Letters to the Editor
Ask right questions on education funding
I think The Honolulu Advertiser should conduct another so-called survey. This time ask the following questions: In order to get the necessary funding to improve our schools, would you rather:
- Raise taxes?
- Reduce wasteful, inefficient spending like the pothole patcher purchase?
- Quit building "white elephants" such as "world-class" soccer fields, aquariums and convention centers?
- Eliminate the high cost of government caused by bloated non-bid contracts, caused by illegal campaign contributions the various vendors feel they have to make to do business with the state?
- Collect the money that is owed the state for, among other things, leases, traffic fines and library fees?
- Turn off the air-conditioning system in the state Capitol? (Most classrooms don't have it. What's good for our children is good for our public officials.)
I wonder how many respondents would choose raising taxes this time around.
P.H. Barrett
We have our rights on engineered crops
The EPA recently approved a new kind of genetically engineered corn made by Monsanto for human and animal consumption, despite lingering questions about the impact this crop might have on the environment.
This new corn was tested here in Hawai'i. In fact, Kaua'i and Moloka'i have more test sites for experimental genetically engineered crops than any other place in the country.
I have tried to figure out where these experimental crops are being grown, to see if they are near my house and my garden, but find that almost all of the information about what is being grown here and where it is being tested is classified as "confidential business information." The companies that engineer these new crops assert that they have the right to keep this information secret. Well, I think we have some rights that should be recognized, too:
- I believe we have the right to see evidence from independent sources not employed by the genetic engineering companies that genetically engineered crops are safe for the soil and environment, and that they are safe for humans to consume food products with genetically engineered ingredients.
- I believe that independent gardeners and growers have the right to know if their crops are at risk of being contaminated by neighboring fields of genetically engineered crops.
- I believe consumers have the right to make informed choices about the food we buy at the grocery store, and thus that all food with genetically engineered ingredients should be labeled.
Gail Mueller
Lihu'e, Kaua'i
Property tax hike? Hold on just a minute
So the city wants to raise our real property taxes? Wait! We in Hawai'i are already bearing a heavy tax burden.
Before raising taxes, we should be eliminating the waste, mismanagement, inefficiencies and misappropriation of money in (both city and state) government.
The city and state are consistent, however; each year we are entertained and dismayed with many stories of corruption and ineptitude.
I think all taxpayers would welcome a government effort to save money as a private business does: Make your employees accountable, control your costs and pay attention to the needs of your clientele. Let government demonstrate this, and I believe taxpayers would accept a necessary tax hike.
Then again, if government did this, we wouldn't need a tax hike.
Brad Wong
Moloka'i's people leading by example
Your article "Moloka'i, the Friendly Isle, offers a country lifestyle unspoiled by tourism's demands" (Feb. 23) and the Moloka'i energy that came out of that page inspired me.
Saddened by the loss of small farmers some time ago, I eventually spoke with someone in our federal government's Department of Agriculture. I knew that the food contribution by the small farmer was not an important factor in the economic scheme of things, but I felt the contribution of personal and family values was. I thought perhaps in this political environment of "family values," our government might think so as well. I asked if such contributions were discussed during legislative proceedings, and he said no because they were termed "social issues."
Most of us await trickle-down support, are content with being second in priority to the bottom of the employer's profit-and-loss statement, and content also with limited resources being taken from the Earth to nourish our TVs. The people of Moloka'i, on the other hand, are nourishing personal and family values with what comes of their own creativity and the Earth they live on.
Thank you, people of Moloka'i, for your example and leadership.
Don Tolbert
Wooing of Japanese tourists a mistake
I cannot fathom the legislative and business strategy to address Hawai'i's current challenges.
The Legislature appears to be contemplating an increase in tourism funding in the event of war. It is even thinking of sending an entourage of Hawai'i delegates to Japan to invite them to our paradise.
People will not travel during war, and already fewer seem to be traveling due to the threat of war. Folks all over the world will stay home. If they vacation at all, it will be closer to home.
I was at a meeting the other day, and a very wise woman reminded us that Japanese people would not travel to Hawai'i and the Mainland during war because it is disrespectful to vacation in a country at war.
So why don't we use that money in government coffers to take care of our people, instead? Instead of cutting money to social services during this time of crisis, more money should be funneled to this sector to ease the suffering in our community.
Currently, cuts required by the administration are being passed directly along to programs serving people. If our elected leaders and policy-makers don't care about people, it would be more helpful and constructive to say so.
Nanci Kreidman
We all arrived here from somewhere else
Mr. President: The local Hawai'i media are reporting that our Gov. Lingle is "making progress" with you over "Native Hawaiian self-determination."
Ms. Lingle does not speak for all citizens of Hawai'i. Polynesians only arrived in Hawai'i some 800 years ago. That doesn't even qualify as an ancient civilization.
