Parnell scholarship plan has a few flaws to be worked out
Governor Parnell is on the right track by creating some sort of scholarship, but there are two key components he should consider before going forward with the plan.
First, even a brilliant student cannot be expected to perform perfectly or even satisfactorily in squalor. Some of the brightest world leaders have come from difficult homes. A needs-based component or even teacher recommendation-component should be in place of a GPA requirement for the scholarship.
Second, distance education for a math or science class to complete the four-year requirement is laughable. To those who expect students with too few available science classes, particularly in rural areas with no access to such education, to do distance courses - have you ever performed excellently in a chemistry class? What if you were alone with no lab in front of you? It is asking a lot more of Alaska's youth than we might all realize.
-- Catherine Helle, 49th State Fellow
University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage
Take a step away from greed and toward aid on PFDs
This is a response to Maureen Suttman's commentary, "PFD checks aren't worth the price we pay." Maureen's opinion will certainly never be a popular one but I am very proud that she is willing to express it anyway. Her article, while being a step in the right direction, may not push the idea far enough.
There are many families that depend on this money merely for survival, particularly those in rural areas. Unfortunately the majority of PFD handouts go to urban families who throw the money around willy-nilly. They see it not as a necessity but rather merely a down payment on a snowmachine. While this may help the economy of Alaska toward the Christmas season it would be more beneficial to help the state year round.
I applaud Suttman for tackling an article that will not be well received but could be very helpful if only people could take a step away from greed and toward aid.
-- Tav Ammu
Palmer
Third party needed to help rein in current corruption
Neither our president or congressional leaders are doing anything to address the banking and housing collapse or prevent another crisis. I guess they are too busy creating the next fiscal disaster by mucking up the health care and insurance industry. Our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves when hearing politicians advocating policies such as "too big to fail" and "subprime loans to subprime borrowers."
We would never bail out Standard Oil or Bell Telephone because they were "too big to fail." No, these monopolies were restructured into multiple, smaller, more agile companies competing for the welfare of the "Main Street" economy, not the "Wall Street" elite. We would never have assigned an ex-AIG CEO like Paulson to run the U.S. Treasury Department and bail out his private industry buddies at AIG!
Unfortunately, neither political party wants to take on the lucrative, corrupt practices that are currently in place which meet both Republican Big Business objectives and Democratic Entitlement quotas since it acquires votes and money for both of the two political parties. Another reason our country needs an independent third party that represents the middle America majority.
-- J.C. Ferguson
Anchorage
Oil industry attack on ACES is greed-based grab for profits
The oil industry ads attacking ACES, claiming Alaska's oil taxes cause job losses here, is just another campaign to increase already tremendous profits.
We need to remember big oil sends executives up here to do one thing and that is to cut costs and increase profits. Cutting margins of contractors, bringing up lower priced contractors, and yes, laying off Alaskans, are all done to lower cost.
Having spent many years working for a contractor, I know very well that the industry uses every excuse it can to cut costs (low oil price, taxes, etc.), but does not bring them back up when prices improve.
It is the same with taxes. The executives are tasked with reducing costs and handsomely rewarded through options, bonuses and promotions.
Alaskans and legislators need to keep their heads out of the sand and recognize that cutting ACES only improves oil profits and will not bring back cut jobs.
I feel sorry for the cost-cut former workers being used this way.
-- Rodney Pederson
Anchorage
Court decision on campaign finance won't kill democracy
I had to chuckle as I read the letter to the editor Jan. 27 by Wayne Vance and Elise Patkotak's article regarding the Supreme Court decision on campaign finance. In their view our political campaigns will be taken over by big corporations and democracy will be dead.
What caused me to chuckle is as they put pen to paper there were hit ads against Sen. Murkowski being run on TV, paid for by environmental corporations. We all endured the ads for and against the health care reform plan, paid for by corporations and then there was the Employee Free Choice bill ads, paid for by unions. It appears all the court did was recognize the status quo, which doesn't seem to have killed democracy.
It also appears Elise thinks campaigns should be limited in time and money so only those voters who are willing to research the candidates will cast informed votes. Voter turnout is not good now. Let's not make it worse.
-- Bob Bell
Anchorage
Our charity should extend beyond reaction to disasters
I am currently attending school as a freshman at Washington State University and I have recently been hit by the groups of people asking for support for Haiti. In many ways, this is a good thing that so many people are helping those people rebuild their lives but at the same time it is unsettling that in times of major crisis are the only times that people are willing to donate. I, as many are, am aware of the growing AIDS problem in other countries that kills just as many people and more than that have been killed in Haiti. Society needs to think about the ways that we can help humankind on a daily basis and not only when a publicized tragedy happens.
-- Sable Hodson
Anchorage
People shouldn't get in a tizzy over property assessments
I love this time of year when the annual property assessment "green cards" come out. People who do not understand the system rant and rave over how much their land or building value went up. Those are just numbers on the paper. The real number that matters is the overall assessment.
The assessor could set the value of land and building at $1 each and the amount of taxes would remain the same because the mil rate would skyrocket to balance the equation. If the public would become a little educated on the assessment, mil rate and budget process, they would save a lot of ink writing to complain about their property assessments.
But then whiners will always be whiners.
-- Phil Weber
Cooper Landing
Editor's note: The writer was Anchorage municipal assessor from 1986 - 1988.
Thanks to Alaska Olympians for being stellar role models
Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks, congratulations on making the US Olympic Ski Team. We appreciate that you have earned your achievement through years of commitment and dedication. You are stellar examples of how to lead an active, healthy life. Thank you for being class acts and providing role models in athleticism and character to Alaska, and now the world. You are already gold medal winners in our house.
-- Shelly Laukitis and family
Homer
Watch out, we're packing
Anchorage already has "community policing." It is called all the law-abiding citizens who own a firearm and are aware that APD can't do it all.
-- Will Hayes
Palmer