Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 24, 2016

Learn from Louisiana

Does Alaska always have to learn the hard way? In a recent phone call with my brother who lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I brought up the topic of Alaska's impending budget crisis. He laughed and said that was exactly what happened to the state of Louisiana several years ago. He stated that, facing bankruptcy, the state legislators did nothing to fix the problems. Why? Because they were more afraid of losing their political careers than the chance that the state would actually fail financially … which they eventually did. Do we really want to become Louisiana?

— Gerry Guay
Anchorage

Permanent Fund’s days are numbered if government taps it

During the last budget crisis when the Legislature talked of tapping the Permanent Fund to pay for government, I happened to be seated next to Bob Lynn on a flight from Juneau to Anchorage. He asked my opinion on raising revenue. I told him I was OK with the state implementing a progressive income tax but set it up so residents pay in the neighborhood of 4 percent and nonresidents pay 10 percent. That way, everyone who works here but takes every penny Outside actually has to help pay for the things only residents would be paying for. And if the nonresidents don't like paying 2.5 times more tax, they could move here and spend here.

Bob's reply was something along the lines of, "No, we will just tap the Permanent Fund." I realize that I was only speaking to Bob as an Alaskan and a voter but not someone from his district. Still, the attitude did bother me. It was obvious his decision was made long before he asked my opinion.

Well, Bob was voted out and the problem still exists. As much as we all would like to wake up tomorrow and see oil at $100 a barrel, that isn't going to happen. And we all know that once the Permanent Fund is tapped by the government, its days are numbered.

When I first came to Alaska in 1970, there was an income tax. Ten years later, it was rescinded with oil going through the pipeline. As unpopular as the thought is, the $4.5 billion deficit isn't going away without a revenue increase by some means. So, legislators, the primary election is over, and no matter what you do, it isn't going to be popular and you will make a lot of people unhappy. But if you continue to do nothing, it will make every voter unhappy. I, for one, would like to see everyone who works here contribute rather than get on a southbound plane, smiling all the way to the bank.

— William Nesheim
Eagle River

Here’s a vote for Trump

This letter is in response to Mr. Wayne C. Jones (Letters, Aug. 22) who thinks Republicans do not support Donald Trump.

I support deporting anyone in the U.S. illegally.

I support building a wall and securing the U.S. border.

I support charging Hillary Clinton for the crimes that she has committed.

I will be voting for Donald Trump on Nov. 8.

— Daniel Teske
Anchorage

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