Layoffs show urgent need to adopt task force ideas
There is no easy way out of Hawaii's economic mess. Business, the public sector, government and the people are going to have to work together for the good of all Hawaii. The first step is to let your legislators know that we need the Economic Revitalization Task Force proposals adopted.Some, like Richard Rice (Letters, Feb. 20), seem to think there is no urgency about this problem. I don't understand why people don't feel this is very important when our largest department store and one of our largest banks have announced 670 layoffs. How many more jobs must be lost before people believe we need change?
The governor has sounded the alarm. It's our turn to respond. Let's do what makes sense and adopt the task force proposals.
Doreen Thomas
Cayetano should follow lead of private sector
The governor is running all over town like a chicken with its head cut off, asking anybody who will listen what can be done about the current fiscal crisis.Big business knows what to do in tough times -- they lay off people.
Joe Sullivan
Solution to economic woes is a smaller government
The ideas in the Feb. 14 letters by Bryan Honda and Betty Moir sound good to me. In fact, let's:1) Reduce the number of legislators by adopting a unicameral system.
2) Reduce the size of state government by attrition, since threatening layoffs only causes everyone to stop working and start protecting their jobs, getting even less work done than before.
3) Once that has started, replace the state income tax with a GET high enough to pay for trimmed-down government, with certain exemptions for food, drugs and other essentials.
That way, I get more take-home pay and my "contribution" to the overall cost of government will be proportional to the amount of money I spend, rather than my paying more than my share because I am unwilling to "fudge" here and there on my taxes.
I don't mind paying taxes to support government. I just think government should work as hard as I do!
In the long run, all we really need is a majority of politicians who are more interested in the welfare of the people and state of Hawaii than in themselves. But I'm not holding my breath.
Cheryl Kaster
(Via the Internet)
Do Clinton's high ratings reflect cynicism or denial?
As I observe the affairs of our nation's White House, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Media coverage of daily developments intensifies the soap opera quality. Are we watching: "As the Oval Office Turns," "General Executive" or "The Young and the Restless?"Do the Clinton approval ratings mean that Americans no longer believe personal integrity can be expected of our political leaders? We hear this claim. Or do the favorable ratings echo the denial we hear from a spouse who cannot accept the truth of what alcoholism or abuse is doing to their family?
Then, when I learn that more than 50 percent of our nation's parents would not trust our president with their daughters, my moments of laughter turn to tears.
If we fail to expect integrity from our leaders, we can hardly expect to retain any hope of integrity for ourselves and our nation.
Robert Fraser
President's character needs no elaboration
We do not need lengthy psycho-analyzing paragraphs to characterize Bill Clinton. We only need four local words: No class, no shame.W.R. Laurance
Kailua
Clinton should be judged on his accomplishments
A good president, or any political figure, should be judged by his accomplishments, not his private life. Although it may be ideal, it is not written in the Constitution that a president must take an oath of monogamy before heading into the Oval Office.All the president is required to do is run the country well enough to satisfy the people. While in office, Clinton has done everything a president should do and more. During his term, he has been able to balance the federal budget, decrease the unemployment rate and handle the Middle East situation commendably.
Despite all the negative attention Clinton has received, his public approval rating is at a record 79 percent. It is this 79 percent of the population that realizes what a valuable resource Clinton has been to this country. It is a shame that Bill Clinton's presidential reputation may be ruined by an unproven and insignificant act of sexual indiscretion.
However, no matter what happens, I will stand beside Clinton for what he's done in the White House.
Kendall Ching
Mililani
The wealthy already pay more in taxes than poor
In response to Sean P. Porter's Feb. 12 letter, I agree that socialism is indeed a redistribution of wealth. However, the context in which Porter applies the term makes his thinking absurd.The current tax reform, which should be implemented, would only decrease the discrepancy between what hard-working, college-educated, rich people pay and what unfortunate, less income-producing citizens pay now. The "rich" already have a higher tax burden -- one of the highest in the 50 states.
Reginald de Guzman
Ewa Beach
(Via the Internet)
Lack of tort reform will hurt the economy
I agree with the Feb. 20 letter on Rep. Terrance Tom's bill to enact tort reform. This type of proactive legislation is exactly what is needed to rebuild our economy.As a constituent of Tom's, I'm pleased to see him taking the lead on this initiative. He is absolutely correct in arguing that we need to put an end to frivolous lawsuits.
It is important that we do not allow people to abuse the judicial system because it ends up hurting us all through increases in insurance premiums and taxes.
V. Napua Baker
Laie
Bishop Estate Archive
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