Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, February 13, 2017

Murkowski merits thanks for backing Planned Parenthood

Polarized politics have reached a new level in D.C., but fortunately some Alaska politicians seem to still be interested in standing for all of their constituents and looking to the facts. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski is one of these politicians who deserves to be thanked, specifically for speaking in support of Planned Parenthood, which offers sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and prevention to Alaskans.

We have some of the highest rates of STIs in the country, for example with the highest prevalence of chlamydia in the nation per the CDC's 2015 national surveillance report. With high rates of sexual violence, rape and teen pregnancy as well as STIs, Alaska needs the valuable services that Planned Parenthood provides. Defunding the Affordable Care Act would gut these services and leave a gap that Alaskans simply cannot afford. Government funding already does not cover abortion, and the facts show that the services provided with government funding are non-controversial public health necessities.

We need Sen. Murkowski to continue to stand up for Planned Parenthood by supporting the Affordable Care Act, and we need Sen. Sullivan and Congressman Young to acknowledge the facts and join her in protecting Alaskans.

— Hope Meyn
Anchorage

Budget cuts just an excuse to degrade UA system

The University of Alaska (UA) system is one of our state's most important public assets, primarily tasked with providing in-state access to a contemporary higher education. Our youth and many continuing adult students depend upon this. Unfortunately, the UA system has been managed into a state of crisis.

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Budget reductions have been seized upon as an opportunity to restructure UA into a degraded, one-university system headquartered in Fairbanks. The apparent agenda behind restructuring is to maintain greatly overdeveloped central control of the UA system while reinforcing the unstable, co-located UAF campus. "Degraded" is understated. This is a determined effort to continue reversing quality access growth realized in the UA systemwide restructuring of the late 1980s.

The repeatedly faltering Strategic Pathways process is a preconceived solution looking for a problem. In the closed UA system, hyperbolic busy work is being used to obscure the basic agenda.

As a longtime public supporter of higher education throughout Alaska, I have worked with many UA presidents. I very strongly endorse the UAA and UAF faculty senate positions of no confidence in UA president James Johnsen. A university president cannot function successfully without the confidence of faculty and the public, which he does not have. Budget reductions require adjustments but not self-serving system transformations. The UA Board of Regents must either gain control of the crisis or get out of the way.

— Bob Baldwin
Anchorage

Let's teach African mythology

Regarding the Confederate flag incident: I doubt this would occur if the ASD curriculum was prepared based on equality and inclusion. For example, we have five branches of the human race: black, brown, red, yellow and white; however, when it comes to teaching mythology to our children, the ASD curriculum only allows Greek mythology to be taught in the classrooms. All children have to watch movies, do reports and take tests solely on the white race mythology. I find this biased, when DNA evidence of humankind unequivocally proves that if any of the five branches of the human race should be taught to all children, it should be the African mythology, since Africa is the cradle of civilization. It's time the ASD walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

— Phillip Labay Mikes
Anchorage

Stop tantrums about Trump

What a pleasure it was to finally read a well-written article about our newly elected president written by Jacqueline Fries. It's too bad other people don't share the same outlook. It should also be noted that we did survive the eight years of the Obama era without destructive rioting. Thank you for sharing such an insightful article, Ms. Fries.

— Herbert Gray
Anchorage

Kudos to Murkowski

I am commending Sen. Murkowski for her leadership and "no" vote to confirm Betsy DeVos for education secretary. DeVos is clearly unqualified and her intent to use public tax dollars to fund private and charter schools are reasons to vote no. Additionally, who is going to provide oversight and accountability for those private schools using our public dollars?

This is NOT about a partisan "temper tantrum." This is about reasonable people who are concerned about this confirmation regardless of political affiliation, for all of the reasons that Sen. Murkowski explained. Sen. Sullivan failed to show the same leadership to protect our children and our country from this confirmation. His vote to confirm is an absolute failure and a missed opportunity to do the right thing.

— Dan Lung
Anchorage

Recycling costs too much

I just read an article in Wednesday's paper in which Alaska Waste wonders why more people don't sign up for recycling. I can tell you why: the cost.

An extra $14/month on top of garbage collection costs? An extra $168/year? I don't think so. I recycle newspapers, aluminum, plastic and bottles already. It's not that difficult to drive to recycling on Rosewood once a month. Plus, it's free. If the recycling was less expensive or was included in the cost of trash pickup (without an extra $14/month charge), I'd do it, but not at its current rate.

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— Barb Baum
Anchorage

Just a symbolic gesture?

I was encouraged by Sen. Murkowski voting no on confirming Betsy DeVos for secretary of education.

I was even thinking that maybe, after all, she is the moderate we need to consider whether a candidate is really qualified to represent the best interests of the people of Alaska and America. However I became less convinced when she stated that she did not intend to try to influence any fellow Republicans on the vote. Why not?

Isn't it common for senators and representatives to try to show their colleagues the wisdom in voting with them on issues in which they truly believe? Did she really, in her heart, know that this was just a symbolic gesture that would not change the vote in the end? Not very noble after all.

— Diane Crawford
Anchorage

Stand up against Trump

How many of Trump's outright lies will it take before Sullivan, Murkowski and Young stand up for America and call him out?

Our Liar in Chief is an egregious disgrace to our nation. Daily he continues to misrepresent the truth.

I am deeply disappointed that none of them will decry his racism, misogyny, disrespect to a war hero, mocking a disabled person, and disgusting comments to the parents of a war hero, not to mention his obvious corruption.

His financial interests in Russia and in the Middle East have resulted in no condemnation of Russia's electronic meddling in our election and his refusal to ban immigrants from Middle Eastern countries in which he has personal financial interests is clearly corruption.

Our representatives in Congress are being derelict in their duties by placing party affiliation over the interests of those whom they purport to serve. If Trump were a Democrat, they would be calling for his impeachment.

I will not vote for any of them again.

— Glenn Olson
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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