Posted on: Friday, July 11, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Bipartisanship a good test for both parties

A bipartisan government is much more interesting these days than the single Democratic machine.

Our Republican governor, Linda Lingle, is right about belt-tightening. She is a good leader in enabling our community to transition from political correctness to political reality. The tax-and-spend Democrats are right about saving our most vulnerable members. So, it's a good test for both parties.

The outcome will likely be that our Republicans will keep an open mind to raising taxes and the Democrats will likely have to learn how to budget. What a refreshing feeling to have two parties once again in our great state.

Rees' commentary on conservatives ludicrous

Bob Rees explaining Hawai'i's conservatives? What next? Bill Clinton writing about marital fidelity?

Rees, recently of the hard-left Honolulu Weekly, gives us a caricature of conservatism that I, a 30-year subscriber to Bill Buckley's National Review magazine, find ludicrous. Rees, a typical "lefty," lets his emotions run rampant and distorts modern conservatism, especially in his description of neoconservatives.

Rees proves the truth of his statement that liberals and "progressives" have adopted the "heated exaggeration" described in Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics."

Proposed fencing will protect native species

I support the proposed fencing around a 550-acre area of the Ku'ia Natural Area Reserve on Kaua'i, which is federal land dedicated for the protection of endangered native species.

I have been to many of these natural area reserves and other environment refuges with the Youth Conservation Corps and have seen lots of protection through fencing.

A recent visit to the Pahole Natural Area Reserve in the Wai'anae Mountains showed me how beautiful the reserve is thanks to the protection of fencing. Similarly, I believe that the fencing will help protect "one of the best examples of mesic forest remaining in the Hawaiian Islands," as stated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Although hunting, which helps control invasive animals, will be cut short in that area, the fencing will provide a better barrier against harmful pests. This will help Hawai'i's remaining plants and animals in the Ku'ia Natural Area Reserve to survive and prosper.

Commentary marked by meaningless rhetoric

Dr. Shelley Mark's commentary in the June 29 Honolulu Advertiser is nothing but nebulous BS (Bureaucratically Suitable) phraseology. He has made a career of writing this type of meaningless rhetoric.

This short article is full of ambiguous terminology:

" 'Road map' to Hawai'i's destiny."

"Rejuvenate a statewide planning process."

"Focus on sustainable growth."

Support the development of "critical masses."

"Build on the live-wire examples."

"Quality research."

"Maintaining biodiversity and open-space vistas and as an antidote against global warming."

"Hawai'i as the Geneva of the Pacific."

"World political and corporate difference-makers."

"Update workforce knowledge of global trends."

"Reorient some professional disciplines such as law, accounting, corporate management and finance."

"Smart entrepreneurial activity."

"A natural environment that supports economic progress."

Other than his suggestion to "upgrade education and training programs," not much else can be readily comprehended.

How much of the "road map" to Hawai'i's destiny outlined in the article has DBEDT accomplished in the last eight years Dr. Seiji Naya was the director and Dr. Mark was his senior adviser?

Coalition does speak for majority on gays

I disagree with the good Rev. Beckman; the Hawai'i Christian Coalition does speak for the majority of mainstream Christians when it defines "traditional family."

Christianity and many other religions reject homosexuality as natural and normal, as evidenced by the seven out of 10 voters of this "diverse" state who solidified the "traditional family" definition in 1998.

If homosexuality were natural and normal, I would like to see two men or two women go forth and multiply as the Bible mandates. They cannot, because it is not natural and normal, and God did not sanction the behavior or lifestyle.

I don't know what Bible the good Rev. Beckman is preaching to his "open and affirming" congregation, but it is not the same one that mainstream Christianity uses and the one God provided. However, Rev. Beckman is correct in one aspect: Bigotry and hatred are not family values — but neither is homosexuality.

As always, we pray for the salvation of the lost and misguided.

Criticism of Vericella doesn't match reality

I do not excuse Tony Vericella for wrongly using state dollars for minor personal expenses. But to judge him as unfit to continue as head of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau or to question his dedication to the state's most important industry is off-the-mark.

In my professional and personal dealings with Vericella, I found him to be thoughtful and responsive. His public apology and immediate reimbursement were testament to that. I believe the auditor's findings will help, not hinder, his future managerial performance.

Hawai'i must act now to halt ice's death grip

Hawai'i must wake up and do something to stop the death grip that crystal methamphetamine has on our children.

We cannot afford to be in denial about the effects ice has on all of our lives. The longer we wait to act on real solutions, the more victims we'll have, the more people will be affected by this drug.

Ice is so addictive and so hard to quit that it requires a different approach in fighting it. Anyone who doesn't think ice affects all of us should look at the violent crimes, thefts, domestic abuse, broken families and babies that are born addicted. It's heartbreaking to think of the number of lives this drug has taken its toll on.

