Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, February 5, 2017

Don't mess with what's working

Planned Parenthood provides affordable services to thousands of Alaskans. It provides Pap smears and breast cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease and HIV testing, intrauterine devices and birth control, HPV vaccinations and much more. Alaska women need these services. I was pleased with Sen. Lisa Murkowski's opposition to "broadly defunding" Planned Parenthood, but we're going to need more than that. Publicly funded family planning centers save the state millions of dollars every year. That money can be well-spent on many other issues. Don't mess with something that's working — defend it. Murkowski, we need you on the side of Alaska women so don't just oppose defunding; actively support Planned Parenthood.

— Lisa Bricker
Anchorage

Trump friends just as responsible

Darn right Murkowski. Sullivan and Young are silent about the machinations of Trump. They have bought into his policies, which makes them just as responsible as Trump for his actions. Voters in Alaska have a really short attention span and our Republican representatives hope that Trump finds his footing eventually and doesn't sound like he is completely off his rocker by the next election cycle. I don't think it is going to get any better. All I can say to them is buckle up, buttercup; it's going to be a hell of a ride.

— Jay Cross
Big Lake

Gillam can relocate to avoid tax

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Thank you, Karl Monetti, for your letter about taxes. I, too, think we need an income tax as there is no such thing as a free lunch, and services, protection and education are necessary for a civilized society.

I think Bob Gillam would be able to locate to another area in which to live if he doesn't want an income tax. Our state needs to do better for our citizens and the oil dollars are not providing what is needed.

A small sales tax on nonessentials and possibly an income tax are going to be needed.

— Deborah Jeffery
Anchorage

Climate change denial comes
after years of expensive research

What would you say to parents who thought their child might have a serious medical condition, so they got her examined by the very best specialists — but when they heard what needed to be done they said, "No, that's too expensive. That treatment schedule won't fit our regular routine. Come to think of it, we don't believe those doctors anyway." What would you say to them?

It's the same thing we need to say to Congress regarding climate research. Decades ago, when even Republicans took science seriously, our leaders listened to climate scientists who said that we ought to study biosphere warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone agreed the scientists were highly qualified and unbiased. Taxpayers gladly supported National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA and National Science Foundation research into climate change for the obvious important reason: Let's find out if there's a problem so we can fix it.

But today, years later, for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the work and have everything to do with the fact that the recommended changes will affect politically powerful corporations, Congress no longer wants to fix the problem. Now, after taxpayers have paid for lots of expensive research, many politicians say they don't believe the scientists.

If the parents of that little girl had never suspected she was at risk and she proceeded to get very sick, you could forgive them for not doing anything to prevent it. But they did suspect, and they got the tests done, and then they decided not to do anything. That's unforgivable.

— Tim Hinterberger
Anchorage

Issue is appearance of conflict

I offer thanks to Charles Wohlforth for his column about Alaska's "legally corrupt" Legislature. His analysis is spot on. But in some ways, particularly regarding conflict of interest in voting, the problem may be beyond the understanding of Sens. Kevin Meyer, Peter Micciche, and other members of the Senate majority.

The issue is not whether a particular legislator has a conflict; the issue is whether the appearance of a conflict exists. To deny a member's vote due to a conflict may seem insulting, as if the member will automatically yield to the personal interest. But the vote is not denied for that reason; the vote is denied to preclude even the opportunity for a personal conflict to occur. That protects the integrity of the member(s) involved, and it results in a greater degree of public faith in legislative ethics. Our Legislature badly needs to conform to basic legislative ethics like the rest of the country.

— Tom Nelson
Anchorage

Murkowski didn't fool all of us

I opened my paper to see that Lisa Murkowski is being heralded for taking her "bold move" against Betsy DeVos by stating she will vote "no" on her confirmation for secretary of education.

This headline proved to me that Lisa has successfully pulled off her shell game. The game in which she repays Betsy DeVos for her very kind donation of $43,000, while tricking her constituents into believing she actually works for us and responds to our concerns.

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When Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine vote against DeVos there will be a tie and Murkowski knows very well that Vice President Pence will be compelled to vote to break the tie. DeVos is assured victory.

Lisa would have been bold, she would have been brave, and she would have actually been responsive to all of our letters and calls had she refused to permit DeVos out of committee. She sent her name forward so that Pence can vote her in.

Lisa Murkowski has not fooled all of us. She took her $43,000 and threw the children of Alaska under the proverbial bus. She has no shame.

— Mary Ann Chaney
Anchorage

ISIS played Trump like a chump

ISIS loves misinformation; naturally, they love Donald Trump. ISIS tweets they would invade America via immigration. Trump believed it; he will believe anything on the internet. So Trump spins lies about our border being open. He doesn't know it takes an average of 12 to 18 months for immigrants to gain entry, through a harrowing vetting process. If ISIS really wanted to invade America, they would choose a faster route than America's immigration process.

For years, ISIS has been spreading the narrative that America is at war with Islam. With this ban, Trump has fulfilled ISIS's claim and cut off any hope refugees had for escape. With Trump giving innocents no option but convert or die, ISIS's ranks will swell. ISIS played Trump like a chump.

