Letters to the editor

Why I support Nick BegichTo the editor:

Nick Begich filed to run for US Congress in October of 2021, He talked to Don Young about his run and that Don was at that time not running for reelection. Sadly Don had to do just one more time so Nick is being attacked that he attacked Don.

Yes Nick brought up this last two years of voting and actions by Don, which aligned with Lisa Murkowski. Of note, Sarah Palin is attacking Nick on this, yet she fully endorsed Sean Parnell when he ran for Don’s seat. We all have supported Don Young over the last 49 years.His history, especially the first say 20 years was pro-Alaska. Many issues that I didn’t support Don on and yes, I voted in the primaries several times for his primary opponent, yet when it came to the General always supported Don against a Democrat/Socialist.

Enter Sarah Palin. Totally silent from October 2021 to the days after Don’s death. Where was Sarah, in fact where is she now, but more to come on that. So Sarah files the last day and last hours as the Johnny come lately.

Why?

Because she is Sarah Palin! She is a celebrity. She was a what 2 year plus Governor that was anything but a fiscal conservative! She pushed ACE’s/AGEA and proudly stated that the Dems 25% tax on the oil industry was not enough, she pushed for 27% tax! Remember ACEs/AGEA was replaced by SB21 by Sean Parnell whom she opposed for Governor by endorsing Bill Walker! She hosed those in Ketchikan with their much needed bridge. She attacked the Alaska Republican Party (ARP), when through the rules they endorsed Nick Begich, in the Anchorage Democrat News. Then tried to go around the rules to get an endorsement by the delegates when she called all of us delegates at the conventions “good old boys” (she lost with 70% NO). At that same convention, she responded to me when I asked if she would attend an upcoming debate with the top 4. Quote Why would I want to debate a bunch of losers? End quote. She has turned down other debates by Republican groups. Saw today, she had 50 people show up for a rally with two big names. She was going to have another one with a Congresswoman from Colorado, couldn’t get enough people to buy $2,500 tickets. Yet Nick has many people show up even with short notice! Many of these at homes. Nick has and is at debates and forums. Where is Sarah and Mary? No shows. So the question remains, where is Sarah? Funny she didn’t like my asking that on FB before I went on my hunting trip. She commented about it at her home presser. The question all voters need to ask, if she can’t campaign and be in Alaska for Alaskans, what will she do 4,000 miles away? Will she meet with only those that support her or in her inner circle, like she did as Governor?

Why am I supporting Nick Begich? Simple really, he has answered every question I have asked him, to my face with substantive answers, not slogans. He has been to many organizations meeting when asked, he has traveled, like Kelly Tshibaka this State time and again. In fact at the State Fair, I sent several Sarah supporters to talk to him. From what Nick has told me, many of them, if not all of them now will and have voted for Nick! Funny how that works! People who have opposed because of his name and what they have heard, when they talk to him, they support him! That is someone we need 4,000 miles away supporting Alaska!

As to Mary Peltola, her actions in Congress tell it all. Yet Sarah has been calling for an all or nothing in the vote. All anyone has to do is look at the last vote, a vote for Sarah only, vs ranking Sarah then Nick or Nick then Sarah, preferred , is a vote for the first Democrat as a US Congressman in 49 years! Don is rolling in his grave! I am told and since I was not there have to rely on the integrity of those relaying to me that at the rally of whom only 50 people showed up, she finally asked her supporters to vote Sarah #1 and Nick #2 to keep Mary our of Congress. Way too little, way to late since I know several of her most out there supporters whom will not do so. Sadly, I know people whom cannot stand Sarah and will not rank her second as well. To both camps, we have to play the cards given. If you play into the RCV scheme, endorsed by the likes of Lisa Murkowski, Bill Walker and George Soros, shame on you!

Michael Coons,

Palmer

Holding an Alaskan Constitutional ConventionTo the editor:

Here are perspectives about voting for a constitutional convention, voting for its delegates, and consequently voting to approve or disapprove what the convention proposes.

Each voter should have the honesty to read the current constitution and compare it to personal observations of how well it’s been working. It is comic book sized, and is the most clearly written constitution of any American state.

Each voter should work out why Founding Alaskans determined it was important enough to constitutionally compel a state-wide vote for or against having a constitutional convention every 10 years. This was in addition to providing a constitutional amendment process. Were they grandstanding, or simply showing true and outstanding respect for the political Power of the People?

Citizens working out supreme law---a constitution---under which they will live and be governed by, is the ultimate duty of citizenship. Constitutions---and Rule of Law---are the historically proven weapons against the natural corruption and abuses of Rule of Men.

Let the US Declaration of Independence amplify this point: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness---That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form as to them seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

The assertion that people nowadays are not mentally capable or too irrational to consider the task of modifying the Alaskan Constitution is a regurgitation of the centuries –old foundation for aristocracy and slavery. In other words, some are saying people need to be ruled by “their betters”---not led towards a cooperative posterity of responsible freedom for all. To have gradually manipulated interpretations of our Constitution for selfish ends or to reinstitute Rule of Men, are self-evident reasons to conduct constitutional housecleaning by the People.

As proven by every constitutional convention in US history, the pressure to serve posterity has moved delegates to rise to the occasion---to rise above petty prejudices and party politics. They were helped by obligatory study of government and constitutional references. A new constitutional convention should undertake a study of all references absorbed by the original convention, the Alaska Constitutional Convention minutes, and the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers published during the US constitution ratification. It wouldn’t hurt for ordinary citizens to get into such references---especially the Alaska Constitutional Convention minutes.

Stuart Thompson,

Wasilla