Rep. Yoshinaga is trying to block retirement reform
The voters of the Moiliili area should take a close look at what their House representative, Terry Nui Yoshinaga, is up to. She and her labor panel have just rejected a bill that would have reduced the bloated retirement benefits of government workers. Some politicians never get the message.Governor Cayetano backed this bill, because he has heard the voice of the people. He is trying to implement change. Part of this effort is to reduce and streamline our out-of-control, union-dominated government.
Voters of the Moiliili area and all over Hawaii should voice their support for Cayetano's efforts to effect real change, and to bring this state up to the standards of the 21st century.
Art Todd
Kaneohe
Unions may be sorry they supported Cayetano
I agree with the Feb. 15 letter to the editor by G. Woo regarding the leadership of Hawaii and how an opportunity for change was lost.It's hard to believe that the public employee unions are now complaining about their workers benefits. Hey, they re-elected Cayetano, not us!
Most of us voted for a change that would benefit "all" working people. But the union workers were greedy and voted to help themselves at the expense of the rest of us.
That's called retaining the status quo and now they're soaking it in. Enjoy!
Robert Bornheimer
Foolish legislators must be held accountable for votes
Since there is no way to control sales and use of fireworks, foolish lawmakers who advocate uncontrolled sales should be held responsible for their votes. They should be mandated to pay for all damages or imprisonment for any violators they cannot control, for any lives and properties lost due to uncontrolled fireworks use.
If we had a sensible ban on fireworks, of course, there wouldn't be any problem.
Chester Lau
(Via the Internet)
Freedom to use fireworks should be protected
How ridiculous it is that, with all the important issues before us this legislative session, some people are more concerned with taking away what is a joy and highlight of the year.As I write, people are in Chinatown as firecrackers pop joyfully to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Do those who oppose fireworks want to take that away as well? Where would be the spark? The flash? The excitement?
Those who are too delicate to venture out in the night should stay home. Or perhaps they can stay at a friend's apartment, since you can't pop within close proximity of apartment buildings.
Why should they make more laws when they can't even keep illegal aerials from being set off? Let's concentrate on more important things than stifling people and their traditions. Where's the freedom?
Mary Mak
(Via the Internet)
Fireworks poll results
QUOTABLE
"I don't think we've had deflation in Hawaii except during the Depression."
-- Economic consultant David Ramsour on Hawaii's first annual drop in consumer prices in history.
-- State Rep. Jim Rath on a bill that would protect workers from being laid off after a business is sold.
-- Peter Eide of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a federal proposal for new workplace standards.
State needs a better softball complex
I am a member of the Mililani High School softball team that recently competed in the HHSAA state softball tournament at Roosevelt High's stadium. While Roosevelt athletic staffers did their best to make the field playable, the school's field and facilities were an insult to the teams in the tournament.There was room only for one softball diamond; therefore, only one game could be played at a time. Because it was built on a football field, the field sloped downward toward the running track.
The running track, in fact, was part of right field, and the outfield grass was spotty at best. There was no room for teams to hold pre-game batting practice, and the grass where we warmed up was inadequate for fielding ground balls.
There were no dugouts for inclement weather. Fans had to find on-street parking due to a lack of parking spaces.
Governor Cayetano and Mayor Harris should work together to build a first-class softball complex at a central location such as Keehi Lagoon Park, where ASA, Bobby Sox and high school state and national tournaments could be held. Hawaii's softball players and fans deserve better.
Adrienne Kasaoka
Mililani
Something is screwy about property tax rates
I am concerned about the fairness of our real estate taxes. Every year property is reassessed. Lately, the results show a 5-10 percent reduction and lower assessed valuations. So these people pay less taxes while the rest of us pay the same as last year. Is this fair?There also is talk of increasing the tax rate. If that happens, those not reassessed will pay more taxes this year than last year on property that now is worth, according to real estate sales figures, from $10,000-15,000 less than it was last year.
The tax system -- including income tax -- needs an overhaul.
Gregory W. Busher
Kailua
Why the surprise over the Olympics scandal?
There have been a number of news stories lately about scandal within the Olympics International Committee. Why the surprise? Many members are from parts of the world where payment for votes is a way of life.What is surprising is the apparent denial that this is also a way of life in the United States and many other nations that are so-called world leaders.
Want an example? To get anything done legislatively at the federal, state or county level takes big campaign contributions. So tell me, how does a large political donation to Senator Big differ from some pocket change for an Olympic official from Africa?
Jim Pollock
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
People knew the truth about impeachment trial
James Carville and others have suggested that the public was not "ignorant or apathetic" about the impeachment trial but that, simply, people were not rubes. The public knows the real power is in the scandalous although unreported private sector decision-making machines of transnational corporations, finance and think tanks.If politicians had the courage to confront this increasing consolidation of private power agendas, and the media had the courage to report it, then we would see that the public is indeed informed and concerned.
The government was meant to represent the people. As this became less true, news organizations filled the vacuum by advocating for the public interest. Then private sector advertisers began to sway the media until, now, the private sector owns the media and through the corrupt campaign donation process, owns the government as well.
In this ratings war, the Clinton soap opera received the highest ratings and therefore the highest advertising revenues. No wonder it all has ended in time for television's February sweeps.
Jonathan Boyne
(Via the Internet)
If democracy is failed system, why is world pursuing it?
Paul Lemke (Letters, Jan. 8) claims that "America's culture is a failure," but fails to provide any proof of that failure. A society based on the notion "that all men are created equal" and personal freedom can't be completely wrong.America's founding fathers fought for the privileges we (even Hawaiians) take for granted today. The right to have a say in their destiny, and not be required to bow to a monarch, is a basic right that people around the world clamor for today.
Too bad Lemke and those who think as he does would rather grovel at the feet of others than take control of their own life in the greatest experiment of self-governance in the history of mankind.
Victor Moss
Makakilo
(Via the Internet)
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