Anchorage Daily News

Thanks for rescuing our 'twit'

I notice some Alaskans are upset at some dumbo Aussie racking up a big rescue bill in the Alaska outback.

What about the 33-year-old Alaska fireman rescued from the Australian outback after a trek lasting 43 days?

In 1999 Robert Bogucki ventured into one of Australia's harshest deserts to find God!

"I just wanted to spend a while on my own, just nobody else around, just make peace with God," Mr. Bogucki reportedly said.

He cost Australian taxpayers $6.5 million dollars in rescue bills and he never publicly apologized or paid a shekel in restitution. Also, some volunteer searchers were caught in a kangaroo stampede and badly trampled.

By the way, thank you for rescuing our twit -- it is good to see Australia and Alaska have something in common: idiots.

I was watching the TV the other day and I saw some lady from Alaska talking about hogs and lipstick and trying to become president of Canada, I think it was.

Her grasp of foreign policy made her look like she required rescuing.

-- David Utting

Roleystone, Western Australia

You Yanks have no room to whine

So a stupid Aussie gets lost in Alaska, and the poor old Alaska taxpayers get hit with the bill. I'm a lieutenant in what is roughly the Australian equivalent of the National Guard. My colleagues have rescued plenty of silly Americans who think that a walk in the Australian bush or desert is like a walk in New York's Central Park. Stupidity has no nationality. Would the innkeeper like it if I let Americans die of stupidity? No, I think not.

-- Stuart Mawbey

Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Chambliss ad reprehensible

In his Dec. 5 letter Don Parker of Glenview, Ill., writes that he has reviewed the controversial television advertisement Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia ran against then-Sen. Max Cleland in 2002. He does not believe that the ad impugned Cleland's patriotism, and he criticizes Matt Zencey for perpetuating a "political myth in order to disparage Gov. Palin."

Mr. Parker's view was not shared by Sen. John McCain when the television ad was run in 2002. At that time Sen. McCain stated: "I'd never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield -- it's worse than disgraceful. It's reprehensible."

I reviewed the ad after reading Mr. Parker's letter. I agree with Sen. McCain -- the ad is reprehensible.

-- Jim Parker

Anchorage

Assembly members need to think

Attention Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson: Now that the Assembly has placed the AMEA and IBEW union contract approval mistake on the shoulders of us taxpayers, I encourage you to take a more sensible approach to the fire and police contracts coming up. It would be sensible to understand the potential consequences before they are approved.

Dec. 16 is not the date for a decision; waiting for at least three months to see how the economy is going to play out and what the state is going to do with its budget would be more prudent. It is nice for the Assembly to be magnanimous with money that the wage earner may not have to fulfill future municipal obligations.

-- David Frazier

Anchorage

Culture classes make elective

Jessica Ullrich is missing the point of the education system ("Culture must be part of classroom," letter, Dec. 5). Its purpose is to prepare you to function as part of society not isolate you from it. If we don't teach in English and don't teach our western ways we are doomed to become a nation divided. Leave the majority of education to strengthen us as a nation and offer cultural classes as electives.

-- Stephen Moulfair

Anchorage

Don't forget about Charter College

While I agree with Friday's Daily News editorial on higher education in Alaska, I was dismayed that the only option presented was the University of Alaska. There are several options in this state, including Charter College.

Charter College-Anchorage has a rapidly growing student body, with around 600 students enrolled in 20 educational programs designed to prepare students for entry into careers that are in high demand.

The dropout rate from other programs is indeed alarming, but our flexible credit transfer policy allows students an opportunity to complete their degrees. Once the students start, we have staff specifically devoted to the success of the students all the way through to graduation, and placement staff to assist alumni after graduation.

There are certainly several great options for higher education in Anchorage, but with our fast-track learning, emphasis on student success, and proven track record with graduate placement, Charter College deserves consideration.

-- Stephen King

Dean of Education

Charter College

Anchorage

Don't give Big Three a free ride

To our congressional delegation, I'll make this brief. Please do not take the short-sighted step of bailing out the Big Three automakers. If you must lend our money, lend it to companies that will move us forward.

On National Public Radio recently, the head of Tesla motors was interviewed. His company makes an electric sports car. Its performance is comparable to similar gasoline models. Unfortunately, its sticker price is over $100,000.

His company is also developing an even more efficient passenger sedan model.

He was asked if having the economies of scale that the big automakers have would enable his company to lower the price of their cars. He immediately said, "Yes, of course!"

Imagine if Tesla motors could buy GM's factories. Maybe they could even pick up a few dealerships around the country for foreclosure prices.

The Big Three do not have a "right" to exist. If you believe in capitalism, let the real innovators have their shot. Tesla and other alternative car manufactures are working hard in a market that is very hard to break into. Please do not prop up the Big Three dinosaurs and thereby send our best and brightest into bankruptcy instead.

-- Dave Manning

Anchorage

Changing Assembly rules is wrong

Our Assembly requires strong and stable leadership. In April, they unanimously selected Matt Claman chairman because he has the qualities -- cool temperament, balance and an innate sense of fairness -- that the chair should possess. At the time, everyone knew he might become acting mayor.

Now events have transpired that apparently do not correspond to the political ambitions of Sheila Selkregg, Dan Coffey and Bill Starr. Their solution? Change the rules for selecting the Assembly chair.

This is bad legislation for the wrong reasons at the wrong time.

Under the proposed change to the municipal code, the Assembly could remove the chair at any meeting by a 6-5 vote without any prior notice. This will make the chair vulnerable to every whim, and instead of a clear and transparent process to conduct the city's business, we will get instability, uncertainty and constant political infighting.

The Assembly should stand by its unanimous vote in April and resist the temptation to turn Anchorage into the banana republic of the subarctic.

-- Brewster Jamieson

Anchorage

Try taking care of business at home

Gov. Palin jeopardized her high approval rating as she went to assist a senatorial candidate in Georgia.

Unlike many of her predecessors, she has neither participated nor headed a state trade or tourism development mission overseas. Vital markets for Alaska products and the 49th state's attractions in Europe and the Orient remain unattended.

In addition, she has yet to visit any of the 37 international Sister Cities with formal protocol ties with Alaska communities.

In today's economy, the governor's clout is needed on these missions to boost local employment and the state tax base.

-- Paul J. Egley

Sandwich, Mass.

Editor's note: The writer was vice president-marketing of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1980.

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