Readers write: Letters to the editor, September 29, 2017

Remembering Desa Jacobsson and the impact she had

I first met Desa Jacobsson in the early '80s. I was editing Judge Tom Berger's book about Native Alaska, "Village Journey," and Desa was an adviser. We became wary friends at first but continued to occasionally speak by phone. We frequently disagreed but enjoyed discussing the clash of ideas and cultures that we represented. She was tough and unyielding one moment and kind and generous in the next. I liked Desa, and she liked me.

Over the decades I didn't always live near Desa, but we stayed in touch nevertheless — trading our thoughts and opinions on issues of the day and sad memories of childhood and loss that came at night. It was one of the most intriguing, satisfying, and enduring relationships of my life, and I will miss her. The last time we spoke Desa confided that she had cancer and that she would die soon. She said, "Don't bother to call me again because I won't be here." Then she hung up. She was wrong about that. She's still here, and her words will always whisper truth to me.

— Judith Meidinger
Wasilla

Don't hold your breath that things will change with GOP

Elise Patkotak says in her column (Sept. 27) "For the life of me I can't figure out why Republicans are so adamantly opposed to people having access to decent health care." Answer: Because they believe that only those who have been lucky enough or worked hard enough to get rich deserve to reap any of the benefits of our free-enterprise system.

There are very few truisms floating about, but one is that the Republican Party is the party that believes that government does not work and get their members elected to prove it. The sad part of it all is that so many average, just-getting-by folks can't see this because the Republicans are so good at spreading their propaganda using religion and scare tactics.

Perhaps things will change soon now that we have a total incompetent in the White House, but don't hold your breath.

— Dick Palmatier
Wasilla

Proposed EPA cuts demonstrate lack of concern for vulnerable

Trump's proposed 31 percent cut to the already underfunded EPA would cripple its ability to achieve its essential mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Children of color, low-income communities, and Alaska Native communities, who are already at the highest risk of living near contaminated sites and other sources of pollution, will be most impacted by the rollback of EPA protections. These cuts would totally eliminate EPA's Office of Environmental Justice, illustrating this administration's blatant lack of concern for our country's most vulnerable populations.

Here in Alaska, our communities are facing health impacts from some of the worst air pollution in the nation and persistent bio-accumulative toxic chemicals that concentrate in our food web. These cuts would threaten drinking water and wastewater initiatives in rural communities, the IGAP program, and other initiatives that serve the most vulnerable Alaskans, especially pregnant women and children.

As Alaskans, we are in a good position to make a difference. Only Congress can stop these cuts, and whatever funding EPA gets has to go past the chair of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees EPA's budget: Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski has said she does not support cuts to programs that help our most vulnerable communities, and she took a courageous stand for all Alaskans against the ill-advised bill to "reform" health care. Now she needs to hear from us again.

— Jessi Thornton
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.