Readers write: Letters to the editor, April 28, 2016

I must thank Paul Jenkins for this week’s column (Sunday) on Alaska’s fiscal situation. He points out that sometimes important decisions(brain surgery) take time to formulate and shouldn’t be rushed into. The problem here is that sometimes brain surgery needs to happen quickly to save the person’s life. In a case like this I’d hope we’d have access to a brain surgeon with the abilities to get the job done, both quickly and accurately.

His article has made it abundantly clear that our current Legislature probably isn’t up to the task. Hopefully the next time we have the chance we’ll be voting for representatives who can handle these extremely important decisions like a top-notch brain surgeon.

— Robert Greenberg

Anchorage

It takes work to be a woman. Start with the hair — cut, colored, highlighted, then styled, every day. Face — cleanser, astringent, moisturizer, makeup. Can’t leave home without it. Manicures, pedicures, hair removal. Getting dressed — what to wear, does it match, is it clean. Is there visible panty line? Jewelry, shoes, bags. Figure three hours a day. Every. Single. Day.

Going on a date? Repeat all of the above. I haven’t even started on what it takes to stay in shape to look good in this stuff.

If there is a transgender who goes to that much trouble to be a woman, I will gladly share a public restroom with her. Jim Minnery should get a life. The only thing to fear is the hate spread by his paranoia.

— Anita Thorne

Anchorage

I don’t know Craig Walker (“Gun is a tool to kill. Period” April 22), but I don’t think he wins many arguments.

His point is summarized in the title. His letter implies that anyone not agreeing with this viewpoint lacks “critical thinking skills.” He has not paused to reflect on alternatives to his assertion. Actually guns are extremely useful for protection; they are very helpful to old, infirm or otherwise weaker person that is threatened by someone physically stronger. I don’t know whether Walker lacks imagination or has too few critical thinking skills to have considered this counterargument.

A 30-second Google search brought up a good example of this point. Here (http://bit.ly/1StIwIz)is a story of a violent criminal who was dissuaded from a carjacking attempt by a driver who produced a gun and pointed it at the criminal. The criminal then exited the car in search of other victims. As those libertarians always say, “an armed society is a polite society.”

— Jim Patras

Homer

I tweeted the governor and asked him to veto House Speaker Chenault’s Agrium subsidy (HB 100).

I encourage all Alaskans to do the same.

Speaker Chenault’s bill sunsets in 2026; that is $15 million per year times 10 years!

The Republican majority likes to be strict constitutional constructionists when it comes to cutting programs not mandated by the Constitution.

Well, I know where the Constitution says that we have a duty to fund education; I cannot find the part where it says that we have a duty to fund Outside corporations so they can buy our cheap gas — that the state developed for Alaskans to use — just so that outside corporation can use our gas as a feedstock for product they export to Asia only to ship the profits home to the Lower 48.

Speaker Chenault says the $15 million will create 400 jobs. What he doesn’t say is that the $15 million he took away from schools or the university in order to fund his corporate welfare for Agrium Corp. will kill 400 teaching jobs.

I think teachers add at least as much value to Alaska as ammonia plant workers.

All things being equal, therefore, the Legislature should first adequately fund everything that is required to be funded by the constitution and then fund those things that ought to be funded (equipment for disabled seniors cut from the budget, for example) and then — if there is any money left over — give Agrium their corporate welfare check, if the Legislature wants to. But since we cannot do the first, we should surely not be doing the last.

— Elstun W. Lauesen

Anchorage

Surely I’m not the only one to see the irony in Obama’s Commentary: Judge Merrick Garland deserves a fair hearing (ADN, March 25). Not so much his commentary, but rather the political cartoon immediately above in which a newly elected president, Hillary, nominates her Supreme Court Justice choice — Barack Obama.

Now, Obama said one thing in his commentary with which I agree, “our courts should be above politics, not an extension of politics.” But the reality of it is that the courts — especially the Supreme Court — are, in fact, an extension of politics. Witness Obama’s successful nomination of liberal Justices Sotomayor and Kagan. And now his attempt to nominate the, sold as, “moderate,” Judge Garland.

Obama suggests “let your senators know how important this is.” Indeed, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski: Stand firm.

— Patrick J. Rider

Anchorage

Ah, spring is in the air, albeit a bit earlier than usual. We’ll just call it global weird weather shall we. Along with the buds on the birch trees and the daffodils abloom, we Alaskans also get the improperly disposed of rubbish along the highways and byways as well as the sanding dust. In that vein of rejuvenation and remorse I pen this letter to the readers of ADN.

On the positive note, so glad to see Mayor Berkowitz on the forefront of homelessness and safety in our fine little city. Starting with his cameo last fall in the opera “Carmen” on through his survey and outreach of homeless camps into his town hall meetings, it’s great to see a gregarious and hands-on mayor. The election of the fine progressives Forrest Dunbar and the effervescent and effective John Weddleton combined with Elvi Gray-Jackson at the helm of the Assembly, I believe Anchorage is finally on a path to a brighter future.

As to the darker tone (skipping any more criticism about our current legislators utter nonsense about the LIO, guns on campus, sex ed, UAA suicidal slashes and over running their time with our budget), on the national level, about our last year with President Obama. Could one of you “conservatives” please explain to this stone cold liberal how Barack Hussein Obama has “destroyed America”? Extra credit for why we need to “Make America great again.” Plus bonus points for how.

Peace and more light (daily).

— Brian MacMillan

Anchorage

I would like to thank the good Samaritans who assisted me at the Carrs Muldoon store on Saturday. My son, who is 17 years old, 6’3” and is on the spectrum was exhibiting bad behavior and I was trying to leave the store rather than reward him by shopping. He was blocking my exit and I could not get out. A couple stopped and asked if they could help. I was relieved. The gentleman, taller and more intimidating than I, explained to him that he would be leaving because of his behavior. He also left it open, that if he was good for 5 minutes in the car, he could go back in.

He continued to have bad behavior, so we left. Of course it wasn’t an easy trip home. I needed food, some of his behavior medication and he was throwing a tizzy fit in the car. The most important outcome was I could keep the rules the same. Without them I could not have done it, reinforcement would have been practically impossible. I would like to give a big thank you to the couple that helped me succeed. They said they had a special needs child too, so they must have known how important it was and knew just how to help. Thank you for taking the time to help someone you didn’t have to. I appreciate you! I will pay it forward.

— Laura L. Kelly

Anchorage

Oil companies have convinced many in the Alaska Legislature that the sky will fall if we stop subsidizing them — giving them more in tax credits than we receive in production taxes from them.

I have four questions for the oil companies, which I wish our legislators would ask:

• What happened to “Let the market determine prices and the survival of companies?”

• Why are subsidies for the oil companies “good business,” while subsidies for low-income residents would be “socialism?”

• What’s going to happen to the subsidy when the state has gone bankrupt? Are you going to return the favor by staying here?

• Convince me of your plight by opening your books. Oil companies in Alberta are making a profit on production now, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail, having closed down exploration.

I don’t wish ill to the oil companies. But the citizens of Alaska deserve better than this failure of the Legislature to govern.

— Vivian Mendenhall

Anchorage