Don't let outsiders bring illness to Hawaii
In response to Sunday's article on the
bird flu epidemic in Hawaii: The best way to stop any major epidemic to the Hawaiian islands is to stop haoles and Asians from coming to Hawaii. If we stopped them from coming to the islands in 1845 there would be a majority of kanaka maoli in Hawaii today and we wouldn't need an Akaka Bill plus the other indigenous species would be protected.
Eric Poohina
Kailua
Hemmings neglected to tell whole truth
In his
Oct. 1 letter, Sen. Fred Hemmings used words like "truth" and "big lie" the way Rush Limbaugh used to pop OxyContin. They may make him feel a little better for awhile, but sooner or later Hemmings and his Republican brethren will have to deal with the painful realities of President Bush's reckless cut-taxes-and-spend fiscal policies.
According to Hemmings, the "mainstream media" is guilty of linking the highest budget deficit in history with Bush's generous tax breaks for the wealthy. To be fair, he is right that tax cuts are not the only reason our federal deficit is out of control. Add in a couple of hundred billion dollars to wage war in Iraq, toss in hundreds of million in "pork" handed out by our Republican-controlled Congress, sprinkle around a few million to "faith based" programs that support Bush's agenda, and you wind up with a slight problem balancing the books.
Under Bush, the rich have indeed gotten richer, and the number of people living in poverty has increased in this country. Average Americans are having a harder time paying for the rising costs of gas and energy, while the president's pals in the oil industry have never had it better. Those are indisputable facts, not editorial opinions.
And in case Hemmings forgot, it should be pointed out that our government actually had a surplus under President Clinton before Bush and his cronies squandered it. If experience has taught us anything, it's that our economy was stronger under Democratic leadership, and Bush's follies have undone eight years of progress in half the time. Is this the kind of fiscal policy Hemmings and state Republicans want Hawaii to follow? I hope not.
Rich Figel
Kailua
Let buyer beware when used car has tickets
The law that compels the owner of a car to
pay for parking tickets is a good one. This outcry against it is unjustified. It's buyer beware.
From now on, buyers of second-hand cars should check first if the car they are buying has outstanding parking tickets. If there are outstanding parking tickets, the cost of the parking tickets should be deducted from the price of the car or have the car owner pay all outstanding parking tickets before the sale is consummated.
Ruben R. Reyes
Waipahu
Why ticket the car? It didn't park itself
If an officer catches you speeding on the highway he can issue you a ticket and you have to pay the fine. If your car is parked wrongly and a ticket is issued the
ticket stays with the car, not the owner, even though the car did not park itself there. A perfect example of how idiotic our lawmakers can be.
Chester Chaffee
Pearl City
Med-QUEST isn't free, just ask a taxpayer
Regarding the article in Sunday's Star-Bulletin "Pulse" page titled "
The QUEST for Insurance": While I am happy for the Franco family who have a new baby, I am appalled that they could arrive from their home in Utah, walk to the Med-QUEST office the next day and immediately begin taking advantage of Hawaii taxpayer dollars to pay for medical costs relating to the pregnancy and the birth of their baby. I was angered by the statement that the Francos have no idea how much the QUEST program saved them: "We haven't seen a bill." Hawaii taxpayers are paying for it, Francos! Then the new father discovers that he, too, can get a ride on the free medical insurance train and he is also quite happy. Surprise, surprise ... Wow, what a deal, folks! Come one, come all to Hawaii for free insurance!
Sandra Fujii
Honolulu