Readers write: Letters to the editor, April 26, 2016

How many Alaskans understand that the University of Alaska Fairbanks is rated ninth on a list of 20 of the Best Small Universities in the world in 2016, according to Times Higher Education, while being rated between 301 and 350 of the best universities in the world? It appears the majority in the Legislature neither knows nor cares as they continue to denigrate and tear down the UA system. This is breathtakingly shortsighted. To replace what is being cut would cost exponentially more than what it cost to build, and the excellent reputation would likely never recover.

The Alaska-born UAF student in my family is very close to graduating and would like to continue her education there, but she feels the school is being torn down around her. A portion of the population seems strangely anti-education, and some of these people are in charge of “fixing the deficit,” which begs questions over our collective future. A majority of citizens support education in general for their families, but do they want only educated baristas and cashiers? Do they want their adult children to leave Alaska for better education and opportunities?

— Rhonda Jeanne

Anchorage

Give. Me. A. Break. The Anchorage School Board felt it necessary to spend $40,000 or more on a nationwide search for a new superintendent and then ends up with two finalists from our very own state. For a couple of thousand dollars or less they could have advertised right here in this newspaper and other local media as a start before going nationwide.

Part of their reasoning for not renewing the contract of Mr. Graff was their desire for greater progress towards their very aggressive goals. Well, I think a very aggressive goal would be for the school board to first find its brain in these lean budget times and not needlessly waste such money.

— Steven Cook

Eagle River

I’m still trying to figure out how the oil companies are getting tax credits. Why are we paying oil companies millions in tax credits? If there is no profit, maybe there should be a lower percentage tax or no tax instead of credits in times of low prices. We (Alaska) are now paying a penalty for low prices? Who negotiated this fiasco?

— Beth Thomas

Chugiak

College in Alaska is pretty expensive. Way too expensive if you ask me. Right now, the University of Alaska Anchorage is planning to raise the tuition even more and cut hundreds of staff members. This is a big mistake. By doing this, college will be more expensive and not affordable for everyone. The tuition is already high, and not everyone can afford that. Everyone has the right to get education.

I think we should also think about the future. The people going to college right now are the people who will make money for the country in the future. If those people are not able to get a well-paid job, how are they going to make money for the country, for their family, for themselves? With only a high school diploma you won’t make it in life.

My solution to this “problem” is taxes. Raise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, or have a toll on certain roads. With that money we can support colleges and make college more affordable for everyone.

— Maxime Kraan

Anchorage

We have lived next door to Skhoop, the Lab that was shot to death, and have never felt threatened by the dog. We have two young children who as babies played in our yard while Skhoop rested in hers. Yes, she barked at people walking by, but many dogs do. Now Skhoop is dead and what we are most afraid of is the new neighbor across the street. It makes us sick to think that a person can shoot a dog multiple times in front of their young child and drive away smiling. Our neighborhood is so shaken right now.

— Tyler and Betsy Beardsley

Anchorage

LGBT discrimination in the workplace is an issue that affects hundreds of people worldwide. While many states have laws against it, Alaska doesn’t. Alaska is one of 28 states that allow workplace discrimination against LGBT persons, and only 17 out of 25 of Alaska’s largest employers have rules that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. This allows a large margin of workplaces that people can be fired from, or denied employment simply because of their sexual orientation. There’s no law against it, so they don’t feel the need to enforce it.

I find it completely ridiculous that this is even still a problem. It’s illegal to discriminate against different races, or cultures, just like it should be illegal for sexual orientation. These are all things the person has no control over and they should be treated as such. Prejudice is just ignorance.

Anchorage anti-discrimination commissions don’t offer protections of LGBT people in the workplace. While some places have rules set, some do not. I believe laws and rules need to be set in place. No one should get turned away over something they can’t control.

I cannot stress this enough. Alaska needs to stop discriminating over something just because they don’t like it. These are people. They deserve jobs just as much as we do.

— Jazlynn Hughes

Anchorage

Obviously, we Alaskans are pigs and want everyone to know it, based on all the trash strewn over the Glenn Highway and other roads.

It makes absolutely no sense that people living here would throw their waste out of a vehicle rather than take it home and put it in a trash can.

It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the same people who feel free to litter, or “pass their trash around,” are the same ones supporting Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, candidates who encourage people to set aside personal responsibility because the government is the cure-all for everything. Well, guess what? Government takes care of our litter about as efficiently as it takes care of our health care, so it might be time for us to take a little personal responsibility.

While I am all about volunteerism, I have a real problem setting aside a week cleaning up after those who care so little about God’s creation they use the roads and highways as their personal trash can.

Why not require that prisoners from the correctional center clean up the roads? What’s wrong with asking the healthy unemployed who are living on public assistance to pitch in? Doing that would free up the May 4-11 volunteer week to do something a little more meaningful, like helping those in need.

— Susan L. Brown

Eagle River

After reading Lois Epstein’s commentary (ADN, April 9) concerning the four megaprojects the state cannot afford, I am stunned by the Legislature’s incredulous behavior. “Without meaningful debate, the Alaska Legislature decided not to redirect substantial funds from these projects into the fiscal 2017 budget.” This is exactly the type of decision making that has led this state to the brink of the fiscal cliff we are looking over today. This is incompetence.

The state simply does not have the resources to invest in the road, dam and bridge projects being proposed. It is time to throw the bums out and replace them with legislators who are serious about solving this crisis.

— Douglas Hope

Anchorage