governor at her free will to fire him at any time for any reason and John Cyr, the Daily News or TV stations do not have the right to know. Our governor has the best rating in the history of the U.S.A. and is a possible vice president (a job I hope she does not take). That is a rare honor given to very few Americans.

Monegan had retired, but jumped at the chance to work for Palin and probably has a very good pension and does not even need to work. So what's the big deal? Folks who are complaining about Palin seem to be jealous of how good this beautiful woman is at her job.

The boss job is not about being that smart at knowing what and how to deal with problems; it is about how to hire the right people to do the job for her and the state. Obviously Monegan was not doing his job right or he would still be working. It's none of our business.

-- Richard Bradford

Palmer

1 pound of pressure important

I just read the July 3 Around Alaska column and noted a potentially dangerous reference to the fish-canning process. The author states that she must "watch them (the canners) closely to be sure that the pressure dial doesn't dip below 10 pounds."

While it sounds like the author is careful and conscientious, she may be using outdated canning instructions.

To process pints and half pints of salmon safely, a dial gauge should remain at 11 pounds of pressure for an uninterrupted 100 minutes processing time. Quarts of fish should be processed at 11 pounds of pressure for 160 minutes, and half pints or pints of smoked salmon should be processed at 11 pounds of pressure for 110 minutes. The difference between 10 pounds and 11 pounds of pressure on a dial gauge is the difference between survival or elimination of the deadly botulinum spores. To be sure that home-canning methods are safe, consumers should check with the Cooperative Extension Service annually for current processing methods, times and dial gauge pressures.

-- Leslie Shallcross, MS, RD assistant professor of extension -- health, home and family development UAF Cooperative Extension Service Anchorage

Letter oversimplified complex issue

The letter from Bruce Orton you printed on July 17 was overtly racist.

The headline: "Outbreeding foe is an old tactic."

The body of the letter: simplistically blaming poorer nations for overpopulation and suggesting this as a domination tactic.

I am reminded of the same white-supremacist rhetoric that I have encountered being harassed for being Hispanic in this town. So, Bruce, is the white race going to be extinct? Why would the Daily News print such utter garbage?

I can't open the newspaper without being confronted with ignorance and oversimplification of complex issues. My own U.S. senator believes in this kind of rhetoric; I don't need the Daily News giving any support for this stupidity. Your headline gave it some semblance of justification by summarizing the point as if it were a rational one. Whoever decided to print this letter needs to understand the difference between reasonable argument and baseless jingoistic (and racist) fear-mongering.

-- Jake M. Bartholomew

Anchorage

Advance permit system is needed

We recently returned from a six-day backcountry trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The entire trip, including the drive to McCarthy and flight in and out of our backpacking destination, is a highlight of the time we have lived in Alaska.

In deciding on a trip itinerary and destination, we initially considered a backcountry trip in Denali. However, the uncertainty of the permit system in Denali was an important factor in choosing the Wrangells. While I support the quota of Denali's unit system, permits are only issued at the park the day before a trip. The possibility that we would have to wait for permits to become available and thus spend less time in the backcountry was a risk we chose not to take.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota has a quota system as well, but entry points can be reserved months in advance through an online or in-person system. The Park Service should consider allowing a limited number of advance reservations for those of us who want to explore the park but like to handle most of our logistics and trip planning ahead of time.

-- Tyler Robinson

Anchorage

Kleinfeld is great, reptiles and all

In her column Friday ("Family dining useful but hard to arrange," July 18), Judith Kleinfeld suggests it improves children's reading skills when their parents explain words, "like telling their children that a reptile was a kind of snake." Perhaps, but it would improve their science skills if their parents told them a snake was a kind of reptile. But hey, I enjoy Ms. Kleinfeld's columns; read them all, clip many.

Reptiles or no, Judith Kleinfeld still rules!

-- Diane Pleninger

Anchorage

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