PUBLIC WORKERS FACE DISPROPORTIONATE HIT

Cindy Clark (Letters, June 23) says that public workers "feel more special than Average Joe and don't want to give up one cent of their livelihood." This is a false statement. Public workers are willing to take their share of the pain, but not a disproportionate share.

Public workers are being singled out for pay cuts amounting to 13.8 percent, and that's in addition to health insurance premium increases of almost 23.7 percent. Those who are now smugly sanguine to see the state's budget balanced on the backs of public workers may yet see the pain spreading to them as cutbacks in consumer spending threaten the economic recovery of the state. It would also hurt public education as draconian cuts in the DOE budget threaten educational programs and hurt student achievement.

A more sensible way of balancing the budget is to effect a modest, temporary increase in the general excise tax and tap into such emergency contingencies as the Rainy Day Fund. After all, as the old song goes, "here's that rainy day."

Wray Jose | Honolulu

DEFICIT SOLUTIONS

TAXPAYERS, NOT STATE WORKERS, NEED RELIEF

I disagree with Mr. (Roger) Takabayashi's suggestion that the governor consider using the Hurricane Relief or Rainy Day funds to offset the budget shortfall and pay state workers. The funds came out of our taxes. My understanding is those funds are to assist the general public in case of a natural disaster. If we use those funds to offset the budget, will the fund ever be replenished, and if so, by whom? Will those few whose jobs were secured do the replenishing? I doubt it very much.

Will we, the taxpayers, be tapped for more funds to return the funds to their current status? If he objects to the funds just sitting in a bank account while we are undergoing an economic crisis, I would recommend returning the funds to each taxpayer, thereby helping everyone in the state in their personal financial crisis, rather than using it to just help a few state workers.

Ellen Wong | 'Aiea

TOURISTS

WHY DO WE BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS US?

Despite the much applauded aloha spirit so frequently referred to by Hawaiians, it interests me greatly how often tourists were maligned in the letters on these pages during the good times when they paid the bills that Hawai'i residents are now expected to pay in new taxes, fees and reduced services. I haven't seen any of those letters for a long time now.

When things turn around and tourists come back, perhaps it would be of benefit to all of us to remember not to bite the hand that feeds us.

Gordon Wolfe | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE REFORM

IT'S TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL OF SYSTEM

Recently I sat in a doctor's waiting room and heard two sales reps talking to the receptionist.

They were telling her about a wonderful new arthritis drug and how their drug company would provide the medicine for free for one month to their patients. They explained how easy it would be to bill insurance plans after the free trial.

Then they asked about the doctor's food preferences and said they would arrange lunch for the doctor and three others the following week, so they could tell the doctor and his staff all about this wonderful drug and free trial offer.

It all reminded me of a time-share presentation I went to years ago in Waikiki. It was sickening and made me realize that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are the big businesses that influence many of the health care decisions doctors make nowadays. This convinces me there is an urgent need for health care reform.

Norman Gibson | Honolulu

COSTLY SHIPPING

PRICE OF PARADISE APPLIES TO INTERNET

Our state lawmakers don't realize we are already paying taxes on Internet purchases. It's called "shipping and handling." If I could find what I needed in a brick and mortar store, I wouldn't resort to paying the exorbitant costs we in Hawai'i and Alaska are forced to pay that other states do not.

I get these great offers on the Internet for free shipping, only to read the fine print on the bottom of the page: Not applicable to Hawai'i and Alaska.

Dorothy Au | Kailua

WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HIRE NEW RECRUITS

The decision by Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa to stop police recruitment due to a shortage of city funds is both short-sighted and a "pay me now or pay me later" mentality.

The citywide hiring freeze has stopped police officer recruiting and recruit classes at a time when new police recruits are most needed.

With Hawai'i's unemployment at a 20-year high, this is the time when educated, highly qualified police recruits are most likely to apply. This recession will not prevent the loss of 150 or so officers each year, but in the "penny wise and pound foolish" approach, they will not be replaced by the 150 or so new police officers through recruit training.

The city budget exceeds that of last year, and property taxes and many city fees are increasing by double digits. Where is the money going that should be used to hire new police recruits?

With Honolulu ranked among the safest cities in the United States, do we want to jeopardize this record to save a few dollars that will have to be spent by the next mayor to ensure our safety?

Earl Arakaki | 'Ewa Beach