Gambling should be legal locally

I strongly believe that gambling should be legalized in Hawaii. Why be hypocrites? Our state will not be more demoralized and more corrupt just because we decide to make gambling legal. We have to admit, we already have our fair share of unsavory characters living here in Hawaii. Hawaii people love to gamble. I have friends, mostly retirees and part-time workers, who visit Las Vegas three to four times a year. They always “;donate”; funds to that state. We might as well keep our money at home and generate more revenue here in our own crumbling economy, rather than keep contributing to supporting Las Vegas and the other cities that have legalized gambling.

Vacation rentals aren't that bad

When someone as illustrious as Barack Obama twice chooses a home on Kailua Beach on the Windward side of Oahu for his vacation rental, how can anyone presume to deny the same opportunity to every other visitor?

It was a privilege to have President Obama as our guest, Secret Service security detail and motorcycles and all. It is a privilege to have other visitors staying in our neighborhoods as well.

As others have pointed out, if a visitor, or resident homeowner, violates parking regulations or makes too much noise, we have plenty of laws already on the books to take care of the situation. And statistics indicate that visitors cause far fewer problems for neighbors than do residents.

Obama's reforms could do harm

Hawaii's senators and congressmen are in lock step with President Barack Obama, as illustrated by their support of cap and trade legislation and health care reform. The consequences of cap and trade are potentially disastrous to an already troubled economy. Nowhere — in print or on TV — was disclosure of those consequences given. An 1,100-page bill was rushed through the House last minute with representatives signing a bill they had not even read.

President Obama's current push to “;get health care reform done now”; needs to allow time for more of the people's input. Where are the doctors and staff going to come from to add another 50 million people to the health care system? Of the 50 million “;uninsured”; how many are illegal immigrants, and how many are younger folks who could buy insurance but choose not to? What will happen to care for the elderly when money runs out and rationing of services become bureaucratic decisions? These types of questions need to be answered.

Take furloughs over job loss

Governor Lingle's offer of the three-day-a-month furlough for the various state departments sounds like the better deal to accept than the layoffs to reduce the budget shortfall for this fiscal year. Layoffs will protect the old-timers and union leaders since the layoffs will cut the majority of new employees.

Three days off a month is better than being unemployed.