Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Go Army

Jan. 25, 2008

To the editor:

TC Greywolf (Army maneuvers letter, Jan. 24) should feel honored; not many people have seen the cav in action.

Of course there are military maneuvers in the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole. After all, they are home to two military bases. And no, the military does not have actual fake cities the size of Fairbanks for training. I am sorry if some people seriously felt threatened by the mighty Kiowa Warriors flying over the city; however, they are observation helicopters, not attack helicopters. And when is the last time you heard of a military helicopter falling on a shopping center?

Are people honestly worried about whether or not the United States military is flying around armed, when you live in a city that has no concealed carry permits? You are aware that the majority of Fairbanks is armed, are you not? At least with the Kiowa you can actually see the guns; they don’t hide them under heavy clothing.

A combat veteran wouldn’t feel the need to ask how many veterans were bothered by the training exercise. The sight and sound of a Kiowa means that the cavalry has been called in, and is about to save the day. None of our troops fear that sound. And our enemies do not fly Kiowas.

I wonder how many drivers actually pay attention to the slippery roads on any given day. Read the paper! Every day there are articles about accidents and cars in ditches. I guarantee Kiowas didn’t cause them.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that after our country has been at war for six years, there are still people that would question the value of training for our soldiers. The fact is that Fairbanks is the same size as many Iraqi towns.

Sadly, people who make comments like Mr. Greywolf’s have more in common with the bad guys in Iraq than you think; they don’t like it when the Kiowas train, either.

Kristin Rudd

Fairbanks

Energy rebates

Jan. 25, 2008

To the editor:

The debate in the Alaska Legislature over energy rebates is unfortunately not going to reduce Alaskans’ long-term energy use and dependency. The size of rebates under discussion ranges from $250 to $1000 per person or between $150 and $600 million, a staggeringly large sum of money we could invest to reduce Alaskans’ future energy costs.

We all know that Alaska’s oil will run out. Once the oil and money are gone, how will this rebate have helped? How will future generations look at our actions when the pipe is empty, energy prices are higher still and the state no longer has the resources to do anything about it?

The state has an excellent opportunity with high oil prices and a relatively full pipeline to protect its residents against the increasing cost of lighting and heating our homes and businesses. For example, the state could provide rebates or subsidies for insulating houses, installing more efficient windows, boilers or hot water heaters. The state could provide incentives for installation of solar panels, wind generators or solar hot water systems.

We could reduce our reliance on fossil fuels by investing the windfall in infrastructure to use long-term and renewable energy sources. Based on the success at Chena Hot Springs we could build geothermal power plants for remote communities with geothermal energy available. We could fund research or build plants for hydro, wind, tide and river-turbine power generation on all scales. We could build a gas pipeline from the Slope through Fairbanks to other communities, providing natural gas to the majority of Alaskans now rather than waiting for an uncertain mega-pipeline.

There are so many better ways to put the money to work. Ways that will help people in the long term. Ways that don’t just pay this year’s fuel bill, but like the Permanent Fund, would pay dividends to Alaskans for many years to come. We have cheaper energy at hand if we can only take the brave step of turning our back on familiar, but increasingly expensive, sources. It is the Legislature’s responsibility to take that step. I hope they do.

Steve Masterman

Fairbanks

Got papers?

Jan. 25, 2008

To the editor:

I was having a discussion with a friend the other day and one of the topics was martial law. Both of us being in our 40s, we do not have any firsthand experience of what it was like during the rise of the Nazi Party. We can only rely on historical documents and, mostly, what we have seen in movies to portray what the actual conditions and perspectives were at that time.

One of the sayings we were at first making fun of was “Ver R Your PAPAS?”

I asked my friend what was the difference of being pulled over for no apparent reason and the first words out of an Alaska State Trooper is “License, registration and proof of insurance, please.” How about if you’re at the Chena Wayside Park with your son trying to teach him how to fly fish and a brown shirt walks up to you and says “Can I see your fishing license please and how old is your son?”

What feeling would you have if a southbound flight got diverted to Vancouver and you did not have a passport? When you exit the plane those with passports are free to walk around and those without have to stay in a “secure location.”

In each of these examples are you innocent, guilty or simply being asked for proof? Believe me I’m all for keeping the bad guys out and don’t think illegal aliens should enjoy Social Security benefits and all of that stuff. I’m just concerned that the freedoms, rights and privileges that others have fought so hard for are deteriorating. During WWII, England had to revoke certain rights to secure their country from enemy infiltration. However those rights were restored at the end of the war. I doubt that we will ever enjoy many of the freedoms lost after 9/11 again.

I do not think things will ever reach the intimidation levels of the Nazi SS in this country, but you better have your papers ready at all times and hope the trooper has already met his merit badge quota.

Russell Bonar

Ester