Toll roads
TRAFFIC WILL WORSEN IF WE DON'T GET ON IT
The 2nd International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations is being held Sunday through next Wednesday in Honolulu, where hundreds of engineers and financiers from around the world will converge to share transportation solutions with us.
This symposium will be our opportunity to witness firsthand what the rest of the world has been doing for decades — actively managing traffic 24/7 and letting the private sector build roads that government cannot afford. The twist, though, is that after the symposium is over, Hawai'i will still lack the statutory provisions to build a highway and recoup its costs by way of a toll.
More than 30 states permit their governors to enter into public-private-partnerships and collect a toll; Hawai'i does not.
So long as Hawai'i prohibits toll roads, expect traffic to worsen and snails to pass you by.
Tom Berg | 'Ewa Beach
STATE FURLOUGHS
IMAGINE WHAT CUTS MEAN FOR REST OF US
Imagine if, for three days a month, you could not access the following:
Who does not use services provided by our state employees? Click onto www.ehawaii.gov and look around.
People are quick to blame the state workers for the economy. But our fiscal woes were not caused by public employees. We can thank the private sector for that.
Linda Nishimura | Honolulu
ONLINE INDUSTRY
TAX BILL WILL HURT HAWAI'I WEB SITES
The future of Hawai'i's online media industry is in jeopardy due to House Bill 1405, also known as the Amazon tax.
The bill will require all online merchants to collect sales tax from all Hawai'i residents. To avoid this tax, online merchants will cancel contracts with thousands of Hawai'i-owned Web sites.
I am surprised not many people are aware of this bill. It will handicap Hawai'i's online media industry by not allowing it to fully monetize its Web sites, giving an advantage to international and Mainland companies and professionals.
Hawai'i's online media is a clean and low-impact industry. Hawai'i should be promoting this industry, not trying to destroy it.
The bill has already passed the House and Senate. Please encourage Linda Lingle to veto this bill.
Dean Takamine | Honolulu
SUPREME COURT
A DIVERSE COURT BETTER REFLECTS US
During my third year in law school, my constitutional law professor's jaw dropped when I postulated there is a professional myth of neutrality regarding the judiciary. I suggested that judges can only be as neutral as their self-awareness allows them to be, and that law school is not necessarily the ideal forum to foster self-awareness. Neutrality is a goal, not a given.
There are a variety of legal theories on constitutional interpretation, and additionally, all justices bring to the court their own life experience, philosophy and education. They are not purely cerebral automatons, nor should they be.
The Supreme Court was long composed solely of one race and one gender. This does not reflect our multi-faceted society.
The law is not static, and legal interpretation changes to reflect our culture. If it did not, the Constitution would be a dead document, and quite easy to interpret. Shifts regarding big issues such as segregation and the right to choose often occur at least 10 years behind predominant cultural and social mores. For some, change is much too fast; for others, much too slow.
A diverse court better reflects our society and changing social norms.
Bambi Lin Litchman | Honolulu
CAR WEIGHT TAX
IN LONG RUN, THERE MAY BE FEWER TO TAX
Well, it's happened again, I picked up my copy of The Advertiser this morning (June 14) and there is an all too familiar headline, "Car weight tax to rise 66%." This is after I have seen my property taxes go up, personal taxes go up, and just about anything else they can think of to tax. Meanwhile, I am watching my business continue to slow down amongst the worsening economic crisis and have yet to hear of one government employee being laid off.
I thought I would die here in Hawai'i, but as it takes its economic woes out on me and my ability to earn a living I think removing myself altogether from its tax base is my only choice.
It wouldn't hurt so much if it even looked like it was taking on responsibility by cutting its spending, but it appears its single mindset is to tax the people. I am sure there are plenty more people like me who are thinking this way, and I think in the long run it is going to find itself without nearly as many people to tax here.
Greg Talboys | Hale'iwa
TRAFFIC SAFETY
SAFEGUARD AT GAS PUMP COULD HELP
We fellow parishioners at St. Clement's Episcopal Church are deeply saddened by the sudden death of our remarkably kind and gifted councilman, Dr. Duke Bainum.
In honor of his memory I have been encouraged to write of our recent brief discussion where Duke was enthusiastic about my suggestion to improve safety on our roads. I thought, how about requiring a valid driver's license, current auto registration and proof of insurance, as a plastic card(s), inserted into the gas pump, like a credit card, before gas will come out?
This safeguard may be a little pricey to install, but what a relief to decongest our roads of illegal drivers — maybe costing only as much as one big preventable accident by an illegal driver. And fewer traffic jams! And no more payments for uninsured motorists!
Dr. Duke Bainum was very positive about my idea and said he would look into it and get back to me soon. Is anyone else in charge of our traffic safety interested in this obvious safeguard for our roads? And less burden on our police officers! Lock your gas caps!
Deborah Candace Love, M.D. | Waialua
