Anchorage Daily News

Ski helmets are quite necessary

Craig Medred’s assertion that ski helmets are marketed by the ski industry only to make money was clearly an indication that he has hit his head too many times while skiing without a helmet. (“Helmet use will not save us from the bozos on skis,” March 24).

True, wearing a helmet will not protect you from all of the multiple forces of trauma inflicted on your body in a ski accident. However, it will save you or your child a trip to the ER for a concussion, not an unusual occurrence prior to the advent of helmets on ski slopes. Your brain is an important part of your body: It’s worth the helmet cost or rental fee. It’s the most important part of your ski or boarding equipment. I am happy to lend Medred my helmet for an in-person demonstration of the value of helmets when getting knocked on the head.

— Michelle Weston

Girdwood

We should just take what we need

After what appears to be a thorough review of our available stimulus monies, Gov. Palin had to make hard choices that aren’t sitting well with some.

Anchorage Democrat Rep. Les Gara implied that Gov. Palin’s motive for rejecting anything is bad governing and based on national political ambitions. I doubt that he has reviewed the plan thoroughly, or maybe he just feels that no stimulus monies should be left on the table, regardless of the future cost.

The Office of Management and Budget’s summary clearly reflects the rejected stimulus items as “pending policy and additional budget discussions” by our legislators. So this is the initial cut, and more is to come. My hope is that we won’t be so politically reflexive, and only accept what we need and can justify continuing.

— John H. Hollaway Jr.

Eagle River

'Temporary’ programs stay on

Our governor may well have saved our state’s financial bacon when she opted to turn down those “stimulus” funds that would start up some new unsustainable programs.

I have heard folks talk about cutting these new programs when the subsidy runs out, but I’m not stupid enough to believe it. Each new program finances some folks who still want jobs when the money flow stops and will lobby very hard to achieve a permanent place at the table.

We started a program to “help” farmers in 1933. The economic reasons for the farm assistance were gone in the early ’40s, but farm subsidies continue to suck cash from the taxpayer in 2009. Government programs, once started, are the closest thing to eternal life on this planet.

Even capital expenditures have a long tail of expense that continues as long as the road or building exists. Capital projects do not burn future taxes at the high rate that a new program does, but it will cost money each year to operate and maintain them.

Keep up the good work, Sarah!

— Donald N. Anderson

Anchorage

After the free ride comes the bill

This is just in jest and used as an example: I want to make a deal with all households in Alaska with families. For one year, I will pay for your full, ultimate HD cable package with every channel available to you — satellite, if you prefer satellite. I will also pay for all your cell phones and all the minutes that accrue. Heck! I’ll even pay for the best cable modem package there is.

I’m sure all the families will love these free gifts from me. They’ll even get spoiled by them and come to expect them. But after a year, I won’t be paying for them anymore. If the heads of the households want to keep their families happy, then it will be up to them to continue paying for them. Kudos for Gov. Palin for doing the right thing and looking out for the citizens of Alaska.

— John Watson

Anchorage

Women, children need KidCare

I am writing to encourage the Senate and House to pass a vital piece of legislation expanding access to health care for children and pregnant women.

The original Denali KidCare Plan provided prevention and regular care for pregnant women and children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The coverage was later reduced, and is now at 175 percent of poverty.

Having insurance coverage for your child provides peace of mind and is far less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. The Legislature is in the final 30 days of the session and it’s critical that this important coverage be restored.

— Joan L. Fisher

Anchorage

What’s up on the car, doc?

With the depressed mood of the current economy and environment, I thought I would write a light letter to the editor to say kudos to the person who came up with the license plate “WASCLY” for his/her VW wabbit. I had to chuckle out loud.

— Victoria Miltersen

Eagle River

Plaudits to Palin on utilities issue

Our electric utilities provide one of the community services we rely on every day. We’ve been pretty well served by our utilities. But as their facilities age and require replacement at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, we should consider alternate ownership and management options.

I applaud the governor’s willingness to start that discussion with the introduction of a bill several weeks ago. The bill reflects many of the concerns identified by stakeholders from Seward to Fairbanks. We further appreciate the governor’s willingness to keep working this issue until it is adopted by the Legislature.

The Legislature deserves praise for recognizing the significance of this issue and committing to work on it over the next 12 months. These are tough issues for professionals in this business, and it will be even tougher for citizen legislators. Despite that challenge, there are many senators and representatives who will take the necessary hours away from their jobs and families to help us make progress.

The municipality looks forward to seeing this process conclude with a more efficient structure to keep our rates reasonable and our lights on.

— Matt Claman, acting mayor

Municipality of Anchorage

It’s called the 'free market’

I could not let the Compass piece by the two elected officials Pete Petersen and Bill Wielechowski titled “Bills would protect Alaskans from price gouging for fuel” (March 17) go by without comment.

These companies (the Alaska refineries) no doubt have based investments in their refining capacity on the premise that even with Alaska’s high cost of doing business, there is a profit margin in local refinement of fuel products when the competition is from fuel being refined in Lower 48 refineries and being shipped to Alaska. As long as their price is competitive with the price of imported fuel, they are entitled to charge the prices they can get. If their price is in excess of the value, people will get fuel from outside sources, or some other company will start refining fuels in Alaska.

If, for example, someone found that anvils are very costly to ship to Alaska, perhaps doubling the price of an anvil in Alaska, and that same party built a smelting plant and established a source of iron ore, they would be justified in charging up to double the stateside price for their anvils. If someone else could produce anvils and deliver them to Alaska customers cheaper, the price would go down. None of this is “gouging”; it’s called the “free market.”

— James Frisby

Palmer

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