New tax law shows no equality
The balancing idealism of our democracy is that everyone is equal under the law. Our rights, privileges and obligations as citizens are all the same. Or, that is how it is supposed to be. While that is the founding idealism that we hold to and want to believe in, the recent tax bill pushed by President Donald Trump and passed by Congress clearly states that the opposite is the reality.
I read that the expected tax relief for someone earning just under $100,000 a year is to be $1,310. I also read that someone earning just over $1 million should expect a tax relief of $69,800. So the person earning up to $100,000 gets an additional $1,310 whereas that person earning just over $1 million gets an additional $69,800. That's quite a bit of difference. At that ratio of difference, it would take 52 people earning just under $100,000 to get the same total of tax relief, in terms of dollars in the pocket, as the person earning slightly more than $1 million. Is that fair? Where is the equality under the law in that?
The president touted this tax rewrite "as a massive middle class tax relief." The reality of the math clearly shows it is not a "massive middle class" tax relief! But, then again, I guess if you're a billionaire, like the president, then to be middle class, you would have to be a millionaire. If that be the case, then I guess he is keeping his promise to those lucky middle class millionaires. I can hardly wait for the next demonstration of Trump's version of equality under the law.
— Michael Harrison
Kotzebue
Trump's insecurity shows
It's curious that despite his wealth and political position Trumplethinskin is profoundly insecure. His body language, speech pattern, egocentricism, all suggest that. He is obviously being manipulated by some Svengali using him as a pawn.
— Ken Flynn
Anchorage
Secular ethics are the answer
The Dalai Lama suggests that traditional religions are inadequate to address the need for people to be able to get along with each other. He thinks that a new secular ethics will cover those areas not covered by traditional religions. His idea makes sense to me.
Jim Minnery recently wrote (Commentary, Dec. 22) a good example of the limitations of traditional religion from the Christian point of view by arguing that bathrooms and locker rooms are places where discrimination should be allowed. Simple ethics, however, recognizing that all brothers and sisters have bodily functions equally would not discriminate. We all are brothers and sisters, even if Mr. Minnery thinks it appropriate to discriminate against some brothers and sisters, based on his religion. Secular ethics as conceptualized by the Dalai Lama seem to be a workable approach for getting along with each other.
— Jed Whittaker
Anchorage
Tax bill was fueled by greed
It looks like the old saying, "those with all the money get to make all the rules" is true as demonstrated by the new tax overhaul. The Republicans are pretty bold regarding the self-serving aspects of this bill. The helplessness and frustration I feel over this makes me hope another old saying is true, "Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The blatant greed exhibited by this tax bill exceeded even my lowest expectations.
— Della Dempsey
Wasilla
America is a country divided
As Congress always expresses its love for its "friends across the aisle," we should have an "aisle" drawn across the United States. Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other side. The logic and thinking is so vastly different between the two parties. So since the nomenclature and meaning of things in America are now being redefined and changed, I think the designated, United States of America, should also be changed to reflect who we have become … the Divided States of America.
— Rolf L. Bilet
Anchorage
Support for the mayor's ML&P plan
I commend the mayor of Anchorage for his administration's recently announced decision to pursue the sale of the Municipal Light and Power utility to Chugach Electric. As a longtime customer/member (over 30 years) of Chugach Electric I have experienced excellent, reliable service at a reasonable cost — what more could one expect from such a necessary product? I am sure that the combined utilities will bring economies of scale and increased efficiency to the new entity with a single administration for billing, purchasing and personnel.
