Comment showed disrespect
We are aware of how the bigoted in this country have been easily encouraged by the president himself using irresponsible rhetoric. Whether the president actually meant to incite violence or not is beside the point. How his followers act is what matters.
Just yesterday, I read, in disbelief, what someone I once had a great deal of respect for said about the confederate flag. Steven J. Heimel, an award-winning radio announcer at KNBA, said on Facebook that, to him, the flag does not represent bigotry and oppression.
His own words: "I do not feel the same about the Confederate battle flag. I will gladly out a swastika displayer but I don't see that other flag signaling hate or even racism."
This is an incredible display of disrespect to the millions of black people who were made slaves, tortured, hanged in public, etc. These words are powerful ammunition for racists. Steve claims he is not a racist, but he sure sounds like one.
— Jackie Abraham
Anchorage
Vice President Pence and the ultimate insult
I would like to point out to readers a statement made by Vice President Pence last week during a speech in Panama. He stated that "I think the United States once again has a president whose vision, energy, and can-do spirit is reminiscent of President Teddy Roosevelt." I think this is a ridiculously misleading statement that is typical of the Trump-Pence administration. As an admirer of Teddy I feel obligated to point out just a few of the many profound differences between these two presidents.
First, Teddy actively sought out military duty during the Spanish American War. He used his position and influence as assistant secretary of the Navy to help form the Rough Riders and later helped lead this unit in combat. In contrast, President Trump used his position and influence to avoid any form of military service.
Second, Teddy was a very active outdoorsman who recognized the need to expand and preserve our public lands for future generations of Americans. During his presidency he created five new national parks. Trump has made it a focus of his administration to do just the opposite.
Third, Teddy Roosevelt was one of the most intelligent, well-educated presidents in our history. He wrote 35 books, had an astounding memory for historical facts and could recall details of documents that he had read years before. In contrast, President Trump can't even get his basic facts straight and makes up statistics on the spot.
Fourth, Teddy was a peacemaker and was awarded the Nobel Prize for his leadership in ending the Russo-Japanese War. In contrast, President Trump has gone out of his way to antagonize our already shaky relations with North Korea and Iran. He has even insulted the leaders of our close friends Germany and Australia.
Fifth, Roosevelt was an advocate of the "Square Deal" that supported fair dealings between businesses, consumers and workers. He opened 40 antitrust cases against various corporations. He also was a strong advocate for safe handling regulations for food and drugs and was opposed to misleading advertising. In contrast, our current president started and advertised for "Trump University" and has actively campaigned against clean water and air regulations.
The contrasts between Teddy Roosevelt and Donald Trump are so numerous that it would take the entire space of the Letters to the Editor section just to hit the high points.
Our vice president lives in an artificial world and his recent statements regarding the similarities between President Roosevelt and President Trump are insulting to the memory of Teddy.
— Tom Mader, colonel U.S. Army (ret.)
Cooper Landing
A sign from the heavens
After checking astrological charts and the history of solar eclipses, all indications are that our recent solar eclipse across the United States is a blessing of the Trump presidency by God.
— Doug Bartko
Palmer
Don't defang the watchdogs that protect US consumers
Most Alaskans don't realize the fine print of most financial service contracts contains a "rip-off" clause known as forced arbitration. Signing the contract essentially forfeits your Seventh Amendment right to your day in court if your bank or lender rips you off. Instead, you are forced into a secretive system where a private firm picked by the bank decides your case.
The watchdogs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a rule to restrict the use of these "rip-off" clauses and restore our right to a day in court — but Congress wants to repeal the rule before it has even taken effect.
Wells Fargo, with 48 branches in Alaska and repeated illegal conduct, aggressively uses forced arbitration to keep customers quiet. When Wells Fargo opened 3.5 million fake accounts — 5,970 in Alaska alone — consumers' only option to recover was to pursue secret arbitration. But arbitration is such a bad deal that not one Alaskan has filed an arbitration suit against Wells Fargo since 2009.
If Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan are serious about protecting Alaskans from financial scams, they need to vote to save the CFPB's arbitration rule. Congress needs to stop repealing and start legislating.
— Fabian Bean
Palmer
The gospel of Afghanistan, according to Trump
Other than "Everything is Obama's fault," President Trump's speech about Afghanistan was an exercise in vagueness and obfuscation. I'll attempt to translate what he actually said into plain English:
1. We're going to send more U.S. soldiers in an attempt to do what 16 years and 2,400-plus dead American soldiers have failed to accomplish.
2. After spending $2.4 trillion taxpayer dollars without achieving a final resolution, we're going to spend billions more (while simultaneously passing massive tax breaks for the wealthy, because only suckers pay for wars).
3. Other than killing more people, we're not going to define a specific measure of success (whatever happened to the Powell Doctrine?) that would put us on the spot when it doesn't happen.
4. We're not going to disclose anything about what we're doing over there to the public.
5. Our troops can now fire on anyone they want without first determining hostile intent.
6. We're no longer going to worry about promoting American values to the government we're supporting.
7. We're fighting ISIS, because everyone hates ISIS and it's catchier than the actual main opponents, the native Afghani Pashtun Taliban.
8. You troops are doing a great job, so we're going to continue using you up, body and soul.
I have to give credit where credit is due, though: He did a pretty good job reading the script written by his staff of ex-generals.
— Ken Higgind
Anchorage
Some newspapers succeed
I thoroughly enjoyed my summer in Southeast Alaska, sharing my time mostly between Petersburg and Sitka, with some time in Juneau as well. I am perplexed as to why Alaska Dispatch News is having the degree of difficulty that it is — the newspapers in all three aforementioned towns are up and running without suffering the death knell that our paper seems to be experiencing. I read the weekly Pilot in Petersburg and the daily Sentinel in Sitka, along with the Juneau Empire. If those small communities can do it, why can't Anchorage? It's confusing …
— Denise Roselle
Anchorage
To our Alaskans in Congress
President Trump is on his way to Phoenix, where he will continue to speak out against Jeff Flake, a sitting senator of Trump's own party. This is a battle for the soul of the Republican Party: Do Republicans believe in their traditional slate of issues and candidates, or are they Trump's army?
Where do you stand?
Are you willing to stand publicly against his brand of bigotry and his bullying, which extend even to moderate members of his own party?
If you think he is a destructive force, move to expel him from the Republican Party. Form a governing coalition with Democrats and take on our nation's problems together. Show us in deeds as well as words that you are not a member of Trump's bullying gang.
— Scott Hayden
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.