PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE RIGHT TO END AGONY

I believe that people should have the option to take their own lives in the case that they are terminally ill. If society has the right to take a physically healthy person's life through the death penalty, shouldn't individuals have the right to end their lives in the case of excruciating pain?

People should have the liberty and right to end their own life in the case of being in excruciating pain and suffering. If a person is in so much agony that they are hurting themselves as well as others and are in a sane mental state, they should be allowed the option to die.

Physicians should be allowed to take a patient's life with the patient's sane consent along with following a list of procedures to ensure that the patient is making his own logical decision as well as that the patient is in a scenario that is incurable.

As long as it hurts no one else, people should have the right to do what they want with themselves. If society can determine if someone can live or not, shouldn't the person be able to too?

FAIR ELECTIONS

GET BIG MONEY OUT OF BIG ISLE POLITICS

To be fiscally responsible, and to help get big money out of politics, Big Island legislators should support Act 244 — the Big Island Fair Elections Act. Fair elections are good for the public!

Hawai'i has a history of people who have connections to money taking advantage of people who don't have such connections. Fair elections level the playing field and give everyday citizens a chance to try and qualify for public funds. As long as the candidate has good ideas and is trusted by people in their community, they have a good chance at qualifying for full public funding.

Given the economic situation, the responsible thing to do would be to enact Act 244 so that people start using the public funding program again. Let's bring back democracy. The people have spoken: "Don't tread on us."

SMALL BOAT HARBOR

DON'T LET ALA WAI BE COMMERCIALIZED

House Bill 1766 will permit commercial boats to operate out of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Plans to rent up to 15 percent of the recreational boat slips to commercial interests will increase the waiting period for private citizens. Snorkel tours, booze cruises and fishing boats will clog the streets, boat channel and parking lots in the neighborhood.

The area in front of the Hawaii Prince Hotel, Chart House and Ilikai cannot support the increased traffic, signage and support structures necessary for these operations. The increased traffic in the Ala Wai Canal channel will disrupt paddlers, junior sailors and recreational traffic. One injury will eliminate any of the potential cash flow that proponents of this bill envision, not to mention the devastating loss of life or limb to the victim.

Please eliminate the commercialization of the Ala Wai from this legislation.

KAWAIAHA'O

BUILDING ESSENTIAL TO CHURCH'S FUTURE

My very close friend and fellow Christian sister Juliette Kauhi Galuteria and I have been attending Kawaiaha'o Church for more than 70 years. We personally knew the families who have their kupuna resting in our cemetery. We have personally attended to many of our members who have passed on. We remember the days when the old Likeke Hall was being built. Many at that time talked about fears of haunting and ghosts.

Likeke was built and we had a great celebration and much joy. The fears of the haunting and ghosts were forgotten and no unfortunate incidents occurred. Everyone loved the new building. Kawaiaha'o Church needs this building so we can continue to be a church that is alive and giving to the community. We believe our 'ohana who are buried here would want this to happen too. The church will continue to be respectful of our na iwi kupuna.

PENSION TAX

PROVISION REMOVED FROM SENATE BILL

Lee Cataluna's column yesterday regarding a pension tax missed an important update. To end further consternation and anxiety, please let your readers know that the House Finance Committee agreed with Tax Director Kurt Kawafuchi and many other testifiers when the bill, SB 971, SD2, HD1, was heard, and removed the provision taxing pension income over $50,000. This occurred on Wednesday.

As such, please know that the issue is dead for this session.

COMPLETE STREETS

LET'S PLAN FOR PEOPLE FIRST, CARS SECOND

Senate Bill 718, the Complete Streets bill, would give pedestrians and cyclists more consideration in the planning of neighborhoods. I walk almost everywhere and bicycle quite a bit. It is a little scary crossing streets sometimes, even in the crosswalk with the light.

Honolulu needs planning for people first, cars second. Many bicyclists ride on the sidewalks because they are afraid of being hit by cars on the road. That sometimes makes it a little dangerous for me as a pedestrian. We need dedicated lanes for cyclists to protect pedestrians as well as themselves.

Call, e-mail or fax Gov. Linda Lingle and tell her to sign SB 718. Tell her mobility for people means walking, biking, mass transit as well as automobiles.

PLASTICS SWITCH

'BIODEGRADABLE' BAGS A MARINE LIFE THREAT

Unfortunately, we do not see Down to Earth's move to "biodegradable plastic" bags as a responsible move to help the marine environment. These bags will take nine months to five years to degrade. That means marine life will still be in danger from these bags for those five years.

It can still cause harm to sea turtles that may ingest the bag. Also people may be more likely to litter these bags thinking they are harmless to the environment.

Changing from a disposable plastic bag to a disposable "biodegradable plastic" bag is not helping their customers to make the real lifestyle changes necessary to make a difference.

People need to look at their use of plastic and help reduce it. This means actions like bringing their own reusable bag when they go shopping. Stores can help by only providing boxes (like Costco does) and charging for paper bags to discourage their use.