Interestingly, I noted that while Chugach serves 68,200 customers with 285 employees (a ratio of 240 customers per employee) ML&P serves 30,800 customers with 230 employees (a ratio of 134 customers per employee). As a Chugach customer and member I hope that the board of Chugach Electric recognizes that some adjustments will need to be made in the current ML&P staffing levels to achieve the preferred customer-to-employee ratio now enjoyed at Chugach. The purchase should be good for both ML&P current customers and Chugach customers. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
— David M. Schauer
Anchorage
Zinke is no Teddy Roosevelt
I read the ADN interview with Ryan Zinke, secretary of the Interior and self-proclaimed Teddy Roosevelt admirer. Given Zinke's admiration for Teddy it seems contradictory that he would oppose setting aside wilderness areas and other public lands for long-term public enjoyment. Teddy was a great proponent of the "Strenuous Life" and he explored and enjoyed wilderness wherever he found it.
As America grew during the late 1800s Americans were destroying its natural resources. In response to this attack on some of our most spectacular areas, Roosevelt set aside more federal land for national parks and nature preserves than all of his predecessors combined. He did this to preserve the untouched beauty of these lands, as well as the Native heritage, for future generations to ponder, hike on and enjoy. This is the exact opposite of Zinke's philosophy.
It is the duty and obligation of Americans and our elected officials to set aside truly unique areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Bears Ears and the Escalante Steps for the enjoyment of future generations and not for the temporary financial gain of special interests. Also, I can tell you from personal experience that wounded veterans are looking for solitude, not more roads.
I will close with a prophetic statement made by Teddy Roosevelt over 100 years ago: "Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people."
— Tom Mader
colonel (ret.) U.S. Army
Cooper Landing
Murkowski vote is no surprise
Surprised?
No one should be surprised that Alaska's senior senator, the banker's daughter, voted for a tax cut that feathers the family nest.
After all, wasn't that part of the deal when Governor Frank was looking to fill a senatorial seat and settled, nepotistically, on Lisa?
— Richie Goldstein
Anchorage
Improve rights for the disabled
We could read the emotion in Charles Wohlforth's commentary, "State guardian left this woman homeless, despite family who would care for her," Dec. 17, and a follow-up, happy-ending article on Dec. 26.
Millions and perhaps several billion have been set aside with the Mental Health Trust Authority to care for and protect Trust beneficiaries. Still Alaska is about 20 years behind best practice when it comes to passing laws and regulations to protect the disabled.
About a week ago, we made a tour of the state legislators' offices in Anchorage. We were asking for a hearing concerning the need to improve the rights for the disabled. Sen. David Wilson sets the schedule for the Senate Health and Social Services Committee.
Here is our challenge to the ADN readers: Help the disabled by calling for the improvements in the rights for the disabled because lack of rights is one of the main reasons the disabled are mistreated.
— Faith Myers and Dorrance Collins
mental health advocates
Anchorage
Governor's pipeline is a mistake
Gov. Bill Walker's proposed gas pipeline "deal" with China will never happen! Russia has announced shipment of Siberian Arctic natural gas directly to China over the polar route with Korean-built, ice-breaking tanker ships. If Alaska were still Russian, we would be shipping our Arctic gas already too! Congratulations to President Vladimir Putin for proving that they can do this cheaper and faster than we could ever do it. That gas pipeline would take us 10-20 years to build, while the world would have converted to clean hydrogen and other renewable fuels.
We have had oil and gas blinders on. Instead, we should have been expanding our railway and Arctic ports, and diversifying our economy away from oil and gas, and toward renewables, like Switzerland and Iceland have been doing, to provide a more pristine state for our tourism and fishing industries. The good governor has been on a wrong path and must be replaced.
— Daniel Russell
Anchorage
Letter-writer wastes his time supporting ban on abortions
William Deaton (Letters, Dec. 22) wants us to support a bill that would ban all abortions, even of "fetuses" conceived via rape or incest. Actually, it's an embryo until 3 months.
Is Deaton devoting his energy (and not just words) to ensuring that all infants have the food, warmth and loving care they need? And is he working to reduce sexual violence within and outside the family? And that all new mothers have help with depression, parenting and financial needs?
In that case I would respect his views, even though I don't share them.
— Vivian Mendenhall
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@adn.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@adn.com.