NRA teaches children gun safety, not misuse
The March 26 editorial cartoon by Clay Jones on the Arkansas shootings depicts four dead children in pools of blood. That characterization, of the National Rifle Association begging for them to have been able to return fire, goes so far beyond tastelessness that it is offensive and libelous. Jones and the Star-Bulletin owe every law-abiding gun owner an apology.The NRA is engaged in scores of positive projects continuously around the country. It is involved in youth camps, police training, helping the homeless, providing food for shelters, range development, education, outdoor appreciation and hunting programs. It is also involved in programs to teach kids safety around firearms in schools around the country, including in Hawaii.
The NRA promotes youth. Never in any form of consciousness would the NRA ever promote violence.
Thomas H. Lodge
Hilo, Hawaii
Government must downsize to fit tax base
While I can understand Vicky Asato's concern for her mother, a state worker (Letters, Feb. 18), what a lot of people and many legislators need to understand is that our state needs to downsize to fit into the tax base that supports our government.Raising taxes is not the path back to prosperity. We need to cut taxes, reduce regulations on small business and reduce our state government through attrition and by eliminating unnecessary state programs.
If this is done, small business prospers, thus increasing the tax base through more small-business hirings. Therefore, more people are working in the private sector of the economy, paying more taxes in aggregate, but less individually.
If Asato assumes that only state government employees are shouldering the burden of a bad economy, tell her to call me. I can fill her in on how small businesses have been working hard to keep her mother a state employee for 25 years.
Jay O. Floan
Kailua
Democrats have run islands for too long
Diane Chang is exactly right in her Feb. 20 column: Hawaii's problems are a direct result of total political power vested in one faction, over long periods of time, with no effective counterbalance.The results have been just as dismal post-1959 as they were pre-1959. Absolute power has corrupted just as absolutely and arrogantly in Democratic hands as it did in Republican hands.
The group feeding at the public trough may be different now, and somewhat larger, but power continues to be used to benefit those who are "connected" rather than for the "general welfare," because those who have the power know they can get way with it. The current mess at the Bishop Estate is a case in point.
Nothing will change as long as one-party government continues.
Tom MacDonald
Retired President
Hawaiian Trust Co. Ltd.
Rio Del Mar, Calif.
(Via the Internet)
Streamlining government should start at the top
Governor Cayetano and the state Legislature are in the process of eliminating positions and cutting budgets. What are they doing to cut their own staffs and budgets?Y. Umeda
Hilo, Hawaii
State isn't doing enough to cut costs
My decision to leave Hawaii in 1994 (after some 30 years of residency) was partially prompted by the fragility of the state's economy. I became more and more concerned that the state's dependency on tourism and federal dollars would be a major factor in an economic downturn.Add to that the stranglehold of unions on local government, the generally hostile attitude toward small business, the insularity of the state and the arrogance of the land owners, and the inevitable became even more clear.
Today, I see a situation worse than even I imagined.
Hawaii's dependency on the Asian dollar led to disaster in the tourism industry. Foolish, high-cost projects that were justified by the tourism argument will sink. State government still nibbles around the edges of taking meaningful action to get costs under control.
Instead of attacking the real source of the state's fiscal woes, the "leaders" talk about taxing nonprofits. Shameful, when the bureacracy is too big and does too little too late to stem the flow of the state's life blood.
Practically every day, when I go to the post office to collect my mail, I meet another Hawaii ex-pat. We talk a bit and the conversation always comes back to, "Read the Star-Bulletin article yesterday about..."
We laugh about the continuing trouble, shake our heads and separate, wondering if our islands will ever grow up instead of growing down. From afar, not that I can see.
Harry Williams
Incline Village, Nev.
(Via the Internet)
Geography-savvy students know the lay of the lands
Congratulations to all 82 students in Grades 4-8 who have qualified to participate in the 1998 State Geography Bee, set Friday at Leeward Community College. The winner will represent Hawaii at the national competition in Washington, D.C., May 19 and 20.Qualifying for the state bee required competing on the local school level and then passing a written test given by National Geographic. To qualify for the bee and remain competitive involves keeping abreast of world events by reading newspapers and magazines, and watching local, national and international news.
This is the 10th year that the Geography Bee has been in existence but, surprisingly, it has not been as well publicized as other competitions.
It will not be televised this year due to a lack of funds, but maybe we can do better in promoting this challenging and worthwhile event. In doing so, we can encourage more student interest and participation.
Anne Nagashima
Mililani
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