Readers write: Letters to the editor, November 14, 2017

Nothing wrong with drilling in ANWR for the money

Charles Wohlforth wrote in his Nov. 5 column that the only real reason Alaskans want to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is for money.

He's probably right, but what's wrong with that? Alaska is an energy producing state.

For decades, Alaska oil has provided good paying jobs, a high quality of life and paid the bills. Yes, there have been setbacks on the North Slope and even occasional spills, but for the most part operations have gone smoothly in a very difficult part of the world.

With modern technology, high standards and oversight by government agencies, there's no reason to believe oil companies won't operate in the same way should they be allowed to develop a small portion of ANWR.

Congress set aside the so-called 1002 area of the refuge for oil development. If Congress gives its approval and oil is found in there, Alaskans will benefit. We shouldn't have to apologize for that. It's what an energy state is supposed to do.

— James Curry
Anchorage

President is rare leader who could do great things for us all

One of my observations of President Trump is that he has a multi-faceted command of the English language. Touring a construction site and visiting with the foreman who oversees excavation, I have no doubt that Donald Trump knows the difference between a Bobcat and a D-8 Dozer. He also would recognize the difference between concrete poured and concrete pumped. Communicating with the hard-working people on a construction site is a bit different from addressing heads of state. On occasion, some of the president's "construction site" verbiage spontaneously comes to the surface.

I watched and listened in recent days as the president addressed a large assembly of military people upon arrival at Yokota air base in Japan. I again watched and listened as he addressed an assembled group of dignitaries in South Korea. President Trump only hours ago spoke to the highest level dignitaries in Bejing. In all cases, his delivery was spot on to the point correct; it was relevant, respectful and dignified.

Donald Trump is I believe a rare individual who has aspired to the highest office in the land. He has worked hard in the private sector and done extremely well. He has a talent for negotiating that could prove to serve the people of this country in an extraordinary manner if they would only recognize the potential and embrace it for the opportunity that it presents for future generations.

— M.J. Koskovich
Wasilla

We can't tolerate sexual abuse

Thank you Mitch McConnell for requesting Roy Moore step down. Thank you for believing the accounts of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. We cannot tolerate sexual misconduct and misogyny in our American leadership. Next step: Please condemn President Donald J. Trump for his self-admitted instances of sexual assault and request that he step down. We need leaders who can set a higher standard.

— Eric Miller
Fairbanks

Health care cuts affect us all

Thanks to John Bulkow for his letter of Nov. 6: Tax bill sticks it to the sick. Hearing a real life story is meaningful. We tend to forget that we will be old and/or sick someday.

Congress passed a budget outline with $1.8 trillion in health care cuts, a 29.3 percent cut to Medicaid and significant cuts to education, The House version proposed at least $140 billion in cuts to SNAP over 10 years.

I would appreciate if those who are currently affected by these cuts — health care, Medicaid, education and SNAP — would similarly enlighten us.

— Mary L. Turner
Anchorage

Trump finally makes it to Vietnam

Glad to see that the current resident of the White House could finally make it to Vietnam on Veterans Day. Old age must cure those "bone spurs" that kept him from serving there when the war was raging. For all my fellow veterans out there take heart in knowing that this draft-dodging president's term will end just as surely as your tours in the rotten wars of your generation did. You served honorably while less honorable men were able to use their power and wealth to avoid serving their country when it called.

— Robert Atkinson
Seward

Not all feel health care is a right

I just read Rev. Andy Bartel's opinion piece (Friday, Nov. 10) about the defunding of the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. I really appreciate Rev. Bartel's compassion for children and would like to commend him for it.

However, I would likely to respectfully disagree with several of his premises.

1) He states that he and his church believe that health care is a basic right for all. While he and they are free to believe that, enlisting the help of the entire U.S. citizenry to carry it out assumes the rest of us feel the same way, which is not true.

2) Nowhere in our Constitution is health care deemed a right.

3) Rev. Bartel quotes several scriptures from the Christian Bible to make his point. If this nation were still one nation under God, he'd possibly be more convincing. The U.S. has strayed from this foundation, though.

4) The problem with having the government take over health care is that according to the Bible, that is not the entity charged with caring for those in need. The group of people with the responsibility of caring for the needy is the church. So, we are back to the first of my points. Since it is Rev. Bartel and his church who believe all have a right to health care, and since it is the church's responsibility to care for those in need, I'd like to invite Rev. Bartel and his church to step up and do it.

— Nancy Winniford
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