Cuts threaten science center

The state's budget woes and subsequent funding cuts to public schools may prevent the Department of Education from embarking on an exciting initiative in East Oahu.

The Education Department's proposed conversion of the now-closed Wailupe Valley Elementary School into a science center is in jeopardy after a study found that it would cost some $2 million to retrofit and equip the campus.

Faced with the daunting task of slashing $468 million from public schools over the next two fiscal years, a Board of Education Committee on Administrative Services earlier this month was forced to recommend the return of the Wailupe Valley campus to its owner, the City and County of Honolulu.

Unless an outside donor were to step in and help support the center's creation, it is likely—and unfortunate—that the school board will have to approve the committee's decision and postpone indefinitely any plans for the envisioned science center.

Time to cut wasteful government costs

For those Hawaii citizens who want to preserve or “;enhance”; the Waikiki Natatorium, why don't you voluntarily pay for it with your own money?

Instead of having the government steal money from other taxpayers who don't want to invest in that project, you should pay for that service along with those who actually want it.

So many state and city services that are being done or proposed (rail comes to mind) are things only a few special interest groups want done, but because public officials support so many unnecessary or unwanted projects, taxpayers end up being forced to pay for these services.

If our government actually demolished services and programs that our government has no business investing in then “;wasteful spending”; would no longer be our government's motto.

Governor's sob story not good enough

So Gov. Linda Lingle stated during her press conference on June 18 that she will be personally affected by the furloughs when she will not be able to give to charity and won't be able to save as much anymore.

Can I get a collective “;boo hoo”; from all my fellow state workers who are barely living above the line? Can I get a collective “;boo hoo”; from all those state workers who can't save any money because they are living paycheck to paycheck with their small state salary?

Can I get a collective “;boo hoo”; for poor Lingle who has to sit all alone in her big mansion which costs her nothing?

Let's all send her a big box of tissues to show her how bad we feel for her as we all tell our kids that there won't be a Christmas this year thanks to Auntie Linda?

Watchdog Cox is appreciated

Thanks to writer Christine Donnelly, we know a little more about Carroll Cox, a brave and outspoken protector of our aina.

Mr. Cox is not beholden to anyone. He is outspoken because he is not afraid of losing a state or city and county job. He sees an injustice and like a pit bull with an intruder, he is tenacious. He will not “;let go”; until he gets to the bottom of the problem.

It is easy to lament the greed and abuse done by those government workers responsible for protecting our fragile ecosystem. What can we expect when we voted for them. We were fooled again! When will we learn?

Government plan will set standard

Like the Federal Reserve's invasion into the collapse of the artificially inflated, mortgage-based debt market, President Barack Obama's proposed “;public insurance options”; for health care would allow for the interchangeability among all existing insurance plans by filling the financial void experienced by the uninsured, the chronically unemployed and the underinsured with government subsidies.

As a government plan, it also brings the politically ethical obligation that the outcomes must benefit the whole community equally. Public health, therefore, and not medical dependence, becomes the new standard of care.

If the care is substandard, the data collected can show any delivery system how best to improve its care—all from a little help from your government.