Voters agreed to bonds, let us swim in the pools we're paying for

I hope our city's leaders will find a way to keep Service and Bartlett pools open to the public. After Anchorage voters agreed to pay for a $2 million bond for renovations to Service and Bartlett (with a matching $2 million state contribution), the city plans to close these two pools, which are now like new.

We, the taxpayers, voted for this bond because we assumed that after renovation, the pools would re-open to the public.

Swimming is an activity many Alaskans enjoy, even throughout the winter. Kids learn to swim as a lifesaving skill; teens use pools for team practice; adults for daily lap swim and triathlon training; the elderly for exercising without putting stress on their joints.

Unfortunately, if their neighborhood pool is closed, many of these people will opt out of swimming rather than drive across town on dark, wintry roads to do so. For the health of our community, I hope these two pools can stay open for everyone!

-- Kimberly Bailey

Anchorage

Highway sign made a driver's day

To whomever programmed the highway sign on the northbound Seward Highway the early morning of 09/11/09 -- thank you. Your sign made my day.

-- erin hall meade

Anchorage

Oil spill from Timor Sea platform a warning for development here

An oil spill 5,800 square miles in size now is threatening some of the wildest and most pristine regions of the planet. The spill is in the East Timor Sea, on the western coast of Australia. The spill was half this size only 4 days ago.

The oil has been continuously spewing from the Montara offshore oil platform. They are unable to stop it. The company responsible evacuated the site and had to call in another company to fix the problem.

See http://blog.skytruth.org/. Imagine this happening in the Chukchi or Beaufort Seas, or Bristol Bay.

Every newspaper around the world covered EVOS. Why are they not covering this spill. Is it perhaps because it is OFFSHORE and we are on the precipice of opening vast areas of pristine ocean to oil development?

The East Timor spill is now 12 miles from a wild coastline full of birds, wildlife and a rich coastal environment. The human species seems incapable of learning from mistakes. Twenty years after EVOS, incredibly imprudent decisions are still being made.

-- Elise Wolf

Fritz Creek

Fox News predictable on Kennedy

Once again, I am completely disgusted with Fix (Fox) News. After hearing of the recent passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy, I tuned in to the cable news channels. While most of the channels preempted their programming, Fox took time out from their Obama bashing to air a short review of Sen. Kennedy's life. The short version is as follows: He killed a woman at Chappaquiddick, he drank too much, he killed a woman at Chappaquiddick, he was a senator, and he killed a woman at Chappaquiddick.

To devalue the life of this good man who served the public for so long is reprehensible!

-- Jonathan Durr

Talkeetna

Obama speech mostly pipe dream

I watched President Obama's address to Congress and I was impressed with his energetic public speaking skills. However, no matter how good the speaker is or how convincing he tries to be, Americans will not drink the Kool-Aid until we know what is in it.

Just one example of the lack of substance in the president's address was his description of the cost and how to pay for his plan. He stated that his plan will only cost $900 billion over the next 10 years. He claims that this cost will be paid for by removing inefficiencies from the health-care system. Is there anyone in America who believes that the government can take over any system and actually increase the efficiency? Make no mistake about it, your taxes will go up to pay for his health care plan.

Almost every point the president made was a pipe dream and reminded me of fantasy land.

Inform yourselves, America. Understand what is in the Kool-Aid before you drink it.

-- Stephen Bradley

Eagle River

Health mantra: Don't ask, just bill

I went to the doctor the other day and he ordered a lab test. I asked the doctor how much that would cost -- he said he didn't know. I went to the lab and asked them how much it would be -- they said they didn't know but I should ask the front desk. I asked at the front desk how much it would be -- they all said they didn't know but they would bill me later.

It should be no surprise that health care expenses bankrupt so many U.S. citizens with a ridiculous system based on "don't ask, just bill." Get real and demand health-care reform.

-- Alan S. Carmer

Anchorage

Keep debate friendly: Don't dirty those who disagree with Obama

Why is it suddenly fashionable to mock and ridicule those who disagree with our president? From the inception of our nation, the ability to carry on with cordial disagreement -- civil debate -- has been the objective. Now, if someone wants to disagree with the president we're called stupid, hateful and fearful of a black man.

I am not "disenfranchised," Ms. Patkotak ("For some, Obama upset the apple cart," Sept. 9), because a man of a different race occupies the White House. I have no "apple cart" for the race of my president to upset. What President Obama proved, ma'am, is that there is no "group of people who had not much else going for them other than the fact that their race made them part of the ruling class." There was no disenfranchisement to speak of.

When you throw dirt, you lose a lot of ground, and get yourself dirty. Let's keep the debate friendly.

-- Ron Yeager

Anchorage

No welfare for medical care? It comes with many different faces

How does Mr. Lintz justify not accepting welfare for medical care ("Say no to government welfare," Sept. 9) when he cannot afford to pay for it himself? By not accepting medical care he can't afford he places the burden on others.

It is admirable that he doesn't want to accept welfare but if he can't afford his medical bills, who does he think will pay for them? Certainly not the doctor or hospital. He may not like his choices but having medical care for all just might be the best.

-- Kathie Wolf

Wasilla

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