Anchorage Daily News

Stop babying our street beggars

I've been working and driving in Anchorage for a long time. I see a lot of things here, mostly beautiful. However, there is a progressively worsening ugliness I see here, in the form of homeless beggars on every major intersection in town.

There is a solution, for starters, to this problem: Stop babying them. Make it a crime to beg for money on the streets.

If we must give them anything, let it be a shower, some clean clothes and some drinking water. Too many of them are criminals. Why not help them help themselves?

-- Michael Baxted

Anchorage

We lack Inlet exploration, not gas

What a surprise ... rolling gas shortages are in our future. Why is it such a shocker for our elected officials and the media? This has been building for years and certainly did not require any soothsaying to figure out our energy future in Southcentral Alaska.

The way the leases in Cook Inlet have been set up by the state, it's practically wiped out any exploration by smaller or independent companies. The market is totally in the control of big oil, so there is no incentive to explore.

With the merger of two large Cook Inlet producers has come a market monopoly and increased costs to consumers. With no market available for independents, few attempt exploration. There is no shortage of gas in Cook Inlet ... There is shortage of exploration, plain and simple.

The lease process needs to be simplified, with the most logical step being consolidation of it into a one-stop-shop agency. The Legislature and the state agencies involved have caused this crisis. It's time to put blame where it belongs.

-- Brian Webb

Anchorage

Scare tactics are tiring

Maybe I'm just interested in affordable health care, but I'm getting tired of those who would pull out an unfounded scare tactic because they're interested in racking up a political point by any means necessary.

If there was an antibiotic for that disease, I'd recommend that the body politic take it.

-- Brian Hutton

Anchorage

Democrats lost on health before

News flash to Elise Patkotak: Yes, the Democrats won, mostly because of the inept and corrupt Bush administration. The thing she doesn't seem to understand is they are supposed to represent the people who elected them. It isn't just the other corrupt party that doesn't support the Democrats' plans for health care reform, it's the people.

If you don't think so, check the polls and the town meetings. All of those congressmen have to face election in a year from now.

Elise may not remember what happened in 1994 when the Dems also had control and tried an unpopular health care plan -- they lost big. They lost control of both houses for the first time in nearly 50 years. Some of these congressmen may remember this and may want to keep their jobs.

You may support the government taking over health care, but I and most other Americans don't. Do you really want the people who outlawed water bottles being carried on planes to make your health care decisions?

-- Stan Knapp

Wasilla

Why aren't those kids in school?

School started more than two weeks ago and the stores and malls are filled with kids. Why are these kids not in school? We are made to pay property taxes to educate them, and yet, they do not attend school. Where is my tax money going, if these kids are not in school? Why do they get away with not going to school?

-- Debbie Richardson

Anchorage

Commercial drivers see it all

I'm a commercial driver who travels the Seward Highway five to six nights weekly with long doubles. I've been employed with the same company for the last 12 years.

The commercial drivers who make this trip on a regular basis have a record to be proud of. We as a group are very professional -- which means we look out for the rest of y'all who aren't so professional. Like the folks who are just interested in getting there first.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen drivers hold up a string of traffic until they get to a passing lane. Then the race is on. Come on, folks. If you are in the way, don't take it as a personal insult to let traffic by you. If I'm holding people up, I'll slow up five or 10 miles per hour in the passing zones to let people by. I personally think the dipnetting season has increased pressure on the Seward Highway more than any other factor.

-- Jim Helleck

Soldotna

Jail threat for Bear Man appalling

After seeing the "Dateline" episode, I am appalled at the actions being taken against Charlie Vandergaw, the Bear Man, in Alaska. I can BEARLY speak!

The fact that this man who has been able to love and care so deeply for the bears of Alaska, and who has rarely put anyone at risk but himself, could be at risk of jail is so appalling I cannot even contain myself.

Those involved in attacking him throughout Alaska must be so intimidated and jealous of his exposure and popularity, let alone courage and selflessness, that all they can do is make him out to be the bad guy.

I am so dumbfounded that Charlie risks jail that I have lost all desire to ever visit or even discuss Alaska as a potential destination. Disgusting.

-- Bernadette Boas

Atlanta

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