Letters to the Editor
Tax credits deserved for high-risk ventures
What exactly is wrong with providing tax credits for investments in high-risk ventures like technology and film?
What do we care if 10 different companies bring in projects that generate millions of dollars that wouldn't be in Hawai'i without the tax credits?
Act 221 is being abused by the politicians who are trying to take something that encourages innovation to come not only from within Hawai'i, but to Hawai'i, and politicizing it for their own gain.
Go ahead, rewrite the bill, but don't be surprised when people don't come here to generate new jobs.
One person made a dig that a kid starting a business out of his home could be qualified as a high-tech business. Well, guess what, he's right. That's how most of these big companies are started — right out of a garage.
Encourage people to reduce their personal tax liability by investing in high-risk ventures because that is where the greatest long-term gains in new revenues and jobs are born.
This is a 2-year-old baby. People should be nurturing it rather than punching it in the stomach. Let the kid grow. See what happens. It might just be bigger than politics.
Roger Wilkerson
We don't have to have a special election
The arrogance of Ben Cayetano and the Democratic Party knows no bounds.
Emboldened by the U.S. Su-preme Court's lack of action against New Jersey Democrats, Gov. Cayetano petitioned the Hawai'i Supreme Court to replace the late Patsy Mink on the general election ballot. He failed.
While my deepest condolences are with the Mink family, I find it too coincidental that her prognosis of a full recovery was abruptly changed one day after state law allowed Mrs. Mink's name to be replaced on the ballot.
The Democratic Party had the opportunity to replace Mrs. Mink on the ballot, yet chose not to. With the public outraged at the idea of spending $1.4 million on a special election in January, and the idea that Mrs. Mink may not win the general election in November, the governor and the Democrats hoped to replace her. More of the same from a party devoid of ethics and fair play, grasping at straws to retain power.
Hopefully the people of this great state of Hawai'i will finally take the opportunity in November to vote for a positive change.
Greg Nakamatsu
Let daughter finish Patsy Mink's term
Regarding Gwendolyn Mink's Island Voices commentary of Oct. 8: Amen! God bless Gwendolyn Mink for her keen observations on the current flap over her mother's 2nd Congressional District seat.
As a card-carrying Democrat, I am appalled by the state's attempt at manipulating this special election. So, too, I think, would Patsy.
And just who would benefit from this election? A former governor who up until this point was enjoying retirement? What does John Waihee have against Ed Case, who has already filed papers to run and is known fairly well by the constituents of the district?
We could settle this all very easily: Let Gwendolyn finish her mother's term. She sounds like the only voice of reason in a very undemocratic process.
Tim Slear
Tataii should have been declared winner
Steve Tataii was the only official Democratic candidate against Patsy Mink in the primary election. He lost, but to a candidate who was already in the intensive care unit since Aug. 30.
Mink's family and campaign officials knew her doctors were saying, even if she recovered, she would not be able to fulfill her duties. More so, the chief elections officer was derelict by not disqualifying Mink because of her incapacitation, which prevented her from withdrawing voluntarily, and declaring Tataii (the only candidate officially remaining on the primary election ballot) automatically the legitimate replacement for Mink in the general election.
At the very least, $1.4 million would have been saved for more pressing needs. Unnecessary government spending must be curbed.
I will not vote if special elections for Mink are held; others may also boycott them. The people still have the last say.
Howard T. Saiki
Lingle doesn't own the ability to change
I am responding to David Flack's Oct. 7 letter and his disbelief in the Democratic Party's, or Mazie Hirono's, ability to "wrest control of the mantra of change" from Linda Lingle. I did not know that Lingle has exclusive power over or control of "change."
Anyone unfamiliar with what goes on in our yearly legislative process would be amazed at the hundreds of bills that are introduced each year. The contents of all of those bills introduced and the hundreds that do become law represent "constant change," as well as growth.
Flack's offense and the sadness he feels that Hawai'i voters may be stupid enough to let themselves be deceived again is offensive to me and all who exercise our right to choose regularly and without fail at every election.
Lingle and the Republicans tout "change" in every commercial, personal appearance and campaign material without any specific workable solution. We have been living change. The solutions to accommodate the many factors of an island economy are complicated and predicated on factors far beyond our control, such as the economies of Pacific Rim countries as well as our nation.
The only "really stupid thing" that Hawai'i voters could do is to not exercise their right to vote. Too busy? Absentee voting by mail is simple and easy.
Vote, vote, vote!
Ruth Dias Willenborg
Kailua
Voting Democratic won't bring change
Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono both claim to back meaningful change, which fair-minded people in Hawai'i agree is much needed.
Our education system is too heavily weighed down by a centralized bureaucracy. Our attractiveness to tourists is steadily slipping. Too many public "servants" are guilty of corruption born of greed and contempt for the people.
Some hold that only the party in power cares about the people (can any sensible person really swallow that?) and that only that same Democratic Party can think "for the people" (what arrogance!). Other Democrats want Hawai'i to go on stagnating, just so they can stay on top of the pile.
Logical conclusion: A donkey can look at this scene and still vote for Hirono and the others who put us into this condition. But, if you really want change, don't vote Democratic.
D. Doyle
Keeping airports open is good for economy
Regarding the closure of the smaller airports, as reported on Oct. 9: Gov. Cayetano has performed another foot-in-mouth act.
When Cayetano talks of diversifying the economy, what does he think Dillingham Air Field provides? What does he think Kapalua provides if not convenience for big spenders and property owners (who, incidentally, pay large property and business taxes to the state) to the Ka'anapali and Kapalua areas?
Doesn't he see the same potential for the Waimea/Kohala airport as the Gold Coast of the Big Island continues to attract big spenders and tax-paying businesses and property owners?
Fortunately, as noted in your article, the FAA set him straight: The decision is not his to make.
Joanne Fong
