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Thursday, February 3, 2000
Shall we send them to bed with no supper?
If public employees are going to get snacks and naps, maybe we could also start sending home letters to their parents: "Johnny approved a stadium today where you can't even see home plate, so he had to go sit timeout."John Sender
HMSA oversteps its authority
Since the Hawaii Medical Services Association has iron-fisted control of medical services in this state, perhaps we should rally behind our physicians and physician assistants (PAs).I have been a patient at Hale Le'a Family Medicine on Kauai for 10 years. I've received exceptional care from James Winkler, PA, under the direction of supervising physician Harold Spear. Now HMSA wants to arbitrarily decide in what settings a PA can be used.
The scope of PA practice is determined by the Legislature and Board of Medical Examiners, not insurance companies. HMSA's attempt to dictate how doctors can utilize PAs only adds to the further degradation of medical care.
I, for one, would no longer be able to receive care from the provider of my choice.
Isn't it time to take a stand against this overpowerful, self-serving industry? Contact Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf at 586-2799 (fax 586-2806) to voice your displeasure.
Tony Allen
Princeville, Kauai
Unemployed are fleeing from islands
With great fanfare, we read that Hawaii's unemployment rate is going down. Has anyone thought why? Our unemployed have simply left for the mainland. They could not find jobs here.If our Legislature continues its economic nonperformance, even more of our unemployed will have to leave in order to earn a living again. What a way to lower the unemployment rate.
Soon, only government workers will be left -- and asking for raises on top of that. But who will pay for them? Think about that one.
Gerhard Hamm
Hawaii Kai
State workers get good benefits -- too good
I have been a resident of this state for more than 35 years. But until I read House Speaker Calvin Say's Jan. 28 letter to the editor, I hadn't paid much attention to the benefits that Hawaii public employee retirees are entitled to.According to Say and the other signers of the letter, government workers receive free medical, dental, vision, prescription drug and other benefits for the retiree, spouse and dependents for life.
As a military retiree with 31 years service, I would like to make a comparison of retiree benefits:
Medical benefits: for me, yes; for retiree, spouse and any dependents, only if living close to a military medical facility but on a space-available basis, which may cause a long wait for other than emergency treatment.
I point out these variances as I am sure the Legislature will need some ammunition to counter the attacks that the public employees will launch if there are any attempts to change their benefits.
William G. Burlingame Sr.
Lt. Col., U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Quotables
"I really admire the Hawaiian culture.
They really were resourceful. The plants
are the true Hawaii. It's now
cool to have a native." Anna Palomino
WHO GROWS NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS AT
HO'OLAWA FARMS ON MAUI
On waging a private war against
foreign vegetation in the islands
"I hate it, the morphing Constitution
-- whose meaning changes from generation
to generation. The Constitution is not an
organism, it is a system
of government." Antonin Scalia
U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Telling Honolulu lawyers and law students that the
U.S. Constitution cannot be fiddled with to suit
changing agendas over time
Keep hands off Highway Special Fund
State legislators are playing fast and loose with the Highway Special Fund. They know that a special fund means hands off for any other purpose.In recent years, the members of our Legislature have withdrawn about $90 million from the fund and transferred it to the state general fund. General funds are for general purposes. Has the $90 million been returned to the Highway Special Fund?
Now the administration is planning to raise our gasoline tax, already the nation's second-highest. If the $90 million has been returned, and if highway maintenance still needs money, take it from new matching highway construction and forget the tax increase.
E. Alvey Wright
Kailua
Two profiles showed difference in values
Boldly juxtaposed on the bottom of your Jan. 25 front page were stories about Lizhou "Lisa" Wang and Albert Ian Schweitzer.In one article, we learn about a fine, 15-year-old young lady doing her utmost to contribute to society. She has developed a platform to "sense molecules instantly." Such a sensor could be of immense benefit to society.
In the other story, we learn about a young man, not much older than Wang, on trial for a heinous crime. His efforts in life have been the antithesis of Wang's.
What an ingenious decision to pair these tales. Thank you for the side-by-side study in contrasts.
Laine Skiendiel
Ewa Beach
Singer should have been arrested
If your security guards at Kailua-Kona Airport don't do their sworn duty, they are cowards. To shuck their responsibilities because they're afraid of offending Whitney Houston is a slap in the face to law-abiding citizens.Everybody talks a good game about just saying no to drugs. But when Houston walked away from authorities after marijuana was allegedly found in her purse at the airport's X-ray machine, that's a whole new level of crime.
The singer should not be treated as if she is above the law. And she shouldn't be allowed to go around thinking that she is.
Jim Hale
Florissant, M0.
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