At first it was disappointment with the administration, the Republican Party and the Legislature. But now I, as many others, feel betrayed and violated by them, for disregarding the will of the citizens of Alaska.
The statement made in the Sept. 14, 1999, special election paid for by the taxpayers, was that 83 percent said, "Don't touch the permanent fund dividend without a vote of the people!" With that statement, why have the above politicians taken it upon themselves to pursue spending the earnings of the permanent fund in Senate Bill 98, the supplemental appropriation bill? It passed the House and Senate last week and now is going to the governor.
Our legislators voted along party lines, so why vote for individuals? Just red or blue and then the governor can be dictator.
I don't believe this is what the citizens of Alaska expect or want. Standing up for my country in the Navy and being part of building Alaska in many ways, I believe that the people want fairness and honesty by those who we choose to lead us, certainly not deception while campaigning and when elected, then disregarding those they are supposed to serve. They should hang their head, if they do less.
Ed Martin Sr., Cooper Landing
Alaskans shouldn't be
left out in unemployment line
Agrium is closing and scores of workers will be unemployed, yet across the inlet, the Canadians are fully employed. How many Alaska millwrights, pipe fitters, mechanics and machinery operators will Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. employ?
It's bad enough that the Canadians exploit Alaska's wealth, but worse when skilled, yet unemployed, Alaskans are left out. I would expect that 80 percent of the jobs MUST be Alaskans, but go to www.northern-dynastyminerals.com and then ask yourself where their employment office is?
Norm Olson, Nikiski
