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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 18, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Lingle is scaring away investors over Act 221

Gov. Lingle is painting all Act 221 companies with the same negative brush; she makes no distinction, and that is wrong. Most are staffed by hard-working, innovative entrepreneurs who are also taxpayers. About 150 high-tech companies have started up due to Act 221.

Lingle is out there scaring investors away from legitimate companies with her pronouncements. Her tax department is threatening Gestapo-like audits for no apparent reason other than it doesn't want to live by the statute as written.

I suggest she develop an economic plan instead of trying to squeeze every penny dry from law-abiding businesses. Why doesn't she offer some ideas to grow the economy? By the way, what is her economic plan — anybody seen it? I sure have not.

While President Bush crisscrosses the country calling for "bold tax cuts," Lingle is trying to rescind tax credits. It does not make sense. She is not growing the economy, she is trying to restrict it. I suspect she is being advised by some holdovers of the Herbert Hoover administration.

Bob McDermott


French-style 'pissoirs' should be considered

I felt compelled to write this letter about the Fort Street Mall "renovation" and return of shoppers and diners ... but the one thing that has not been addressed is the lack of restrooms.

On Sundays, the only restroom available is at the YWCA; you can use the key as long as you are attending one of the fellowship meetings there; but after that, you must be a member of the "Y" to get the key.

One recent Sunday I was downtown for a meeting, then was going to hit Longs, Ross and Price Busters when nature called. Longs never lets anyone use its restroom; Ross has a permanent "out of order" sign; Price Busters said "no, go to Macy's," which is closed on Sundays. I power-walked back to the "Y" and was allowed to use the key. So for Mother's Day, my husband gave me $30 so I could join the "Y" and know I have a bathroom.

The planners should consider the French-style "pissoirs" — money to get in, self-cleaning when you leave and very smart-looking.

Georgette Canon


McCubbin treated in a shabby manner

I do not know Hamilton McCubbin or much about his work at Kamehameha Schools. After the debacle with the previous Bishop Estate trustees, obtaining Dr. McCubbin seemed indeed fortunate for Hawai'i. He had outstanding academic and administrative qualifications, plus a Hawaiian heritage and Kamehameha background.

Hawai'i needs this kind of leader, and to lose him is sad. To see him sandbagged on the front page of The Honolulu Advertiser is tragic. Then, the following day, the subject of your editorial was "Let's hope we don't revisit McCarthy era."

The way you treated Dr. McCubbin is precisely the way that Joe McCarthy treated suspected communist sympathizers.

Paul N. Johnson


Hawaiians shouldn't seek 'sovereignty'

I object to using the term sovereignty in connection with the Akaka bill ("Sovereignty bill makes headway," May 15). A dictionary defines sovereignty as follows:

(1) Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state. (2) Royal rank, authority or power. (3) Complete independence and self-government. (4) A territory existing as an independent state.

Clearly, not the United States nor any nation can legislate another nation's sovereignty.

The Akaka bill is aimed at creating parity for Hawaiians with American Indians — essentially a ward status. Considering that the sad story of the American Indian is the most successful genocide in history, why would Hawaiians want anything like that?

Sovereignty means independence. It should not be used to describe yet another attempt by the United States to usurp the rights of the people of Hawai'i.

Rolf Nordahl


Fishing industry is ignoring reality

An extremely alarming study finds that 90 percent of the ocean's big fish are gone. The study is based on data collected from years of experience.

Fishing industry representatives tell us nothing is wrong, but their argument ignores reality. It sounds like the guy falling from the roof of a 30-story building, and as he falls past the fifth floor, he says, "Falling is OK, it isn't hurting me at all."

Sadly, we will all suffer if the fishing industry continues to ignore reality.

C.B. Simons


McCarthyism absent in confirmation process

Roy Yanagihara's May 12 letter accused the Senate of McCarthyism in our rejection of two of Gov. Lingle's Board of Regents nominees — as if we were guilty of waving a list of "suspected communists" to tarnish the reputations of innocent people.

Here are a few facts Mr. Yanagihara overlooks in his haste to make a point:

  • Nominees Shelton Jim On and Edward Sultan, unlike their fellow regent nominees, were poorly prepared for the confirmation process. A casual viewing of the 'Olelo broadcast would confirm this.

  • I did reveal, on the Senate floor, the name of the individual who wrote the message opposing Mr. Jim On. I also referred to another caller, a prominent businessman and Lingle campaign volunteer, who had similar reservations about Mr. Jim On's qualifications. Mr. Yanagihara can refer to the Senate journal for this information.

    It took tremendous courage for these two individuals to come forward and then permit me to make their names known to the public. If anyone has to fear McCarthyism, it would be these two citizens, who may face recriminations by those who contend we should rubber-stamp every gubernatorial appointment.

  • The Senate ultimately confirmed more than 160 of the governor's nominees, including the former head of the Republican Party; her friends and past associates; and prominent leaders of her campaign. Two rejections don't constitute McCarthyism; they demonstrate the Senate takes its advise-and-consent duties very seriously.

Sen. Donna Mercado Kim
D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Heights)


Abandoned derelict cars are an eyesore

Recently I had an old college friend and his wife visit us in Kailua. My wife and I had not seen them since 1955, and we wanted them to see some of the great places in Hawai'i.

We took a day trip to the North Shore from Kane'ohe to Hale'iwa and down the center of the island. A malassada breakfast at Agnes', lunch at Ahi's Paniolo Cafe in Punalu'u, a swim at Waimea Bay, Hale'iwa shopping, Dole pineapple tour and home.

Do you know what impressed them the most?

The 12 abandoned derelict cars along the roadway between K-Bay and Wahiawa.

They just could not understand how the state could allow the beauty of our island to be degraded by such an eyesore. Neither can we.

If the state really wants to attract Mainland people to our island, it should pay more attention to keeping our place clean and beautiful. Please take a few bucks from the huge tourist marketing program and spend them on cleaning up the trash around the island.

Burt Waltz
Kailua