Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, November 3, 2017

If we cut 'welfare bus system,' property taxes won't decline

In regard to the letter from Lowell F. Anderson (Letters, Oct. 30): He just doesn't get it. If we cut the "welfare bus system," is he really so naive to think that his property taxes will go down? It would seem so. Does Mr. Anderson think that we should use the money we save to plow the sidewalks so that people could actually walk from point A to point B, or is that also "welfare?"

Maybe we could afford to lose some of these people who would move. They are probably the ones who came up here to cash in on the oil boom anyway.

Oh yeah, here is part of Jeff Daniels' movie speech that Mr. Anderson didn't paraphrase: We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest.

That sounds more like the United States I want to live in.

— Michael McKinnon
Anchorage

Legislature should do its job during the regular session

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Concerning Rep. David Eastman's commentary of Nov. 1, here's a novel concept. Do your job in the regular session's time allotted and you can go home to your district. How about this idea? Finish the budget before any other business is considered. Enough pandering to visitors to the floor. Don't waste time recognizing all the special interest representatives. Quit blaming the governor for the Legislature's failure to get things done in a timely fashion. Simply go to work, do the work and go home!

— Stacey Mitchell
Anchorage

Thanks to all who participated in Nome volleyball fundraiser

I read on Oct. 6 about the 8th Annual "Spike Out Cancer Night" volleyball fundraiser held by both Service and South volleyball teams that raised $12,000. Great job for a worthy cause.

I just had to comment about another cancer awareness fundraiser, held in Nome on Oct. 11-13, and organized by Lucas Frost, volleyball coach. They invited teams from Anchorage (Service), Kotzebue, Bethel and Barrow, along with breast cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe. It was without a doubt the best high school volleyball tournament I have ever been to. All excellent teams, but what impressed me most is that Nome Beltz raised over $15,000. Not to take away from Service/South tournament, but for a small rural community to raise the amount of money they did says a lot about their community and support for this very worthy cause.

Great job Lucas Frost, Nome Beltz girls volleyball team, all the participating teams that flew in (with weather issues), parents and families. DeeDee and I would like to thank you for inviting us. It was a pleasure to join you.

— Joy Berger
Anchorage;
DeeDee Jonrowe
Willow

Fight global climate change

If the president of the Alaska Oil & Gas Association really said that turning off every oil well, gas well and light in Alaska wouldn't make a dent in global climate change, then certainly AOGA shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't land a seat on the governor's new committee. Some ally!

This sentiment is like the Legislature's refusal to enact a gasoline tax because it doesn't raise enough money to balance the budget. The fact that there are 7½ billion people on the planet doesn't mean that each one of us has no responsibility to do our part in behalf of future generations.

— Fred Torrisi
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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