42.0°

I read with interest the article about rising unemployment numbers in Juneau and throughout Alaska, especially when I still see help-wanted ads throughout Juneau from McDonald's and Wal-Mart to Home Depot.

Today I spoke with some contractors and many of them are hiring. Upwards of 25-plus people a week that are called J-1's are here working. These are people from other countries that are imported by employers to work in Alaska. Even where I work, we are short handed and hiring, and pay quite well. There are many jobs available from minimum wage to professional.

So what about the rising unemployment numbers? It's true, but don't blame the economy, instead blame the people that would rather sit on their duff and live off of those that do work. Blame the current administration, which encourages such action.

The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Bruce Hale

Juneau