Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letter to the editor, February 20, 2017

We did this to ourselves

Our state fiscal crisis is self-inflicted. Like a harried parent who doles out penny candy to toddlers to keep them quiet, lawmakers have spoiled oil producers with lavish tax credits and bargain-basement production taxes intended to stimulate high production and fast cash.

Unless you are a lawmaker who needs big money to fund pork-barrel projects needed to compensate generous campaign contributors, that's the wrong way to develop an oil field. It cheats us and our children out of the full value of our oil. It's like the people who sell their structured settlements for pennies on the dollar — instead of receiving a huge amount of money over many years, they get one piddlin' lump sum that represents a fraction of what they could have earned if they had been grown-up about it.

We need to quickly wean producers off their sugar high of overly generous tax credits and institute a tax structure that places Alaska somewhere in the middle among those states that host oil production.

Republicans condemn socialism — unless it's corporate socialism.

— Eric Treider
Soldotna

Good wishes from Australia

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On opening my morning paper today (Sydney Morning Herald), I was astounded to find a full page of Letters to the Editor from everyday Americans, moved to express an apology for the recent behavior of your president, Mr. Trump, toward our prime minister of Australia, Mr. Turnbull. I was moved by the sentiments and the good will expressed for the long-standing relationship between our nations.

But there was one letter which particularly impacted me, which shifted me from my own perspective as a distant observer of events in the USA, into the deeply wounding experience that so many Americans are now confronted with, as the impacts of President Trump's actions and behaviors become clear.

In his letter of apology, Mr. Robert Mikol of Fairbanks wrote of his lifetime of government service and his sorrow at how events had unfolded. His words jolted me. I suddenly and truly felt the pain and anguish of everyday American folks who feel their deeply respected values, relationships and institutions are being crudely, wantonly and bullishly attacked.

Regardless of where on the politic spectrum each of us may sit, it's hard not to be challenged, if not deeply offended, by recent events. So, I wish you well, friends, and encourage your united efforts in pursuit of a future that genuinely reflects liberty and justice for all.

— Jenny Postlethwaite
Lake Macquarie, Australia

Urge lawmakers to fight TB

Is it trivia if it affects millions of people? Here's a piece of trivia that does.
Tuberculosis has now surpassed HIV/AIDS as the leading infectious disease killer worldwide.

In Alaska in 2015, there were 68 confirmed cases, nine of them in the homeless population.

There were no cases of MDR, multi-drug-resistant TB.

However, in the U.S., the number of reported cases increased for the first time in decades.

Congressman Young has been engaged with this problem by co-chairing the TB Caucus in the U.S. Congress for several years.

This is the time of year Congress will be considering spending levels for fiscal year 2018, hopefully.

If you care about the eradication of this wasting, killing disease, please speak and write to our members of Congress to support providing $450 million for critical efforts to control and treat TB and drug-resistant TB.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski sits on the Appropriations Committee. No Alaskan should be exposed to this disease and this nasty bug knows no borders.

— Mary Martin
Anchorage

Trump is all about Trump

It seems to me that this president cares more about his "ratings" than the American people. Just watched his press conference … Give me a break!

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— Lora Voorhis
Wasilla

City needs safe, affordable housing for working families

The morning fire at the Royal Suite Apartments is very sad, devastating and sheds light on lack of safe housing for Anchorage residents. Residents who are often not allowed housing options due to the first/ last month deposit issue. Often people are barely getting by working a full-time living wage.

A prime example of this is the story of our teenage baby sitter's family that we have known for years. Our baby sitter's family does not have much education or work opportunities; her mother works hard, but with five family members to support and relatives who stay (visit) from time to time, she is spread thin.

Moving from a local trailer park into a small two- bedroom apartment at the Royal Suites was a move up for her family. Still, they are currently a family of six in a two-bedroom apartment. Mom wants to stay local because of the schools and better educational opportunities but with the fire it's likely they will need to relocate. Thankfully they are alive and healthy.

I am appalled that they paid $1,260 at Royal Suites for a small two-bedroom, but no deposits required (that's the poverty cycle). There needs to be better safe alternatives for working families in need of housing. They can swing the rent, just can never procure the startup costs.

— Victory Cheney
Anchorage

Not everyone can afford costly tires to evade proposed tax

While travelling down O'Malley Road the other day a scene presented itself that demonstrated the potential impact of Sen. Giessel's Senate Bill 50 (a possible extortion of the poor).

A young mother was stuck on the icy, hard-packed mix of the previous night's snow that was quickly turning to ice. She was embarrassed to find herself sliding into the ditch and blocking a quarter mile of traffic from Lake Otis nearly to the New Seward Highway.

Several men jumped out of their cars and futilely attempted to get her car with its worn and balding non-studded tires moving up the hill toward her destination.

It occurred to me that a high-priced tax on studded tires might seemingly encourage people to buy the new Blizzak-style tires. But the reality is that someone who might buy such expensive tires might not have the funds to buy a second set of tires for our summer driving season and running those tires on summer roads destroys them quickly.

Inexpensive studded tires may provide safety and traction for a much longer period compared to driving winter compound tires during the summer season when summer replacements are too expensive for many Alaskans.

Let's not use SB 50 as a punitive tax on Alaskans. Not everyone might have easy access to funds for new vehicles and the associated costs.

After I sent a short note to senators, Sen. Giessel was the first to reply to me. I hope Sen. Giessel can find a better way to raise the funds our state so desperately needs without making life hard on struggling families.

Cathy is smart. I trust she can do just that.

— J. Parker Rittgers
Anchorage

This 'freedom' may have a price

As a "former" lawyer, I get the tippy-toe approach Chugiak High and the ASD feel they must take regarding student rights to free speech, even when said students "freely" display the Confederate flag paired with their … commentary.

But as an Air Force veteran I trust that, if any of those "proudly" displaying it are in ROTC (especially those with aspirations of a military career), appropriate disciplinary action has or will be taken. If not, Sir or Ma'am Commander, please explain.

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— Lt. Col. Keith Muschinske, USAF (ret.)
Eagle River

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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