— Wayne Pence
Palmer

I choose Planned Parenthood

I've always had options when it comes to health care. I've been privileged to have health insurance through my parents and employers, and have never received a medical bill I couldn't pay. I have choices when it comes to where I go for care, and I choose Planned Parenthood.

During a recent appointment at Planned Parenthood I became unexpectedly lightheaded and dizzy and was unable to stand up. The providers at the clinic allowed me to remain in the exam room for 40 minutes following my appointment, checked on me frequently, coaxed me into drinking juice boxes, helped me put my socks on, and then insisted on reheating my coffee before I left. I never felt pressured to vacate the exam room or rushed to leave the clinic.

My entire experience, from check-in to exit, was facilitated by supportive and patient staff members who provided me with an incredible quality of care.

Planned Parenthood provides vital services for those who would otherwise be unable to access health care, but they also provide services for those of us who have options and have found Planned Parenthood to be the best fit. As long as I have a choice in my health care, I'll choose Planned Parenthood — and if my situation ever changes, I know they'll still have my back.

— Mara Hill
Anchorage

Murkowski holds cadre together

Having voted for Murkowski in part to serve as loyal opposition against a Clinton administration, I'm pleased to see she's still holding together the increasingly lonely cadre of Washington Republicans with a conscience in voting against confirmation of the completely unprepared Betsy DeVos for education secretary.

I hope our Predator-in-Chief doesn't take it as a personal insult, but that's probably holding higher hopes for the man than he historically deserves.

— Colin Ossiander
Chugiak

Bilet has time?

I finally had to write after reading yet another one of Rolf Bilet's letters. Gosh, it's a wonder this man has a spare moment to write, as I assume he spends a large part of his day worshipping at the throne of Trump, the wanna- be king.

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I don't think any "celebs" are busy lining up moving vans. They, along with millions and millions of us "normal" Americans, will be staying here in our wonderful country, and standing strong against the incompetent and small-minded man masquerading as our president.

— Linda Beller
Anchorage

Refugees put on welfare

In response to a Feb. 1 commentary:

So these organizations, RAIS, Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran Relief and immigration services, are arranging the import of people to the U.S. without going through the lawful steps that someone wishing to come here is required to do. Do they continue to feed, clothe and house these people? The commentary makes no mention of what becomes of them after they get here. Is that because they don't want it known that they are put on government welfare roles? What part of Christianity makes it right to commit theft by deception?

They pat themselves on the back for being so generous taking in these poor people, and then divest themselves of the obligation that they started. This isn't Christianity.

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— Jim Lynch
Palmer

Murkowski failed to act where she could have made a difference

Sen. Murkowski claims to have taken to heart the many constituent messages she received (mine included) advising against the approval of Betsy DeVos. But she purposely failed to act where she could make a definitive difference, the Senate Education Committee vote.

Murkowski's public statements are disingenuous, at best. Her office seemed to dismiss all the non-Alaskans who contacted her office about the DeVos issue. She said she decided to approve a full vote for DeVos because she always gives broad deference to presidential nominations and wants to give all of her colleagues a chance to vote. And, oh yeah, she felt better after DeVos made some promises to treat Alaska in a special manner.

All of which leads to these questions:

What exactly is the point of a committee hearing on any nomination if you simply rubberstamp even egregiously inadequate nominees? Isn't the very purpose of such hearings to weed out poor nominees right up front?

A committee is intended to be a highly knowledgeable microcosm of the overall Senate, tasked with providing in-depth attention to a specific policy area; doesn't that mean a senator holding a committee position represents all Americans, then, not just their own state?

Murkowski knows full well that DeVos' enormous donations to Republican members of Congress mean that she's very likely to be approved. Her hollow comments remind me of a certain hand-washing Roman governor.

— Kenneth Higgins
Anchorage

Murkowski, thank you for
standing up for women's health

I was heartened by Sen. Murkowski's recent statement against Trump's reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, and thankful to hear of her support for legislation which would permanently repeal such an order. Thank you for standing up not just for women's health, but for economic and health equity. To be clear, federal funding was not used to provide abortion care abroad in the first place. Instead, under the executive order, certain foreign organizations are now ineligible for U.S. funding, which they used to provide contraception and other basic, preventive reproductive health services. It is important to remember that, amidst the political fighting, there are women, men and teens who suffer when we limit access to essential health care.

We face a parallel situation domestically. Thousands of Alaskans depend on Planned Parenthood; for many it is their only source of health care. Alaska has some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, child sexual assault and reported rape in the country. We face shortages of health care providers. Eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood will exacerbate such statistics and put women at risk — particularly low income and under-insured women. I sincerely hope that both our senators will both vote against any bill which includes defunding Planned Parenthood.

— Kime McClintock
Anchorage

Trump, stop insulting our allies

Dear President Trump: What's this I hear about you having insulted the Australian prime minister during a phone call? Get some manners! Get some manners! I served with Aussie troops in Vietnam; they are good guys! The nation of Australia is a longtime ally of the U.S.! Grow up, and stop insulting the people of foreign nations — and especially our allies!

— Stephan Paliwoda
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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