Readers write: Letters to the editor, October 14, 2016

‘Back to the Future’ is now

We recently came across a stack of newspapers my parents saved from just before and just after statehood in 1959. As a 10-year-old, I remember what an exciting time it was for Alaska families as they anticipated statehood.

From the Sept. 13, 1958, Anchorage Daily News editorial:

"The job is still before us and the first big job will be to elect a good sound substantial Legislature that will get first things done first. Already can be heard the rumblings of pressure groups and factions. The men and women who are chosen to go to the first Legislature have a great responsibility to get the new state off to a right start.

"They cannot go down to Juneau committed to legislation that will be of advantage to one section over another or one group to the discredit of another. All must be for the state, none for the party. That is the guide to follow in next November's general election."

At the bottom of the page was a quote from the Ellaville (Georgia) Sun newspaper: "All the people who are running for government used to advocate better government."

— Sheila Lankford
Anchorage

State plays Lord Executioner as it preys on predators

The state of Alaska recently reaffirmed its predator-control program, rejecting a number of proposals to make the program more humane and scientifically based. Given the one-sided composition of the Alaska Board of Game, how can Alaskans have any confidence that rejection of these proposals is scientifically sound or takes into account the diversity of public interests and opinions on this issue?

What is most notable in the state's letter is its failure to acknowledge, or express any regret for the inhumanity of its predator-control practices. There is no reason for wolves, bears and other predators to suffer the kind of prolonged and excruciatingly painful deaths regularly inflicted by the predator-control program. I know no one who would tolerate this kind of brutality against animals in their care. The modern view, recently expressed by the Oregon Supreme Court, is animals "are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress and fear."

If the state must continue the predator-control program, it is way past time for it to join the modern community and bring humanity and compassion to that task.

— Alyson Pytte
Anchorage

DOT’s ‘fix’ is cheap imitation

Dear state Department of Transportation: Great job fixing the Glenn Highway, (sarcasm).

There are still a lot of holes, maybe just as many, if not more, than you what you fixed.

First: Great use of funds, using cheap material so it will degrade over a couple years.

Now you get to do it again. I call that job security. I'm not an engineer but I'm pretty sure they make a better material to use on highways. Oh, and those ruts. Somebody needs to be fired. I'd be proud to say that my company did that. More sarcasm.

— Keith Harley
Chugiak

Clinton win can save humanity

One must not be judged by the color of skin, gender, religion, sexual orientation but only by the content of one's character. This is not just the hour, day, month or even the year of women. We live in the century of women. Not just in the United States but around the world.

Who but Hillary Clinton can better help lead the world at the beginning of this century to give women equal justice, equal rights and equal pay? This is one time where size does matter, the size of our collective will and hearts. We here today are a "League of Extraordinary Alaskans" ready to make a difference. If Hillary wins by 1 to 6 Electoral College votes, and if Alaska goes Hillary then we, the League of Extraordinary Alaskans, will indeed have made a difference. It is called humanity.

— Robert Gottstein
Anchorage

Clinton endangered military

The cartoon by Glenn McCoy (ADN, Oct. 8) about Hillary Clinton's numerous faults versus Trump's potty mouth says it all. At least Trump never put this country or its people, and more specifically our military, in danger.

— Liz Forsman
Anchorage

Best part of cat-caller ouster is Alaska’s support of staff

Recent news of deplorable and destructive gender attitudes and behavior behind our presidential campaigns leaves me feeling ashamed and depressed about our country and our two political parties.

That changed sharply this morning when I read of the unnamed flight attendant who confronted a disrespectful passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Burbank, California. My world began to feel better immediately and took a greater boost as I read that Alaska Airlines management supported her and other passengers by removing the male offender from the plane. One more reason why Alaska Airlines is the No. 1 airline in my book and leaves me grateful to Amber Nelson for sharing her experience on Facebook as a passenger on that flight.

Subsequently, Charles Wohlforth's commentary in today's ADN gives, in my opinion, an excellent elaboration of our problems in Alaska with gender assault and abuse, and how they relate to the attitudes and actions of Donald J. Trump. He points out, and I second him, on how important voting for women and girls in our presidential race is to the future health and well-being of all of us and our nation. I encourage you to vote and make a statement on our future, and a better world. Thank you.

— Hugh R. Hays
Soldotna

Sure, Hillary runs like a girl, all the way to the White House

I am pleased to see Rep. Charisse Millett jump ship from the Donald Trump campaign. I'm with her on this issue. Trump has consistently shown he is anti-woman and a champion of hate. Our country deserves better leadership.

It is my belief Clinton will win this election and I am over the moon about a woman president in my lifetime. Back in the '60s, my divorced mother couldn't get a checking account without a man's name on it. Women were dying from abortions in unsanitary conditions. Birth control was unreliable to nonexistent.

Classified job ads in newspapers were listed as MENS or WOMENS. When applying for the same job, be it washing dishes or answering phones, there were two wage scales. Guess who got paid more? When asking a college professor about the prospects of getting into a biology program, I was encouraged to get married instead. "You're just a girl" was a fact of life. Those of you who were around then, remember what it was like. Those who weren't born yet, you need to think about why you have the freedoms you do now. It was because of people like Hillary Clinton who fought for women's rights.

In the spirit of bipartisanship, I welcome Rep. Millett into the Hillary Clinton for president camp!

— Anita Thorne
Anchorage

Fly to get cheaper screenings

A reader recently noted the Alaska retiree health insurance program does not cover routine colon cancer screenings (colonoscopies, for example) unless medically necessary, which run about $4,000 or more in Anchorage. Being under that insurance plan myself, I found a competitively priced alternative in the Seattle-Bellevue, Washington area. A colonscopy can run under $2,000 there, even close to $1,000. Using frequent flier discount fares, I had the procedure, plus two hotel rooms, and a rental car, and I was able to take my wife and my mother for a five-day minivacation in Seattle, all for about $5,400 — the approximate cost of the procedure plus labs, etc., in Anchorage. My insurance did kick in some coverage, so the whole trip was about $4,200. I encourage people to shop around.

I found a great doctor and facility in Bellevue and I suspect Portland, Oregon, also has some competitive providers. We need to bring competition to the Anchorage medical complex.

— Gary Rogers
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.