Letters to the Editor

Politicians must stop raiding special funds

As I remember, first there was the airport fund that was raided (the state was later penalized by the federal government). Then the highway fund. Then the ongoing raid of the employee retirement fund. Now it is the hurricane fund and the sewer fund, with the potential of a new fund in the long-term-care fund.

Where and when will our lawmakers learn to run our government like a business?

I, for one, have notified my representatives that I will never vote for them again, and will campaign for those running against them, if they continue to vote for raiding special funds. Maybe if enough of us did that they would stop. If not, they would be voted out of office and we could hope their successors get the message.ÊÊÊ

Thank you to Ed Case, my state representative, for having the values and courage to publicly state that he "gets it" and will not vote to raid special funds for temporary fixes. I only wish my state senator had such high values and courage as Ed Case and, it appears, Ann Kobayashi, my council member.ÊÊÊÊ

Howard Tocman

Hawaiian programs work against the race

I agree with the multiethnic group that has filed suit in U.S. District Court to dissolve the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

These two programs have done nothing less than speed up the genocide of the Hawaiian race. Families are systematically expunged from state records, and everyone keeps their mouths shut. Reparations are recommended and quietly shelved.

It is embarrassing to watch the annihilation of the Hawaiian people. When will we begin to make an effort to search for the truth and find justice for the Hawaiians and for us, the foreign occupiers?

Urich Brunberg
Hana, Maui

Tax benefit is enjoyed by other arts projects

I would like to clarify a statement attributed to the Hawaii Technology Trade Association that appeared in Jim Dooley's article on Sunday, March 3.

I am the executive director of the association and was the person Mr. Dooley spoke to for his story. When he asked me if I knew of any other film or television projects that qualified for the tax benefit, I said I didn't know of any others.

However, a definitive statement that no other film and television project has qualified was attributed to me. I must clarify that I am not in a position to know this information, which is confidential and known only to the state Department of Taxation. I have since learned that three entities have qualified for the tax credits as "performing arts products," which by definition may include film and television projects.

Finally, the local technology community is very pleased with what Act 221 has done to encourage investment in qualified local high technology and high-tech-related businesses.

Ann Chung
Executive director
Hawai'i Technology Trade Association

Financing candidates would aid incumbents

The Feb. 29 op-ed piece by John Witeck claimed that the main problem with the campaign donation scandal surrounding Jeremy Harris was campaign financing. His solution? Turn the management of the henhouse over to the foxes. He wants the government to finance candidates.

Good grief, that's an incumbent-protection racket in spades. Who do you think our imperfect lawmakers will favor as they craft legislation? It sure won't be their opponents.

The root of the problem is the fact that government has devolved into a spoils racket because we have allowed it to do functions it has no business doing. Originally, our ancestors formed government to help protect their persons and property, not to aid one group and punish another.

The persons (or groups, like businesses or labor unions) who excel in service and genuinely focus on serving consumers should be rewarded by society, not government. That's called a "civil society."

And please note, the "government" is servant, not king.

Richard O. Rowland
President
Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i

State taxpayers are already feeling bite

The $10 long-term-care tax is another "good cause" that the legislators want the taxpayers to fund. Why not $100 a month to take care of the homeless? Why not $500 a month so all can have health care? Why not $1,000 a month so we can take care of all irresponsible behavior?

If the voters of this state believe this is far-fetched, take a good look at the amount of taxes that are being taken out of your paychecks.

Lane Teraoka