We can't continue spending millions of dollars on tourism only to have people come and be assaulted and robbed. Every day, tourists and locals alike enjoy our beautiful beaches only to find when leaving that their cars were vandalized or valuables stolen.

Let us look to what other states are doing to stop this plague and act now. Do we need to set up special drug courts designed to handle the flood of cases caused by drug users? Do we need separate correctional facilities to rehabilitate? Do we need to integrate prevention programs into our schools?

The violence and devastation this white plague has caused tells us only that we must act now to stop this hold it has on Hawai'i.

Mandatory recycling program can work

I would like to commend Mayor Jeremy Harris for his continuing effort to implement a mandatory recycling program in the city.

The pilot program will show O'ahu residents and the City Council that a mandatory recycling program can work for us. If you really think about it, most of our "trash" consists of recyclable material: paper (newspapers, magazines, computer paper, etc.), glass (beer bottles, wine bottles, glass panes), plastics (soda bottles, plastic bags, water bottles, plastic containers), aluminum cans and other metals, and organic materials (banana peels, rotten vegetables and fruits).

With our small land mass and the increasing population, a recycling program can help alleviate some landfill stress and promote a healthier environment on the island. If we all just make a little effort to sort out these materials and maybe reduce some of the waste we produce, then there would be no "trash" and hence no need for a second, $8 garbage pickup.

The program is just one more step toward sustainability.

Hawaiian Open should invite Michelle Wie

In recognition of Michelle Wie's spectacular victory at the USGA U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, I would respectfully suggest that Sony offer her a sponsor's exemption to the Sony Hawaiian Open in January at Wai'alae. It would be a marketing coup for Sony and a financial boost for Friends of Hawai'i, the local charity that benefits from this PGA event and Sony's sponsorship.

Michelle's appearance would increase television rating, which would favorably impact tourism in Hawai'i and bring worldwide exposure to Sony and its products. Also, the monies generated at the gate by record crowds would be returned to our community through Friends of Hawai'i.

In consideration of Michelle's tremendous achievement in winning and the positive exposure and pride she has brought to Hawai'i as "the 13-year-old Punahou eighth-grader," she is truly deserving of an invitation from Sony.

Now, if Sony could find a way to induce Tiger to play, we all might witness a Tiger Woods-Michelle Wie pairing. Lucky we live Hawai'i!

Car drivers already wear 'safety helmet'

In the ongoing debate about motorcycle helmet use, I keep hearing one false argument advanced: "If wearing a helmet makes you safer, why not require drivers of cars to wear them, too?" Well, they do. What is a roof and side pillars and windshield if not a gigantic safety helmet?

But, why should government protect someone committing willful reckless acts unless that person jeopardizes someone else's safety? Would you, as an individual, approach a stranger on a motorcycle and tell him to wear a helmet because he's risking his life? Of course not — that would be rude, not to mention hazardous to your own health if you picked the wrong biker.

So why is such grossly inappropriate behavior somehow OK if done collectively instead of individually? If someone wants to ride helmetless while chain-smoking and chowing down on supersized Surly Meals, let him. It's his choice and his funeral.

Good reasons exist to repeal inheritance tax

"The end of liberal thinking as we know it" (July 6) is correct in saying that the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association made a persuasive case to me for abolishing the inheritance tax (also known as the estate tax or death tax).

Auto dealers are representative of the family-owned businesses most deeply impacted by this unfair and counterproductive tax. It distorts business priorities, threatens the survival of affected firms and puts the livelihoods of their employees at risk.

Auto dealers, however, aren't the only Hawai'i business people I spoke with. Many others shared their frustrations with the inheritance tax. They explained how this is more than just a question of heirs writing a check to the IRS. All too often the continued existence of these firms — and the jobs of their workers — are jeopardized when inheritance taxes come due. I learned from listening to the owners of family businesses that:

• They are often forced to divert resources from core operations in order to maintain life insurance policies to pay anticipated inheritance taxes.

• Hawai'i's high real estate values can escalate estate valuations to the point where they are subject to disproportionately high inheritance taxes.

• The valuations of their businesses commonly reflect high concentrations of non-cash assets (such as equipment), leaving heirs short of cash to pay taxes.

• An owner's death throws a family business into turmoil, compounding the difficulties of heirs trying to meet inheritance tax obligations.

• Inheritance tax planning frequently compels family business owners to structure their firms in ways that reduce tax liability but also reduce profits.

The extremely wealthy avoid inheritance taxes by using lawyers, accountants and financial planners to exploit the loopholes. But if you own a restaurant, hardware store or contracting business, your heirs can get stuck with a huge tax bill when you die. In some cases, businesses must be liquidated and employees lose their jobs. That's not fair, and it doesn't make fiscal sense.

Repealing the inheritance tax will give family businesses a chance to survive, grow and remain in the hands of those who built them.