Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 4, 2017

Ownership should dictate use

Native fishing rights in Haines and elsewhere may be allowed by the courts, but that doesn't mean the rights of property owners should be cast aside as reported by Charles Wohlforth (ADN, Aug. 1). The Loewens purchased land legally and wish to limit the destruction caused by too many vehicles. Lee Heinmiller, representing Native rights, states they have been doing this for thousands of years. So this same spot for thousands of years? No change in river direction? I'll bet they did not use vehicles to haul out their fish, and that is the point.

I hope the Loewens continue to find middle ground and not pay out that fee.

— Liz Forsman
Anchorage

Wohlforth is mixed blessing

Having ADN's Charles Wohlforth on the scene is a mixed blessing, a "good news, bad news" situation.

The good news is that he works very hard, is candid, reports on important things we would otherwise probably not hear about and is not afraid to express his opinion. The bad news is he often doesn't seem to know what he is talking about. He embraces the role of "instant expert," which must be very trying for actual experts.

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A case in point is his latest column (ADN, Aug. 1), in which he discusses what sounds like a fairly complex legal case in Haines. Wohlforth blames "the legal system" for making a twisted mess out of "an issue that reasonably could have been resolved over a few cups of coffee."

Say what? If you want to convince us of that, tell us exactly why the issue wasn't resolved over a few cups of coffee. That's called journalism.

Maybe fewer columns, with deeper analysis?

— Doug Miller
Anchorage

Women led the way in Senate

I enjoyed reading ADN's Letters to the Editor on Aug. 1. When one of our senators does the right thing, regarding adherence to the legislative process and the devastating consequences to Alaskans and Americans of a bad piece of legislation, she deserves the recognition and positive accolades expressed in those letters. I especially liked Larry Holman's, in which he expressed many of my own sentiments — except his conclusion of who stood by whom. Three courageous and principled women senators, our own Lisa Murkowski, Maine's Susan Collins, and Hawaii's Mazie Hirono (who voted on the Senate floor despite recent surgery related to her stage 4 kidney cancer), are the heroes here. It was Sen. John McCain, with great stagecrafted drama, who stood by these three strong women senators. It is now time for our representatives in D.C. to work together to craft legislation to improve the ACA to ensure all Americans have access to health care. Health care is a human right, not a privilege.

— Dagmar Mikko
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.

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