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POSTED: Saturday, November 01, 2008

Don't be so cool, Hawaii

In the letter on Oct. 28 regarding ”;Change the thermostat and lessen pollution,”; the visitor from Canada suggested that Hawaii businesses raise the thermostat a few degrees to save energy and money.

I totally agree. Every time I visit Hawaii, I dread going inside stores and restaurants because they are freezing!

I'm dressed for the outside temperature and walking into a cold business is such a shock to my system I usually leave quickly.

Don't be a goat - go cast your vote

The American people are not goats, we all need to vote ...

...I vote absentee, so I don't need to go out and stand in lines and stress with the mess on Election Day ...

...Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent, don't be a dope, make sure you vote!

Helpful tips from a busy poll worker

All indications are that there will be a large voter turnout on Tuesday. Please help everyone to get through the day as easily as possible by voting early, making sure you are at the right place and stopping by the information table to receive instructions on changes resulting from new machines.

We poll workers are regularly bogged down by the arrogant voter who is sure he/she is in the right place, but has ignored the yellow information card received in the mail. Voting places are changed - we see it every election - we don't know why. Lists are posted outside. Please check for your name before entering and holding up the line. There might be several polling places containing the same word. Manoa District Park gym is different from Manoa Elementary School cafeteria. Nearby, but different.

The new machines require that the ballot rectangle box be completely blacked out using the ballpoint pen in the booth. Not very practical and actually difficult for the elderly, but an “;X”; in the box will make the tabulating machine kick the ballot back.

Listen to all instructions because, while you are always provided a new ballot if you spoil one, the process requires assistance from a very busy volunteer and when you are put back in line ahead of those already in the process, you delay them as well. We have a word for the arrogant ones who refuse instruction then spoil several ballots.

Remember that we always supply extra time and care for our elderly voters, so please do not usurp their time by your careless behavior.

Your children are voting, are you?

Don't be surprised to hear your child say, “;I am voting, are you?”;

Kids Voting Hawaii is giving every student, kindergarten through 12th grade in public and private schools, the opportunity to cast a general election ballot online, now through Election Day. When students go to http://www.kidsvotinghawaii.org and enter their personal password and their family's precinct and district numbers, they get virtually the same ballot their parents will see when they go to the polls.

This hands-on experience in the democratic process inspires students to engage in dialogue with peers and parents, develops their civic responsibility and gets them into the habit of voting as adults. Students are learning how to explore the issues and hold elected officials accountable.

The Kids Voting Hawaii ballot includes grade-appropriate student issues. Students will have a say on everything from conditions on campus, the environment and transportation, to whether their student representative on the Board of Education should have a vote. The results of the statewide Kids Voting Hawaii General Election will be announced immediately after the adult polls close Tueday, and before the first adult printout. Our youth will lead the way on election night!

As Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “;We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”; And one way to do that is to give our youth a voice.

Rewards are big for those on welfare

Where your tax dollars are going:

Welfare recipients receive extra money just for working. Those working 40 hours a week will receive an extra $300 bonus every month. For less than 40 hours they receive $150 every month. They also will receive 58 cents a mile up to $250 a month for mileage. Mileage payments continue for 12 months, even after the recipient is no longer on welfare. This is every month and is tax free and is in addition to the financial aid a family receives.

Recipients receive an earned income disregard bonus which can also be every month. It can be anywhere from $10 to $1,100 a month. Again, this is tax free and in addition to their welfare grant. This is not counting their paychecks, food stamps or Quest. They can also get once in a lifetime, Rental Assistance (security deposit and first month's rent), auto repair up to $500, clothing allowance up to $250, and tools for work up to $500. The Department of Human Services also pays for their car insurance. This assistance is even offered to non-U.S. citizens.

Don't you wish you were on welfare? All of these payments have created more greed and dependency on the welfare system. Now instead of getting off welfare, they flock to get on.

In these times of economic turmoil, how is it that welfare recipients can make more money than the average working citizen, tax free? Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going.

Shorten recession by tightening credit

Many people are blaming the financial crises on deregulation. They claim it is a result of greedy capitalism unrestricted by the calming hand of government that led to the crash. Hogwash! The crises was caused, as was a similar one in 1929, by an excessive increase in the money supply. The price of gold went from the low $300s per ounce, where it had been steady for more than 20 years, to more than $800 in about four years.

The Federal Reserve System has been too liberal with promoting credit. The result is too much money flowing into the financial markets without real savings to back it up. A crash has followed in every historic example when such monetary policies were used. Our leaders in Washington now propose to cure the problems by doing more of what caused them. More credit through bailouts, lowering of the discount rates and “;stimulus”; payments to taxpayers is their cure. These things will worsen the financial crash and prolong the recession, which is now inevitable, into a depression.

The correct policy is to shore up the dollar with a tightening of credit and a sharp reduction in government spending. This will mean a shorter recession.

If you see an injured animal, please stop

Tuesday at about 8:10 a.m. as I drove into town on the H-1, I noticed to my horror that a beautiful large dog (reminded me of a Belgian herding dog) lay in the median of the freeway, apparently dazed, at the Waialae exit. I prayed he would stay there until help arrived but I didn't know when help would arrive. All the cars were just driving by.

I pulled my car to the right side of the road and called 911, all the while hoping someone else would stop and help me; no one did. I grabbed some rope from the truck and started to jog on the side of the freeway, making sure I was safe. My goal was to save the dog a terrible death and save a human being from having to experience that trauma. Had the dog started to run, imagine the dangerous traffic situation it would have caused.

Thank goodness a police officer drove by and rescued the dog! Upon reflection, however, I ask my fellow human beings, why did you not stop? Why did you turn away? Yes, stopping might have caused you to be late for work, but that would have been momentary.

Stop ... reflect ... life is not a freeway, do not turn away when the most innocent in our society need your help.

Local restaurants need our support

It is becoming apparent that the economy is hurting the restaurant and retail sectors. I went to a very nice restaurant and there were only 10 people having lunch on a Friday. The recent closing of Compadres was a shock, for Rick Enos was an active supporter of community events.

As much as we can, we need to patronize those businesses that support our community to help them weather this economic downturn. If you are unable to go yourself, please tell your friends about the active support certain businesses have provided to nonprofit organizations that serve our community. Encourage support for your favorite establishments, for they need your help now. It is sad when favorite dining places or stores close down. Downsizing hurts our community, for we might lose more special people who have been a positive influence to those around them.

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