Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 30, 2016

Our presidential elections have been ‘rigged’ before

I share Donald Trump's concern that the 2016 presidential election will be "rigged." It wouldn't be the first time this century.

Reporter Greg Palast estimates 27 states are campaigning to cut rolls by 2.1 million mostly black and Latino voters. He found officials disqualified voters who had the same first and last names as felons in other states, and people who had already voted — while ignoring the obvious differences in middle names and Social Security numbers. Palast says Florida removed 57,700 alleged "ex-felons" from voter lists before the 2000 presidential election. George W. Bush officially "won" by just 537 votes.

In 2003, the president and CEO of the Diebold voting machine company, Walden O'Dell, said he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes next year" for George W. Bush.

Michael Parenti says that in 2004, Floridians complained of "vote flipping" in the presidential election: They'd pressed the John Kerry button on their electronic voting screens and saw "Bush" light up as the candidate they'd chosen.

Sometimes, they said, they had to press the button five or six times before John Kerry's name would light up. So, The Donald's scenario of people voting 15 times for Hillary Clinton is plausible; it may take them that many attempts to get their vote counted the way they intend.

In 2004, whoever won in Ohio would be president. The Washington Post in 2004 reported, "In Youngstown, 25 election machines transferred an unknown number (of votes for Kerry) to the Bush column." In Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo and on college campuses, Ohio reportedly ran short of ballots in predominantly black precincts where people waited in the rain up to 10 hours in vain in order to vote. Some long-time voters discovered their registrations had been purged.

Trump failed to mention that in the 2000 and 2004 elections, the Republicans did the election "rigging."

— Geoff Kennedy
Anchorage

Gov. Walker deserves a measure of prerogative in these times

Re: "Anchorage senator takes first step toward suing Gov. Walker over PFD cut" (ADN, Aug. 11).

My opinion hitherto has been against the Permanent Fund dividend cuts. Even if the government were to shut down, I am against cuts to the PFD. It has been difficult for me to square my high regard for Gov. Walker with his insistence on cutting into the PFD. I am no economist, so for guidance on this grave matter I reach back to John Locke and the Bible.

In the Bible, Joseph saves the land of Egypt from a severe famine by discreetly laying up the grain. This seems applicable to me, because wisdom is an attribute of the deity and hence serves to save us.

In John Locke, I refer to his "Second Treatise on Civil Government," Chapter 14, "Of Prerogative." I want our state government to make the wisest decisions possible with this fund that is our common birthright. However, I trust Walker over the string of governors we have had in our lifetime. I believe he is special. He should be allowed a measure of prerogative in these dark times.

Finally, I recommend that for those of us Alaskans who are prone to migraine headaches when weighed upon by the gravity of our fiscal crisis, it might lighten and clarify things to forgo applying for the PFD, and thereby pass it on to those who are more needy.

— Sam Bair
Anchorage

State should take steps first

June 29, 2016, a day that will live in infamy (for Alaskans, anyway).

With his veto, Gov. Walker has allowed most politicians (I intentionally didn't use the word legislators) to continue to shirk their responsibilities. He also made the initial move to officially breach the PFD vault without anything of substance having been accomplished to reduce the deficit.

Before we even think about "restructuring" the PFD, may I be so bold as to suggest:

1. Cut the size of government (get back to basics).

2. Eliminate waste in government.

3. Hold government accountable (politicians and state employees).

4. Eliminate all oil tax credits (no compromise).

5. Initiate a progressive income tax (minimum — national average).

6. Initiate a sales tax on all non-essentials (minimum — national average).

7. Tax extractive industries (oil and mining).

8. Tax renewable resources (logging and fishing).

9. Tourism (intra and interstate) — push it, sell it.

10. Make it happen.

People, please! Do your due diligence; be informed. Come Election Day, remember who voted for or against what and why. Then vote for the person you believe to have our best interests at heart.

Do not be swayed or bamboozled by the reiteration of slogans ("We're all in this together"), the distortion of the news (half-truths, lies and omissions) and the storm of propaganda ("Alaska's Future").

Remember, "Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise." — Francis Bacon.

We have enough money in the Constitutional Budget Reserve to bridge the gap between now and the implementation of the above revenue sources.

Legislators, go to work.

Politicians, pack your bags.

— Terry L. Chambers
Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.