Anchorage Daily News

Daylight saving time is pointless

All is not gloom in Alaska. Gas line progress. Record PFD's. The Wall Street meltdown has not reached Alaska yet. Energy rebates. Tax talk is dead. And our governor's newfound stardom will benefit Alaska and give us hope for a brighter Alaska.

To further enlighten our great state we should repeal daylight saving time.

No one wants to lose an hour of daylight when we are losing more than 5 minutes a day already in the fall. There is no justifiable reason for daylight saving time. There never was. Arizonans never touch their clocks and they are still Americans.

Mental health experts tell us that one-third of our state suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Even if the long dark winters do not get you down, all Alaskans know that life is a little more enjoyable in late winter and spring when the days start getting longer again.

This is a nonpartisan issue that all Alaskans can agree on. For a brighter Alaska: Daylight saving time must go!

-- Chris Brehmer

Anchorage

Get informed on issues, and vote

I would like to thank Kyong Hollen (U.S. citizens blessed by being able to choose leaders by ballot) for an eloquent statement on the freedoms and responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen. I appreciated the clear and noninflammatory tone and hope that more people will vote, and vote responsibly as a result.

I vote because I believe that the world is run by those who bother to show up. And I vote informed because to do otherwise would be a waste of my time and everyone else's. Please participate and get out and vote on Nov. 4.

-- Ann Morgester

Anchorage

Troopergate probe is spending time and tax dollars on nonissue

It totally disgusts me that the Legislative Council is spending my hard-earned tax dollars on a petty investigation into Sarah Palin and the Troopergate incident to gain media attention for themselves. It is within the powers of all legislators, as well as the governor, to hire and fire their employees at will without a reason or cause.

When I worked for the Alaska State Senate 20 years ago as a secretary, legislative aides were fired by legislators for such minor offenses as believing the aides were gaining more interest from the press than they themselves were or just because they took offense to their remarks or opinions that didn't match their own at the time. Many times no reasons were given why they were fired. It's done all the time by legislators, and no investigations at $100,000 to hire a consultant like Steve Branchflower were warranted.

From my six years working as a Senate secretary, I think I know the reason Palin is being singled out for this bogus investigation -- it is because she is upsetting the apple cart and implementing change and confronting the government corruption that's been going on in Alaska for a very long time unchecked. She is being persecuted by the good ole boys in Juneau who don't care for her being more popular with the people than they are.

-- Elaine M. Bales

Anchorage

Prosecutors are mocking justice in political trial of Ted Stevens

How sobering to watch the set-up and unfolding of the Ted Stevens' mock trial. The many malaproprisms of "justice" by the Justice Department leave one awestruck and incredulous. What code of ethics would ever lead them to deliberately misconstrue, withhold, and obfuscate facts and evidence in the name of justice?

From the start, their fact-skewed and fact-deficient press releases portrayed de facto guilt on the part of Mr. Stevens. Unfortunately, those lies were greedily gobbled up by a glib and blood-thirsty press.

It is a scary prospect when a person of Ted Stevens' public stature -- Alaska's most influential and important statesman -- is publically lynched in the courts. All this for the pitiful prospects of professional advancement for Brenda Morris et al. The Justice Department's injustice has Orwellian overtones.

Many decry the potential loss of legal due process imposed by the Patriot Act. However, the unveiling of pseudo-justice in Ted Stevens' proceedings should cause more fear. If one in his position can so easily be taken to the brink of destruction, more so the rest of us who can ill afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees should government minions place us in their sights. Who is next?

-- Todd Pollock

Kasilof

Taxes are backbone of a country

In Sarah Palin's debate with Sen. Biden she took issue with his statement that paying taxes is patriotic. She said, "In middle class America, where I have been all my life, that is not considered patriotic."

That is an idiotic statement. However poorly it is run, this country operates on taxes. All our infrastructure and all the money we have spent on "the war on terror" were derived from taxes. Palin all but says it is unpatriotic to support our country.

If, God forbid, she should become president, today's troubles, bad as they are thanks to eight years of George Bush, will seem miniscule by comparison.

One wonders if Palin is capable of rational thought.

-- Pat Herben

Anchorage

Broadcaster provided enjoyment

It is hard for me to imagine that Herb Shaindlin is gone. The best to his family.

I recall that Herb had a certain animosity toward a fellow broadcaster, so much so, that at the mention of this person's name Herb would be driven into a tizzy while on the air. At slow times during his call-in talk show I would call and remind him of his fondness for this individual knowing what it would do to his composure. I enjoyed dropping those bombs for my enjoyment, but never would I let him know that I did it because I feared for my own personal safety.

Well, you know now, Herb. Can't say I'm sorry, for I really enjoyed doing it, and perhaps you would laugh about it now as well. I can't help but think that you and Edgar Paul are now looking back at us smiling, and. ... as you often reminded us all, "Remember, we are all in this thing ... alone."

-- George Gaguzis

Palm Coast, Fla.

Airport parking is always broken

Who else out there has had problems with the machines at the pay booths for the long and short-term parking at the Stevens airport? I'm a relatively frequent traveler and it's been my misfortune to deal with these abominable devices all too often. They haven't worked reliably from Day One, which was how many years ago? They frequently malfunction, leaving you boxed in, unable to exit and or to back up because of the cars behind you. Like Charlie Brown getting conned by Lucy, I've allowed myself to get sucked in multiple times by the lure of a short line at one of unmanned middle booths, only to be fooled again and again. I've finally learned my lesson(s).

-- Tom Crafford

Anchorage

Attacks on Obama incite racists

Sarah Palin is playing a dangerous game. In her attacks on Barack Obama, she claims that he "pals around" with terrorists. This speech seems designed to cast Obama as an other, someone not like us, someone un-American, someone not white. According to the Washington Post, at recent McCain/Palin rallies, her speech has elicited hateful racist comments. One Palin fan shouted out "kill him!" in reference to Obama.

Another fan shouted a racist slur at a black media member and said; "Sit down, boy." It is troublesome to see that Palin's attacks are giving a voice to racist voters. I fear next, that African-American citizens could be subject to violence. Volatile political campaigns have led to violence, often because speeches given by their participants bring out the worst in their supporters. Whether intentionally or not, Palin is doing this. She needs to stop.

-- Jason Nelson

Anchorage

Palin faces chilly political future

Poor Sarah is likely soon to reap the consequences of her McCainized ascent to national prominence. And so may we all. "Hold me accountable" Sarah is now known as McCain's Mean Girl. You can be sure when Obama and the Democrats regain control of Washington, they will most certainly hold Sarah accountable. The only thing chillier than Barrow in January will be her reception in Washington if she goes to advocate for state causes. And I'd wager her laudable bridge across the aisle in Juneau will see about as much traffic as the one to you know where. Darn it, Sarah, you had it made and so did we. Why couldn't you have blinked?

--David Swanson

Anchorage

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