Let me make my own choices

A gifted writer of the 20th century, Robert Heinlein, once noted: "There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him."

Since when has Congress gained enough hubris to think themselves more aware of my needs than I myself?

-- Ron Yeager

Anchorage

Dipnetters play role in low Kenai salmon escapement

Tuesday's Daily News contains an article entitled "Declining Kenai red run may be below estimate." Escapement in the Kenai River is lagging severely. Minimum escapement goals likely will not be met. Future returns are in jeopardy. This is a near repeat of last years' scenario when minimum escapement goals were not met.

Commercial fishermen have not fished since July 23 and may not fish again at the current slow rate of escapement. Meanwhile, dipnetting and sport fishing continues unabated. There is something wrong with this picture.

The dipnet fishery in 2008 had a recorded harvest of 250,000 salmon. Because harvest reporting is voluntary for dipnetters, many participants never report. It is quite likely that 500,000 or more salmon are being dipped out of the Kenai every year without regard for escapement.

It is extremely unfortunate that the State of Alaska allows this magnitude of mismanagement of fisheries to occur. The end result may not be a palatable one for any of the user groups.

-- Frank Mullen

Homer

Cronkite was a leftist, elitist and cunning hypocrite

Leonard Pitts obviously has a high opinion of his own intelligence, but how quickly he swallows the balderdash about Walter Cronkite being "the most trusted man in America" ("Cronkite's integrity set him apart," July 24).

Behind those grandfatherly good looks and mannered voice, Cronkite was an elitist con-man who frequently filtered the news through his left-wing bias. In 1968 Cronkite managed to report the huge U.S. -- South Vietnamese victory in the Tet Offensive as a defeat, and called the Vietnam War "unwinnable." Cronkite's statements had no basis in fact. So why did he make them? Cronkite never said.

Cronkite barely contained his hatred for Richard Nixon, dutifully reporting Nixon's transgressions. Yet he winked when President Johnson committed similar transgressions. This is called hypocrisy, not trust.

Note that Cronkite's successors haven't had his luck. Dan Rather has been exposed as a dupe for left-wing smear merchants, and few watch Charlie Gibson or Katie what's-her-name. Cronkite was fortunate that he thrived in an era of less competition and before most Americans became aware of the insidious liberal bias that permeated his profession.

-- August Cisar

Seward

Please help the hungry

I have a suggestion to help with the food pantry. The Red Apple has a great sale on at times, and I was thinking we should get some extra food when shopping and give the rest to the Food Bank. I have been trying to get people to contribute to the Food Bank but no body seems interested lately. Anybody who can help, good luck and God bless.

-- Nancy Weese

Anchorage

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