Opinions

Readers write: Letters to the editor, May 15, 2016

JBER medical staff, thanks

I would like to thank Dr. Thomas B. Paynter (orthopedic surgeon) and the entire staff at the 673rd Medical Group at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson for the fantastic service provided during two knee replacements — July 21, 2015, and Feb. 16, 2016.

All personnel at the 673rd exhibit the optimum in patient care and overall professionalism above and beyond. The kindness and constant concern for my comfort made a most traumatic experience quite bearable. I want to thank you all for making the surgeries a walk in the park, from the day I walked in to the day I left. These folks care.

I believe the entire chain of command at JBER can be proud and know they must be doing something right when such an atmosphere exists.

— Ed Greene

Fairbanks

No votes for state delegation

Re: Elise Patkotak commentary Wednesday, May 11, She put it on the line about the Alaska delegation. Many of my colleagues are increasingly disenchanted with those who are blindly following their party with no thought as to the presumptive nominee's qualifications to be our president. If Donald Trump is the best the party can do for a nominee, you have to wonder if any of them are thinking. And, yes, I vote. I used to be Undeclared on my voting status so I could vote Republican in the primary if I chose. I did support Murkowski in her write-in campaign against Joe Miller.

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This year, I have changed my voting status to Democrat and I will never vote for any of the Alaska delegation as it stands. I have never voted for Don Young. Until Alaska representation gets more balanced by not regurgitating their party rhetoric, I will continue to vote my protest no matter who runs against them. If you are trusting that Donald Trump is going to fall in line with the Republican beliefs and be able to overcome his narcissistic tendencies, you are taking a very big gamble.

Once more, Elise, thank you for your well-written commentary.

— Jan Wyland

Seldovia

Rein in the rogues

Our Legislature must rein in rogue legislators by forbidding a single signature on agreements or legal documents on behalf of the Legislature without a vote of the body. Rep. Craig Johnson signing to proceed with a lawsuit that was dismissed and Rep. Hawker signing the LIO-Anchorage lease agreement that was deemed illegal are recent examples of why this is bad policy. Both actions were taken contrary to legal advice. Both actions are fiscally and ethically irresponsible.

The Legislature must stop this practice of allowing unilateral authority to encumber large amounts of money from the state of Alaska's coffers.

— Laura Bonner

Anchorage

Remember the George Ferris and praise Gov. Hammond

In the spring of 1976 Gov. Hammond's bill to buy back the Kachemak Bay oil leases and prevent drilling there was doomed in the state Legislature. Then on May 5 the drill rig George Ferris became stuck deep in the mud where it was anchored in Mud Bay. The incoming tide swamped the rig and an oil spill resulted just as the annual migration of shorebirds was arriving. All efforts to contain the spill failed and the fiasco became headline news in the local as well as Anchorage papers.

Two days later the Legislature resurrected and then amended Hammond's bill to contain everything he wanted, including creation of a marine sanctuary as well as buy-back and condemnation of the oil leases. Hammond signed the bill, the leases were then bought back, the bay was saved and the history of Homer and Kachemak Bay was changed forever.

This was an important chapter in Alaska's history and the full story is documented in the book "Fish, Oil and Follies." Copies of this book have been donated to Cook Inletkeeper in Homer for their spring fundraiser. If you are interested in reading more of the story and are headed down to Homer for the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival (May 12-15), you may want to contact them for a copy. And as you look out across the Mud Bay flats for the amazing collection of spring shorebirds, give thanks to Gov. Hammond and to the fishermen and other concerned citizens of Homer who fought to save the bay from oil development. Finally, remember the George Ferris for dealing the final blow to what was an ill-planned and poorly executed scheme to drill for oil in one of the world's most diverse and richest marine environments.

— Loren Flagg

Kenai

Rally, you Sanders fans

Hey, Bernie folks in Alaska! Time to take on the most important Bernie issue in the state right now at the Democratic convention — the transformation of the Permanent Fund, a direct hit on lower-income Alaskans supported by the Democratic establishment. Silence at the party meeting this weekend will not be golden.

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— Stephen Conn

Point Roberts, Wash.

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.

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