What low-flush toilets, gas prices have in common
This morning and had to flush our "energy-efficient" 1.6-gallon toilet twice to effectively do what our older 3-gallon toilet did. The close parallel struck me as to the high cost of gasoline in Hawaii.If we are to learn from our mistakes (the toilets), we need to make sure that government does not add any more regulations than already exist, even with respect to gas prices.
It is projected that more than $2 million will be used to conduct a prudent inquiry into the oil monopoly. I shudder to imagine the similar cost for the preliminary toilet inquiry, which now leaves me with my daily dilemma of how many times to flush.
Instead of spending millions to investigate and penalize business, use that money to stimulate business growth -- perhaps tax credits or other incentives for new petroleum competition and other industries.
This could begin a snowball effect and foster a friendlier business climate. Then stand aside, and let free enterprise and competition be the controlling factors that will drive gas prices lower.
Warren Chong
Hawaii has the vision; it just needs the action
We have just finished a legislative session with some positive results and some missed opportunities. During the discussion, we revived some old political slogans. "No New Taxes" and "It's the Economy, Stupid!" were both catchy phrases, but miss the point.If we reduce taxes, if the economy rebounds, we are still only part way to where we must go. When we reduce waste in government, when we have plenty of good jobs, we are only part way to where we must be.
"It's the vision!" Where we want to be, where we want our grandchildren to grow up, must be our beautiful Hawaii. Beauty includes the environment, quality education and the aloha spirit.
We do not lack for vision. We lack a link between vision and action.
John Steelquist
Heen should be leader of Democratic Party
Your March 30 article, "Heen to challenge Gill for party chief," was a pleasant surprise for my wife and me. We've been part of the Democratic Party for more years than we care to remember. But lately, we haven't felt that the party has been in touch with its members.We had just about lost interest -- until we read about Walter Heen.
He should be elected head of the party because he is the candidate who most accurately represents the overall community's values. Heen is our opportunity to put the Democratic Party back on the right track again.
Bob Nagao
Governor insults public with B+ legislative grade
For months I have watched and listened to the rhetoric of the governor and his widely advertised Economic Revitalization Task Force, and the political "leaders" of our state about the good job being done for taxpayers.Then there are the reports of government "mistakes" -- resulting in forever lost multimillions of dollars due to non-invested funds, unnecessarily paid federal gas taxes, the debacle of the UH softball field, the convention center booboos, ad nauseum, all reported without any culpability or responsibility, reasonable explanations or any heads rolling.
Now Governor Cayetano gives the Legislature a B+ for this past session. If he stays silent about lost multimillions, and now thinks he got a B+ worth of legislative results, no wonder this state has sunk to an all-time low.
The governor and his cronies continually insult and underestimate the heart, intelligence and voting power of taxpayers. We deserve better.
Diane D. Ackerson
GOP has opportunity to influence voters
The Republican Party may have a real shot at it this year. But if its members just give us the old bleats about high taxes and big government, and if they continue to cower before the gun, anti-abortion, creationist, big-business and other special-interest groups, they're going to miss again.What we need to hear, substantively, are the real issues, like how they might deal fairly and expeditiously to reduce union and civil service power to a level of cooperation, how they might create a time-limited moratorium on workers' comp and unemployment insurance to encourage the employment of marginally employable persons, and how they can assure vital federal support without our present Washington delegation.
Charles J. Hardy
At last, Cayetano is willing to be accountable
I was heartened to see your May 16 article, "Cayetano, Lingle in mud fight over harbor." Cayetano claims of Linda Lingle, "This woman cannot take being held accountable." One would now assume that, finally, Cayetano wants to accept his own accountability for actions in his administration.A failed economy, runaway government growth and spending, and public schools that don't give our state's young people the education they need are all areas Cayetano should now step up and accept responsibility for.
Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach
Major changes are needed to turn Hawaii around
We need a taxpayer revolt similar to what happened in 1954, when the Republican regime was booted out by the Democrats. I'm not necessarily proposing a GOP takeover, but wholesale changes in our governor and Legislature are needed to bring in new ideas.Hopefully, we can have the following reform measures instituted quickly for the good of our economy:
1) Reduce the cost of government by cutting its size to that of the pre-Waihee era, including eliminating all deputy directors and their secretaries.
2) Reduce the stranglehold that public employee unions have on the economy by repealing collective bargaining in the public sector. There was nothing wrong with the old civil service system.
3) Reduce the cost of the Legislature by going to the unicameral system, but with higher pay for the fewer legislators (to attract/retain capable people) and minimum staff.
4) Stimulate the economy with measures to encourage small business.
Henry Uehara
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