WHY DO DEADBEATS INCUR NO PENALTY?

The lead article in Sunday's paper (April 5) on the state's effort to collect back taxes by trying to shame delinquent taxpayers into paying up gave me a real chuckle. Publishing a list of names on the Internet is the extent to which state tax collectors will go to collect back taxes? And the state is considering raising taxes and cutting services while $374 million is out there in the hands of deadbeats?

When I'm delinquent in my condo maintenance fees, the owners' association can file a lien on my unit and assess me all the legal fees incurred in the collection effort. For that reason we have not had one owner delinquent in their maintenance fees in 21 years.

Why should the rest of us keep paying our state taxes on time when people who do not pay incur no penalty or risk to their property?

Let's put some teeth into the law and force these deadbeats to pay up. That would go a long way toward making up the gap in the current state budget.

HAWAII SUPERFERRY

LOUD MINORITY SUCCEEDS AGAIN

Forty years ago while supporting the Sierra Club I found that I was being double-crossed. After looking closely and discovering their hidden agenda, I found that they were far more focused on big headlines in the news media and fundraising than any environmental issues. They attack the highest-profile targets regardless of their validity.

So the loudmouth minority has once again won against the vast silent majority and shut down the Superferry. I sincerely hope that the donors to the Sierra Club will seriously consider sending another check or at least restricting its use.

CIVIL UNIONS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LACKING INTEGRITY

For years Hawai'i has put up with the mega-majorities Democrats have enjoyed in both houses of the Legislature (along with the accompanying conflicts of interest and kowtowing to special interests) because there was a sense that the party had principles. In fact, the opening line of the party platform states the abiding values of "liberty, social justice, compassion and respect for the dignity and worth of the individual."

Talk is cheap. If the opposition to ConCon wasn't bad enough, the latest shameful display of cowardice on the civil unions bill shows clearly that Democrats are more interested in staying in power rather than utilizing it to pursue their ideals.

What is needed in this state is another party (because Republicans certainly aren't any better) and publicly financed elections. Too many local politicians hide behind the (D) next to their names while violating the principles they profess to uphold. And it is essential to get money out of politics so that people are elected for their ideas and desire to serve instead of how much money gets funneled to them through their campaigns.

AIRCRAFT PURCHASE

HAWAIIAN CEO NEGLECTS KEY DETAIL

I was taken aback by Mark Dunkerley's Island Voices commentary (April 3), in which he pressed for large expenditures of taxpayer money to improve facilities that will benefit his company (Hawaiian Airlines) far more than they will benefit the traveling public.

Furthermore, Mr. Dunkerley implies that any "cost" to improve local airports will not be a burden for Hawai'i residents because part of these costs will be covered by federal funds. It goes without saying that we will indeed bear the costs of any improvements because Hawai'i residents pay federal taxes that fund the Airport Modernization Program.

When Mr. Dunkerley stated that Hawaiian Airlines has committed $5 billion toward the purchase of new aircraft, as an argument for publicly funded "airport fixes," he forgot to mention that the commitment is to Airbus Industries.

Hawaiian Airlines made the decision to support the French and German eco-nomies, and create jobs for French and German workers, rather than Boeing and American workers. At a time when the American economy has seen the loss of 2 million jobs in 2009, it is outrageous that Mr. Dunkerley contributed to this job loss by selecting Airbus over Boeing, yet is now begging for (American) public money to help his company be more "efficient."

STATE BUDGET

HURRICANE FUND WAS SET UP FOR A REASON

Gov. Lingle: Please leave my hurricane insurance fund alone while you try to balance the budget and get us out of the mess, part of which has occurred during your administration. That fund was established for a very good reason and it wasn't to allow politicians to raid when they felt it was necessary to find funds to dip into when they caused a problem with the budget.

ALOHA STADIUM

IF PARKING EXPANDS, SO SHOULD USER FEE

A letter writer (April 6) advocates building a first-class 8,000-car, multilevel parking lot at the Aloha Stadium. Busing fans from existing parking facilities "all over the creation" makes the best sense. If you double the size of the parking lot, people will complain about how long it takes to get out of the parking lot after the game.

If the parking fee were raised to $20, more fans would love to "park and ride" on the bus or carpool. If a larger parking lot is built, users should be charged an appropriate fee and not the rest of the ticket holders or the taxpayers.

NATATORIUM

HONOR VETERANS BY RESTORING MEMORIAL

As a veteran, I am sadly disappointed that our city is even contemplating destroying a memorial which was erected to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Act 15, which established the memorial, specifically mandated the inclusion of a saltwater pool, 100 meters by 40 meters, to commemorate Hawai'i's prominence in water sports.

Even though the Natatorium is a memorial to World War I veterans, all who served in the military are connected by a special bond that cannot be broken, a bond built by their blood, sweat and tears. Honor, courage and commitment are words that have lost their meaning among some of us. I urge the city and state to honor its commitment to those veterans by restoring the Natatorium.