History of oil spills proves that Murkowski's memory has holes

In Sen. Lisa Murkowski's Sept. 12 article ("North Slope seas contain oil and gas vital to US"), she makes the incredible statement, "Our state has a long history of responsibly developing its natural resources while protecting sensitive ecosystems. Going forward that will not change." Especially in reference to petroleum development, who is she trying to kid?

Is the senator's memory so short as to have forgotten the Exxon Valdez oil spill? Then, added to that, BP's recent and seemingly ongoing problems with oil spills on the North Slope?

These events, along with still-unproven means of cleaning up oil spills in Arctic ice, most certainly call into question the probability of "responsible exploration and development." The glaring problem is that there are as yet no "... protections and process in place."

For example, can the senator guarantee that oil spilled into pack ice won't drift into "... areas rightly set aside for subsistence whaling ...?" Until there is more certainty about such issues, I believe the federal appeals court decision to delay development was the right thing to do.

-- Gerry Sanger

Whittier

Constitution says nothing about having a right to health insurance

This is to informed Roland Shanks that health care insurance is a service, not a "right." ("Health care should be considered a right," Sept. 15)

Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution does it state that we have a "right" to full coverage of health care. We have no "right" to receive free car, flood or earthquake insurances, according to the Constitution. So where does this "right" for health insurance come from?

I do not debate that our current health coverage system isn't working too well. But I do not believe that the U.S. government is the answer to that problem. Despite what our president stated, cost overruns will naturally be enormous and the bureaucracy that follows will be huge. In our current economic state, our nation simply cannot afford what our president wants to do with health care reforms.

Mr. Shanks' medical needs were met because he bought the services provided in our free-market system. We cannot protect everyone without degrading everyone. That is path of socialized medical care. Just take a look at the USSR or Romania for further example.

-- Gerald Tamura

Anchorage

Visit fire station to find out how proposed cuts will affect service

Mayor Dan Sullivan has ordered the chief of the Anchorage Fire Department to provide budget cut options to reduce the budget of the fire department by 3 percent, 5 percent or 7 percent. His decisions on cutting your fire department are to be presented to the Assembly on Oct. 1. I encourage you to visit your neighborhood fire station and ask how cutting apparatus and personnel will affect their ability to provide the service that you expect.

Become informed and make your voice heard. This is your fire department.

-- Chip Serns

Anchorage

EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer is a firefighter paramedic with the Anchorage Fire Department.

Column shows frothing on the left

Maureen Dowd's column ("Race is untold factor in Wilson's outburst," Sept. 15) attributing opposition to President Obama to racism is a fine example of "frothing" left-wing "paranoia."

-- Kevin Brew

Wasilla

Everybody deserves respect

I think Rhonda Hartzell ("Speaking up was right thing; silence is only for cowards," Sept. 13) has it backward when she says that no one in this country deserves any respect unless "they" earn it. Everyone, including our duly elected president, deserves respect until he indicates otherwise. Joe Wilson acted uncivilly.

-- Max Kitchens

Anchorage

Parents teach without tax dollars

During these times of national financial crisis and economic uncertainty for the state of Alaska, must public school resources, monies and energies be used to track and regulate independent home educators who are collectively doing an excellent job of educating their children?

Research tells us there is no correlation between the degree of state regulation or control of home schooling and home-school students' achievement (www.nheri.org. The dedicated parent/educators pay taxes but want not one thin dime of taxpayer money. Independent home educators take responsibility for their own children's education and enjoy following the freest home-schooling law in the nation.

Although a high percentage of taxpayer dollars is utilized for educational expenses throughout the state, taxpayers are continually pressured that more money is necessary for educators to do a quality job. Yet independent home educators do a superior job with zero tax dollars.

Support Alaska's freedoms. Be grateful for responsible parents. Encourage independent home educators for a job well done.

-- Wendy McKinnis

Palmer

Do we want federal health care?

David Reaume cited that the Congressional Budget Office concluded that preventive medicine was probably not cost effective ("Many Americans seem unaware of health care facts," Sept. 13).

The CBO only looked at cost savings. But of great interest is that no evaluation was made of the quality of life nor extending life expectancy.

While one must feel great concerns about the health of our health care system, isn't it clear that we must also have sincere concerns about any government having such control over the most precious thing we have -- our health?

-- William Marley

Homer

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