The Polynesians happened upon these islands in boats. My ancestors arrived in America by boats. So the Polynesians were a few years earlier. All immigrants to America struggle for a while, then survive, live and self-determine their destiny. To recognize special advantages for so-called "native" Hawaiians is racist. There are no "native" Hawaiians. We all arrived here from somewhere else.
Do not be misled by these special interests. Ms. Lingle is repaying political support.
David R. Daugherty
Pearl City
State officials don't learn from mistakes
There have been times in the past when a new animal or insect was brought into Hawai'i because it was thought to be the best solution to something that would take a great deal of time and effort to resolve.
It goes to show that our state officials don't learn from past mistakes.
Over 50 years ago, when the rat population was huge, officials back then thought it wise to bring in the mongoose to resolve the problem. Little did they know that mongooses dwell during the day and rats at night. Instead of getting rid of one rodent, we had two to contend with.
Some time after that, a snail was introduced into the Islands to resolve a problem. Instead of resolving the problem, they began to eat the endemic plants and snails.
There are other things that the state brought to Hawai'i, but instead of helping to resolve the problem, they just created new ones.
Learning from past mistakes.
The state's proposal to bring in the salvinia weevil is not only a terrible decision, it also goes to show that the state does not learn.
Shawn Chang
Wai'anae
Beware of deceptive bargains at store
Discovering I was double-charged for oranges on sale at 88 cents for 2 pounds, I went back into the store to inquire about the error.
I flagged a clerk, showed my receipt, took her to the scale where she verified the fruit weighed exactly 2 pounds. The cashier pointed out that according to the "calibrated" scale used at the register, I had 4.44 pounds of oranges. I replied that the store scale weighed the oranges exactly at 2 pounds, which the clerk confirmed. Appearing irritated, she said that the register scale is maintained regularly whereas the scale I used is neither accurate nor maintained.
I feel this is a deceitful practice, and I am sure there are people like me who do not know about the inaccuracy of these scales.
In light of the bigger problems in the world, I know this is a small issue, but I had to tell someone in hope others will be aware of deceptive bargains.
Celeste Ganeku
'Aiea
No frivolous lawsuits? Hah!
I rarely jump up and exclaim what my late husband euphemistically called "words" while reading my Sunday newspaper. However, while reading lawyer Richard Turbin's self-serving commentary in the March 2 Focus section, the "words" barely sufficed to express my feelings. So here are some slightly more printable thoughts on his screed on tort reform:
To begin with, he ridicules our country's leadership for decrying frivolous lawsuits. I notice that he puts those last two words in quotes, as if it is ridiculous even to utter the phrase. This country is rife with such lawsuits — frankly, people sue everybody about everything these days. Witness the parents suing McDonalds for their kids being overweight and the woman who sued the same company for her coffee being too hot.
I was once sued because my then-young children (2 and 4) had the temerity to put a piece of plywood in a tree in front of our property to play on. The neighbors claimed to be afraid they would be sued by us if the kids fell out in the direction of their property. After thousands of dollars of lawyer fees on both sides, the judge threw the case out, noting that the case was, indeed, frivolous.
My husband was a physician, so I think I speak with authority in saying that medical malpractice insurance was rising to the point of idiocy long before the stock market fell.
My own obstetrician, one of the best in the state, was moved to early retirement shortly after my youngest was born due to outrageous malpractice premiums. This was during the biggest bull market in U.S. history. His insurance premiums rose because every time someone was delivered of a funny-looking kid, the parents found an unscrupulous lawyer willing to take contingency fees to sue for damages. The insurance companies were paying exorbitant amounts to settle those cases, as the cost of going to court was climbing rapidly into the stratosphere.
Which brings me to the little flaw in Mr. Turbin's commentary that had me howling. Tucked into his self-righteous argument, he speaks about how poor folks couldn't possibly afford to go to court without the contingency fee system. I quote: "Because legal fees and costs incurred by a lawyer representing a victim ... are usually far more than $300,000 ... many victims will be unable to hire lawyers."
Mr. Turbin, what would happen if lawyers got their fees down to something a little more reasonable? Say, take even one zero off your estimate there. Maybe two? Many lawyers do manage not to scalp their clients. They charge what their clients can reasonably afford. I have been privileged enough to have been represented by several of them in my lifetime.
Perhaps we all would benefit by this radical idea. With no lawyers riding contingency fees to do battle with the perceived deep pockets of doctors, the doctors would be able to practice medicine without having to pay premiums that force them to charge more than those same impoverished people can afford. Imagine, Mr. Turbin! Doctors, insurers and lawyers would be charging what people could afford.
But then, you might have to give up your post as president of Consumer Lawyers of Hawai'i. The membership might decide that the monthly meeting in the high-rollers' room in the country club was getting a bit pricey.
April Ambard
Hawai'i Kai
