Health insurance companies compete on how they manage "risk." What good is a tax break for an individual policy if the insurance company charges you more if you have a pre-existing condition?

These higher premiums would not be for "gold plated" coverage, but for being in a high-risk category. Those with serious, expensive illnesses would quickly become uninsurable, defeating the whole point of insurance.

If the government mandated that all health insurance companies must charge an average premium (spreading the risk among the whole population), then there is no basis for competition among health insurance companies. We may as well have a single-payer system, which would be far simpler and cheaper to administer and would cover everyone.

TAX RELIEF

URGENT STATE NEEDS OUTWEIGH TOKEN REBATE

Despite the fact that I certainly also subscribe to some of the greed that is already too well encouraged elsewhere throughout our culture, I respectfully submit that some token state tax return is irresponsible at this time.

I truly believe there is a more urgent need to commit funding for aid to the disadvantaged; maintenance of our state buildings, stadiums, roads and other infrastructure; encouragement of high-tech research and other "seed" endeavors, such as energy savings and independence; and promoting a green environment.

Also, isn't more money needed to address inflation costs such as debt, pay raises and other partial offsets to such as our basically unregulated gasoline costs? Isn't more money needed to reimburse costs for ceded lands? The list is virtually endless.

At first read, it might sound good to have some — even a tiny — tax return. But it really doesn't pass any common-sense test — let alone exhibit aloha — because we have dire needs for additional state government obligations.

LOWERING GET BETTER OPTION FOR TAXPAYERS

At a recent joint informational briefing before the House Committees on Finance and Economic Development and Business, members of the Tax Review Commission gave some thought-provoking testimony that deserves further study by the Legislature.

An independent study of Hawai'i's GET finds that "Broadening the tax base to include more transactions involving sales to final consumers would allow the GET rate to be lowered (with the same revenue being collected), while increasing economic activity and employment in Hawai'i." The study suggests that the rate could go as low as 3.25 percent.

The governor recently suggested that the state add more exemptions to the GET. It's a nice gesture, but good government requires the use of sound economic reasoning, not good public relations.

Lowering the general excise tax rate for all consumer purchases is better for taxpayers. We pay less at the cash register, and with a simpler tax structure the administrative burden on the Department of Taxation is also lessened.

We should all urge the Legislature to study the report of the 2005-2007 Tax Review Commission and this year make substantive changes to our tax system that benefit all taxpayers.

TRAFFIC WOES

DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THE WORD OUT

Wow! What a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. I don't work for the state or federal government, so like the several thousand motorists stuck in traffic that afternoon, I was wondering, "Where is Rod Haraga?"

For whatever reason, Gov. Linda Lingle replaced Haraga with Barry Fukunaga. The one thing I could count on was that Haraga would always be on the radio explaining what was going on with traffic concerns. Nobody seemed to know the reason for the Zipper lane being opened.

None of the radio stations seemed to know the reason, either. I hope Lingle and Fukunaga enjoyed their MLK holiday. I and several thousand other motorists were stuck in traffic.

What does a Leeward motorist say after emerging from three hours of gridlock on MLK Day? Answer: "Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last."

How many federal workers does it take to paralyze the Leeward corridor? Answer: One. One army soldier driving a crane that does not fit under the overpass.

How many state workers does it take to paralyze the Leeward corridor? Answer: One, the transportation director whose bright idea was to do work on a holiday to avoid traffic gridlock — and then not tell anyone about it.

ATV RIDERS

OFF-ROAD VEHICLES RUINING ENVIRONMENT

"Beyond Thunderdome" is the clearest analogy I can make in regard to the ATV/off-roading crisis at Army Beach in Mokule'ia.

Over the past 10 years, the beach has gone from pristine to disgusting, thanks solely to the off-roaders and ATV terrorists. Where the beautiful naupaka once flourished, you can find soot-covered tire tracks. Where the mighty ironwoods stood, you can find charcoaled stumps. Where a sloped sand dune 30 feet tall once lay, you can find a rock pit.

On any given weekend you can find the culprits. They are there, shredding the environment, while the military and civilian police harass surfers and fishermen for illegal parking across the street.

Where is the Sierra Club and Earthjustice? Why is it easy to target the Stryker brigade for its environmental impact, yet stand silent amid this howling menace? "This is the country. What do you expect?" is a pathetic excuse for such inexcusable behavior and response.