GOP had better offer up alternative candidates
The basic tenet of serving constituents has been forgotten by a number of our legislators.I don't want my tax money to pay for empty high-end rooms that were overbuilt by the hotels or for a convention center that I cannot use. I don't want city revenues to pay for housing fraud, but I do want my trash removed.
I don't want government spending my money building a Hawaii that excludes me. I live here because it's home.
And before the Democrats get on their one-trick pony, will the Republicans please field some viable candidates for office? Will someone please give us some candidates worthy of a democracy?
Charles M. Kaaiai
Kailua
Don't burden visitors with increased taxes
The Economic Revitalization Task Force wants to increase the general excise tax and nearly double the hotel room tax. The idea is to shift the tax burden to the tourists. Bad idea!We need across-the-board tax cuts -- no ifs or buts, with visitors included.
Tourism is our No. 1 industry, and we live in a competitive world market. We do not need a Tourist Devitalization Plan.
Quentin M. McKenna
Waimanalo
Are government leaders sure they want reform?
The New Century Dictionary defines the word "reform" as "the amendment of what is faulty, wrong, corrupt, etc." The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "the removal of faults or abuses."I wonder which dictionary the Economic Revitalization Task Force, House and Senate leaders used to recommend raising the general excise tax 35 percent, to double conveyance taxes paid by people selling their homes, and to hike many other fees the public must pay for "services" received from our unionized government, which remains at a strength estimated to be suitable for a population three times the size of Hawaii.
Real change is hard, but change without removing faults and abuses is not reform. If, as a state, we cannot be smart with our money or even with our votes, let's at least be more careful with our English.
Michael Colgan
Funding public schools is key to sound future
Education is the foundation of society and the breeding ground for the future. Yet Hawaii's education system is sliding into the same crevasse that swallowed the Puerto Rican system.The best way to ensure that this state will climb from the ashes of sugar cane is to fund education, stupid!
David Webb
Mililani
(Via the Internet)
Task forces don't seem to be doing the job
I would like to call for a task force to find out what went wrong with the task force that suggested the governor form a task force to figure out how to fix the economy filled with the culprits who caused this mess in the first place.Bob Beach
(Via the Internet)
GOP is giving public what it wants to hear
In Meredith Wilson's classic Broadway musical, "The Music Man," traveling salesman Harold Hill's boisterous rendition of "Ya Got Trouble!" cajoles the upright (and uptight) citizens of River City into buying what they don't need and can't afford, as the smooth-talking Hill blithely promises something he can't deliver.As Hawaii faces its own troubles, one would hope that its elected officials could set aside politics as usual and cease grandstanding as a means for advancing their own personal ambitions in these uncertain times.
It is therefore distressing to see House Republicans playing off the general public's fears and apprehensions with deceptive rhetoric and irresponsible legislation.
Like the fictional Harold Hill, their own song-and-dance routine merely promises what they can't deliver in the hope of selling the people of Hawaii what they don't need and can't afford.
Such self-serving theatrics might gain them collective consideration for the role immortalized on stage and screen by the late Robert Preston -- if they can ever get beyond their own shallow first act.
Rep. Marcus Oshiro
40th District (Wahiawa)
House Majority Floor Leader
Quentin has best chance of beating incumbent
Regarding your April 27 article, "Dueling GOP reps vie for seat in Congress," your analysis failed to mention the viabilities of the two candidacies. Clearly, Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa is the only one of the two who has a chance of beating incumbent Neil Abercrombie.This is evident in looking at FEC reports for the past quarter. Kawananakoa received more than $51,000 (with a total of about $175,000 raised so far) in contributions from voters, while Rep. Gene Ward only received $8,500 (with a total of about $40,000).
At this stage of the campaign, when people "vote" with their contributions, it is crystal clear that Kawananakoa has the staying power needed to take on Abercrombie.
And if Ward is the "entrepreneurial advocate" your article mentions he is, then why did the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the national small business organization, give the maximum it could to Kawananakoa's candidacy, this early in the race?
I think it might have to do with viability.
John Ellis
(Via the Internet)
Lingle is a humanist; what's wrong with that?
Why all the fuss over Linda Lingle's unwillingness to be labeled a feminist? I consider myself a feminist, but if someone asked me if I was one, I'd make sure that the person's definition matched mine before I answered yes.Otherwise, I might be agreeing that I believe women are entitled to equal pay and other opportunities, while my questioner thinks I'm owning up to being a bra-burning man-hater.
On the other hand, "humanist" -- one concerned with the interests, needs and welfare of human beings -- describes Lingle pretty accurately.
Beverly Johnsen
Lahaina, Maui
(Via the Internet)
Columnist is too negative about Bows' performance
There is enough bickering and sarcastic rhetoric published in the news today. The last thing we need is for this negativity to be transferred to the sports arena any more than it is already.Why does Paul Arnett, in his April 10 column, continue on this crusade to denigrate the accomplishments of Coach Riley Wallace, who is just trying to do his job? And based on the increased attendance at the Stan Sheriff Arena, it seems he is doing a remakable job.
Arnett sarcastically expressed his disappointment that he didn't receive a personal invitation to the awards banquet. Neither did I, but I had the initiative to call and make the arrangements to be there.
I even gladly paid the price of a ticket to share one more moment with this special man and his special team. The fact that Arnett sees fit to treat this event in this way only serves to denigrate the feelings of the other people who were there.
Al Kam
(Via the Internet)
Next survey should be on 'South Park' show
I wanted to applaud your recent "Simpsons" poll. I have loved that show since its first showing back in 1990.If you guys really want to get people fired up and kids cheering, you should do a "South Park" poll. I guarantee that you'll get remarks from parents blaming everything but themselves for the behavior of their own or other children.
Even though I have no kids myself (don't worry, Mom!), I have the next closest thing -- a little brother. So I know what it's like to have a little kolohe runt running around pretending he's Beavis or Bart.
Noah Pekelo
Las Vegas, Nev.
(Via the Internet)
Big Island residents should get priority jobs at prison
The governor has stated that building a prison on the Big Island will create jobs for local people. But I wonder how many jobs will actually go to the people living on the Big Island, when the waiting list for correction and security prison jobs is very long, mostly from people not living on the island of Hawaii.This information is very important for us to know. Since we are carrying the burden of a maximum-security prison, residents of the Big Island should be considered first for employment. It's only fair.
Pua Tokumoto
Hilo, Hawaii
(Via the Internet)
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