Let's put a cap on state taxes instead

If state legislators really want to help me, forget gas prices and put a cap on state taxes. Hawaii is always one of the top three "tax hells" in annual state tax comparisons.

So let's help all Hawaii taxpayers by capping our state tax using a West Coast comparison. I suggest using the state of Washington, which has no personal income tax, as the benchmark.

When I put gas in my car, it goes. When I pay my state taxes, I get public employee strikes, contracts with mainland companies that cost millions to rescind, schools that always rank among the bottom in the nation and a Legislature that can't balance a budget without stealing from one pocket to bail out the other.

So legislators, stop wasting time on a topic that makes for hot sound bites, but accomplishes nothing of value.

Vernette Shaffer

Cap diverts attention from failings of Dems

Instead of tackling the difficult issues of long-overdue governmental reform, the Democrat-controlled Legislature is about to regulate the oil industry in Hawaii. This from an administration and Legislature that can't run state government without taxing everything they can think of.

His excellency, Benjamin J. Cayetano, has decreed that Hawaii's oil industry profits are "huge and unfair."

I suspect the oil companies do make a sizeable profit from their Hawaii operations. After all, they employ thousands and sell products vital to our economy. I wonder who among the business owners in the Democrat-lead Legislature would remain in business if they didn't make a profit. Are they now willing to open their business' books to the same scrutiny and allow the public to judge the righteousness of their profits? Don't bet on it.

The oil industry is just the favorite whipping boy for the Democrats, who are unwilling to face squarely the task of fixing the dilapidated state economy. The gas cap is a smoke screen designed to divert public attention from the real economic problems of Hawaii.

Alfred Sarmento

Hemmings think it's OK to gouge drivers?

Sen. Fred Hemmings (Star-Bulletin, April 27) needs to learn the difference between democracy and socialism. After years of excessive gasoline prices in Hawaii, he calls the legislative bill to regulate their prices "socialism."

According to Webster's dictionary, socialism refers to "government ownership of the means of production and distribution." Webster's definition of democracy is "government by the people." Senators should understand the big difference between them.

Hemmings claims the gas cap bill is "pandering to the beleaguered consumer." Is he aware that the people of Hawaii are still being overcharged for gasoline? Is the price cap bill "pandering" or is it doing what we expect our legislators to do -- protect us from harmful practices by the powerful few?

Jerome G. Manis

Insurance should cover mental health

Thank you on behalf of all psychiatric patients for the editorial on the inequity of mental-illness insurance coverage ("An inequity in health coverage," April 29, Star-Bulletin).

More people are affected by mental illness than cancer or heart disease. The brain is an organ that can be diseased like any other. For far too long we have allowed discriminatory coverage because of superstition, shame and stigma.

As we enter this new millennium let us pledge to treat all suffering equally.

Mark Stitham, MD

To each his own lane of traffic

First there were the car lanes. Then there were the bike lanes.

The only way to make everybody happy is to give them each a lane. We should have a lane for disabled people, one for scooters, one for motorized scooters, one for skate boarders, one for motorized skate boards, one for runners, one for horses, one for fast walkers, one for bikes, one for trucks, one for buses, two for the Bus Rapid Transit system, and, don't forget, one for cars.

When will government realize that trying to force people into buses, light rail, bikes and such is only throwing money away? When someone comes up with a better and more widely acceptable solution than cars, then you should start spending money. Until then, leave the streets to the cars.

Those who vote for the BRT should be forced to sell their cars, which I bet most of them own, and forced to use public transportation.

Frank Maxwell

Humane society did its job well

I read with much delight that the Hawaiian Humane Society's rescue of the dog, Forgea, has been a success. The Hawaiian Humane Society reminds us that its foremost purpose is to protect any animal that can't speak for itself.

I also will forgive those comments from readers in the Letters to the Editors opposing Forgea's rescue. One can only speculate that the authors of Forgea's demise would still have something to satisfy their insatiable appetite for complaining whether Forgea was rescued or not.

Three cheers for the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Michael Nomura
Kailua

Neil's tug may not be maneuverable

What practical use is there for a Rep. Neil Abercrombie tugboat? If it's like Neil, it will only be able to make left turns.

Bud Weisbrod

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