Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 3, 2017

Murkowski should change her politics or declare as Democrat

Dear Sen. Lisa Murkowski: As a Republican voter who voted for you (and your dad before you, for whom I had great respect), I am deeply distressed at the direction you are taking, and could not vote for you again without a change in direction on your part. It would appear you are determined to stand against our democratically elected Republican president, whatever the issue, and consistently side with the Democratic opposition. Indeed, I believe you should no longer hide behind the appellation "Republican," but honestly come out as a "Democrat."

The "Obamacare Act" is deeply flawed, and for everyone's sake should be totally scrapped, and replaced with a new fit-for-purpose act. Preferably one members of Congress would read before passing.

Your insistence on taxpayer-funded abortion is, I believe, against the values of the majority of Alaskans. If people want abortions, let them pay for them, not my tax dollars.

Maintaining your intransigent position, for whatever reasons, is damaging to Alaska's economic prospects and the possibilities of developing new industry and job opportunities for our beleaguered state.

I would respectfully urge you to change course, vote according to the wishes and values of the majority of Alaskans rather than those of moneyed pressure groups and donors. Do the right thing for Alaska.

I sincerely wish you well. Kind regards.

— John Thom
Palmer

Thanks for Lisa, Alaskans

Many thanks to the people of Alaska for sending Lisa Murkowski to the U.S. Senate. We are grateful for her bravery, tenacity and integrity in serving the people of this nation by defending our health care.

— Shifra Sharlin
Democrat in New Haven, Conn.

ACA starves workers of hours

For the millions of Americans and thousands of Alaskans who are stuck in under 30-hour workweeks because of the employer mandates in "Obamacare," you have only Sen. Lisa Murkowski to thank for continuing that short workweek. She wouldn't even vote for the "skinny" repeal of the job-killing strictures, complaining that not enough planning had gone into the repeal effort. Murkowski, and her ilk, had over six years to do that planning. Instead, they sat on their highly pampered butts, knowing Obama would veto anything they did. Highly pampered butts get covered. Your enslavement comes gratis from the leftist Murkowski.

— James Bachman
Palmer

Kid Rock a lot like Trump

Kudos to Ed Rogers (ADN, July 26) for supporting the nomination of Kid Rock to take back a Michigan Senate seat from the Democrats. I can't think of a better candidate to match the narcissistic, boorish, man-child who currently occupies the White House. Next thing you know Ted Nugent will be running for Congress too. As a veteran of the Reagan and Bush White Houses, Rogers must have Ronnie rolling in his grave.

— Mike Jens
Anchorage

Safety sought under rock

"Presidency in good hands," a letter published in ADN, July 25, was in response to Ken Flynn's letter of July 24. The author, Doug Bartko, called Flynn's comments about our current president "unkind words." He then went on to cite a few reasons why our elected president is such a great choice to run our country, and we are all in good hands at this time. Rose-colored glasses came to mind — anyone?

But seriously, the only thing I want to know after reading this letter is: Where can I purchase a rock that is as big as the one that he must be currently living under? I may have to consider selling my home and finding one in order to survive the next three and a half years of this White House.

— Colleen Jepsen
Anchorage
The Bard's words still ring true

Without naming names in regard to a recent vote, I like to turn to Shakespeare for reassurance that life and politics, greatness and the ordinary, foolishness and wisdom, and the tragic and comic of the human predicament are things not unique to modern times. It is cheering that long ago these aspects of society were recognized, and so profoundly, commented on. Hamlet speaks with friend Horatio, "No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee, Where thrift (self-profit or prosperity) may follow fawning." One interpretation points out that "fawning" is a metaphor, in the sense that fawning is primarily something pets do. Subsequently, "licking" is a metaphor for showing submission, particularly submission with a view to gain (sucking up to someone), and for "candy," (sugary stuff), which stands for flattery. The bended knee is a symbol of submission. In this case submission is intended to be productive (pregnant). In the same play, Polonius speaks to his son, Laertes: "This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to any man." Indeed, it seems "the play's the thing."

— Ken Green
Cooper Landing

Young just talks tough

When Trump was elected I thought Rep. Don Young would have a role to play; that when push came to shove he would be the one to stand up to a bully. I was wrong; it's Lisa who is the courageous one.

— Robert Butera
Anchorage

Murkowski stood tall

Sen. Lisa Murkowski's vote on health care is a vote I support. If more senators had the courage to pose the same questions Murkowski did, and then voted accordingly, we might move to a health care system designed to best meet the needs of Alaska and the nation — not just the Beltway political hacks, left or right, and the special interests they are beholden to. Murkowski stood tall for all of us.

In the long run, Sens. Murkowski, Collins and McCain may have saved the Republicans from making the same mistake the Democrats made with "Obamacare," voting blind and hoping.

— Keith Tryck
Anchorage

Feral cats pose serious danger

Feral cats continue to plague our residence. Since they are often nocturnal, their activity makes our motion sensor lights turn on, waking us up in the night.
We borrowed a live trap from the municipality for a week and caught four cats. A call to Animal Control brought an officer. One cat was removed; the other three went to private shelters.

Back a few years, both polar bears died at the local zoo. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was feral cat feces.

Our children's sandbox was dismantled years ago. Gardening is done with gloves and we often find unwanted treasures. Any program protecting feral cats is not prudent.

— Renae Hanson
Anchorage

Workers boxed out of jobs

In the Aug. 30 ADN, Washington Post reporter Terrence McCoy's "Disabled and Disdained" outlined the inner workings of a dysfunctional Virginia family. In brief, a family of five had cable television, smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol; no one in the family was working. Some of the family members would hold signs on the roadway asking for money donations — those seemed to be important points in the story.

America holds a society that is in constant transition. In some countries societies have not basically changed in
400 years, but that is not America. Shoe factories and textile mills on the East Coast came and went. Some coal mines came and went. Many jobs, mostly affecting individuals lacking in education, have disappeared. To ensure the future of our society, today's schools should teach broad-based work skills that include manual labor and the trades.

— Faith Myers and Dorrance Collins
Mental Health Advocates
Anchorage

Hope courage is catching

Dear Sen. Lisa Murkowski: Thank you for your vote on the health care bill. You put your people before party. That took courage. May your resolve spread to others in your party.

— Carol Hoyt
Big Lake

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.