Proposal to reduce property tax a shibai
What a shibai with the proposed tax relief by the Honolulu City Council! Its proposal to limit this benefit to families with incomes less than $50,000 (Star-Bulletin, July 27) will not benefit the majority of homeowners living on Oahu. The majority of homeowners make more than $50,00 a year to survive and own a home in Hawaii. Accordingly, this so-called proposal will eliminate the majority of homeowners from benefiting from this proposal.Further, how many of the small group of families who may benefit under this proposal will really see their property taxes reduced? As an example, a family making $30,000 will still see their property tax at $1,200 per year.
The City Council must aggressively ensure property taxes are controlled and establish a system that will benefit the majority or all homeowners.
Kailua
There is no excuse for race-based laws
In its July 31 editorial, the Star-Bulletin justified the Akaka Bill's basing eligibility on native Hawaiian lineage by concluding that "native Hawaiians were the precursor and essence of the Hawaiian kingdom and should not be denied sovereign status because they embraced other races." Phrased another way, the Star-Bulletin has concluded that today's native Hawaiians should not be prohibited from discriminating against others based on race because, during the period of the Hawaiian kingdom, citizenship was not based upon race.Not only is this syllogism illogical, but it ignores the 5th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibit consideration of race in any law or voting requirement. Come on, Star-Bulletin, obviously you can understand the abhorrent nature and "slippery slope" implications of any racial or national origin law.
Honolulu
Akaka bill goes against Christianity
Legitimizing a race-based government in Hawaii by using any excuse and relativism is against all biblical principle about that subject. God created us all as equals, and as a biblical Christian I must uphold that principle.I say that biblical Christianity, with its tenets, beliefs and principles, is the best way to live as a human. And we in Hawaii should try to live as close to that as possible, and be that light in the darkness, rather then going along to get along with the world.
Waimea, Kauai
Watch out for that stormy weather, guys
Why are most hurricanes named after women?1. Never underestimate the power of a woman!
2. Beware the fury of a woman scorned!
Hilo, Hawaii
Drug testing ignores the greater threat
Does the Mid-Pacific Institute seriously believe that voluntary drug tests will catch drug-using students (Star-Bulletin, July 29)? Still, voluntary drug tests are preferable to mandatory ones.The U.S. Supreme Court made a terrible mistake when it ruled that drug testing students in extracurricular activities is constitutional. Student involvement in after-school activities has been shown to reduce drug use. Drug testing might compel marijuana users to switch to harder drugs like crystal meth to avoid testing positive.
Despite a short-lived high, organic marijuana is the only illegal drug that stays in the human body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. If you think students don't know this, think again. Anyone capable of running an Internet search can find out how to thwart a drug test. The most commonly abused drug and the one most closely associated with violent behavior is almost impossible to detect with urinalysis. That drug is alcohol, and it takes far more student lives each year than all illegal drugs combined. Instead of wasting money on counterproductive drug tests, schools should invest in reality-based drug education.
Policy analyst
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Washington, D.C.
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