Sorry, Ike survivors, no money left for you
"FEMA says no to ice for hurricane survivors" (ABC News headline, Sept. 18).
The explanation for the Bush administration's inability to supply ice to these people is quite simple. The billions that have to be spent to take over banks and provide golden parachute severance pay for their CEOs just hasn't left enough money for incidentals such as hurricane relief.
It's just a question of priorities.
John A. Broussard
Kamuela, Hawaii
HTA, get on the ball and fire Johnson
Rex Johnson is being paid a salary to work, to promote tourism on behalf of Hawaii, not spend time reading and transmitting inappropriate and offensive messages using his state government e-mail account. If a state employee did what he allegedly has done, they would have been terminated instantly. If he were in a strictly private-sector job, he would have been fired for cause.
On its Web site, the Hawaii Tourism Authority states: "As an organization, and among ourselves and others, we value ... social responsibility to our community ... excellence and integrity in who we are and what we do." So far, the board is certainly ignoring its own precepts. HTA needs to put its words into practice, on behalf of the people of Hawaii and the people who visit our beloved island home. The board of HTA needs to act decisively in terminating Johnson from his position without delay.
Anne Sabalaske
Honolulu
It's not too late to register to vote
Is this the year that we vault out of our voting doldrums?
Year after every election year, we remain at the bottom of all the states in participation and seem to be content with that. Can 2008 be totally different?
Whether you do it at the polling stations on Election Day, absentee-by-mail or vote early, just vote and then later give yourself a pat on the back and say, "I did it."
Remember that Oct. 6 is the registration deadline for the general election. The importance cannot be overstated. We elect the person who will lead our nation through some turbulent waters. So, vote!
Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu
The more they talk, the more it stays the same
Change, change, change! Yes, it's a-coming. Obama, Biden, McCain and now Palin all standing tall for more change. They are going to change this and change that, and when they are finished changing it all we will look around us and say it's still the same-old same-old for the most part for people in Hawaii. When this election is over and we continue on to face the hardships of the slowing economy, the only change we will surely see is the leftover change in our pockets from paying our ever-increasing bills.
Johnny Kai
Honolulu