Tax cuts would help economy more

It is truly sad to hear that the fuel tax cut and the general excise tax cut were dumped in the special session. It was our feeling that a few tax breaks would at least give us hope that we could keep our employees working and covered under our medical plan. After all, we have supported our government with our hard-earned money.

Nobody really wants a hand out, just some relief. All those tax breaks for the hotel and home construction industry are long-term solutions, especially considering the length of time it takes to get a building permit. I wonder if our Legislature understands how long it takes to get a permit?

Actually I think they do; they are just trying to make it look like it they actually care enough to do something. I would have thought that keeping someone employed TODAY was important, because employees pay taxes and business pays employees. No employees, no taxes, no government revenue.

I guess business needs to tell employees that they should go see our government with their hands out. Sad, oh so sad. By the way, how many government officials are going to be laid off? I say we lay them off along party lines -- Democrats first. We shouldn't have to wait to vote them out of office.

Ray Hutaff
Kahului

Legislature surrenders to governor

Shame on those legislators who vote for either of the emergency gubernatorial powers bills passing through the House and Senate. These bills bestow unprecedented powers on our governor to ignore, change, waive or suspend anything he wants to unilaterally. What kind of lunacy is this?

Our state Legislature is supposed to provide checks and balances to the powers of the executive. Placing absolute authority with the executive is abhorrent in a democracy.

One can only assume that the legislative majority is clueless about how to fix our economy, so they hope to pass off the responsibility to a lame-duck governor who has nothing to lose.

There are two big problems with this plan. First, they want to pass the ball to a governor with a record of abject failure where Hawaii's economy is concerned. Second, every legislator who votes for this idiocy will find that they, too, will be lame ducks.

Robert R. Kessler

[Quotables] "You can't fake it in Manoa." Rep. Ed Case Manoa Democrat, on a candidate's need to work hard to earn the votes of constituents in his district. Case was speaking about the possible candidacy of Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga (D, Moiliili), who resides in the same district as Case under a new reapportionment plan. "A government check is pretty familiar, so I don't think people would be suspicious of getting one." Shawn N. George IRS spokeswoman, on the safety of opening tax refund or rebate checks from the federal government. More than $946,000 in government money due to Hawaii taxpayers has been returned to the IRS as undeliverable mail, in most cases because of incorrect addresses.

Trask embarrasses other Hawaiians

Haunani-Kay Trask's remarks (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 18) are pathetic and an insult to any peace and freedom-loving American, whether of Hawaiian blood or not.

Instead of using her abilities to offer some positive ideas and provide an example for others to follow, she has instead become an embarrassment to Hawaiians, spewing peace rhetoric from one side of her mouth while foaming hatred from the other.

I've been a teacher at the Kamehameha Schools for 30 years and I've experienced the loving, intelligent and positive nature of the vast majority of Kamehameha's Hawaiian population. Anyone who visits our campus will see patriotism and support for the United States and the victims of these attacks of hatred.

Trask could learn a great deal from our ohana. She may become someone who can do some good for this state instead of trying to destroy the aloha of this land.

Judy Rasmussen

Don't dismiss abilities of the disadvantaged

I take issue with Jim Curtice's implication (Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27) that special education students will not make a positive contribution to society.

I am not a parent of a special education student, but I am proud to say that there are several special education teachers in my family. I have an excellent idea of what they go through each day, and I know that their students do succeed and learn.

Does Curtice believe that the child with treatable behavioral or emotional problems will never "make a difference in the future?" How about students with physical challenges who can be taught to cope with and manage for themselves? How about a child with a speech, hearing or sight problem?

These children can be very intelligent with IQs surpassing some of regular students. The mere fact that a child needs extra help in school to prepare them academically and socially doesn't mean they should be considered write-offs. They just need some special accommodations from some very special people.

There are some special education students who will likely be limited throughout their entire lives, but that raises one more question to ponder. How many regular students are now guests of our penal and detention facilities? Not all regular students have potential to be positive contributors to a "great society."

I see a great society as one that is strong, considerate and compassionate, one that takes care of its weak as well as its strong, one that takes care of those in need.

B.G. Judson

Special ed children do make a difference

Jim Curtice implied in his Oct. 27 letter that special education children receive better treatment than "regular" children, and that the "kids who may make a difference in the future are the ones who are really being neglected." I just want to say that all children can make a difference in this world, not just the "regular" ones.

Kathy Hirokane
Kaneohe

Coach Jones breaks his promise

University of Hawaii football coach June Jones has no loyalty to his players. Earlier in the season, he said that no player would lose his starting job due to injury, yet he names Nick Rolovich the starting quarterback when Timmy Chang is well enough to play.

How do you think Chang, who was the highest-rated recruit to sign with UH in awhile, feels about losing his position?

I hope future recruits are taking notice about how things are run at UH, about promises being sacrificed for wins.

Reyn Yoshinaga

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