UNHOLY ALLIANCE BEHIND OVERRIDES
Well, the Hawai'i legislators have done it. They overrode Gov. Lingle's vetoes on tax increases on tourists and small-business owners, the two main engines of the Hawaiian economy. Why would they do such an imprudent thing in the midst of a severe recession?
They did so because they are bagmen for the Ha wai'i government employee unions. Their veto overrides clearly illustrate this unholy alliance. While taxpayers are getting laid off and cutting back expenses to deal with tough economic times, our legislators stuff the state's pocket with new taxes to satisfy the rapacious appetite of the union bosses. How can Gov. Lingle effectively bargain with the government employee unions for wage and benefit concessions under such circumstances? Hawai'i voters should pay attention and send these labor union toady legislators packing.
Rhoads E. Stevens, M.D. | Hawai'i Kai
SUPREME COURT PICK
RULING ON EMPATHY NOT CONSTITUTIONAL
I hope most of the people of Hawai'i are as concerned about President Obama's desire to find a new Supreme Court justice who will base his or her decisions on empathy as I am. As noble as this may sound, it is the antithesis of our Constitution. Indeed, the oath that Supreme Court justices swear to is as follows:
"I do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me under the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help me God."
One of the reasons the statue standing in front of the Supreme Court is of a woman blindfolded and carrying a scale is precisely because the job of a justice is to base decisions on the law, not on public opinion or popularity. When we find that a law is not to our liking, we can follow the democratic process and have our legislators vote on proposed changes. It is not for a justice to make decisions that in effect make new laws. That is why we have three branches of government.
Michael Sudlow | Hau'ula
VOG THREAT
GOVERNMENT, MEDIA SHOULD STEP IT UP
On the west, ocean side of the Big Island where we live, the pollution from Halema'uma'u is frequently so thick we barely see Mount Hualalai and the western horizon. It could get worse if more volcanic vents would open and spew more poison.
The poison is mainly sulfur dioxide gas. It mixes with atmospheric moisture to create microscopic particulates of sulfuric acid that cloud and contaminate the air. The contamination level may still be low, but the cumulative effect of breathing sulfuric acid 24/7 could be disastrous.
Making available vog data on Web sites is not enough. We need the Board of Health, Civil Defense and other agencies of government actively involved in guiding us and even having ready special facemasks that can filter acid particulates, if their threat is real. The Honolulu Advertiser could publish vog alerts to warn Big Islanders when the contamination level is high.
Our government may be treading lightly, afraid that an alert would trigger panic reduction in Hawai'i County property values and subsequent reduction in tax revenues. But whatever the consequence, the protection of its people should remain government's highest priority.
John Tanaka | Kohala Coast
ISLAM DAY
MEASURE RECOGNIZES PEACEFUL MUSLIMS
By passing HCR 100 declaring Sept. 24, 2009, as Islam Day, our lawmakers have once again demonstrated that Hawai'i richly deserves to be recognized as the World's Interfaith Harmony Capital. By this act, our lawmakers demonstrated unambiguously that they differentiate between the vast majority of peace-loving Muslims and the very small minority holding the majority hostage by its belligerency and weapon: suicide bombing.
Justifiably, a few of our lawmakers opposed this resolution, based on the spate of violence being committed by extremists the world over. What these lawmakers might not know is that several Muslim countries are also having their problem with extremists. In fact, the government of Pakistan is engaged in a serious war with the Taliban in its northern region. Reinforcing the voice of the people, Pakistan's National Assembly recently and unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Pakistani government in its war against terrorists.
Saleem Ahmed, Ph.D. | Author, "Islam: A Religion of Peace?"
ELDER CARE
WHY DID LEGISLATURE SNUB OUR SENIORS?
I'm grateful to The Advertiser for calling attention to the skyrocketing cost of nursing care (May 1) and the need for community-based services to support the care of elders in the home (May 4). Sadly, it seems the folks at the state Legislature aren't paying attention.
The Genworth Cost of Care survey makes it clear that very few people in Hawai'i can ever hope to afford more than $123,000 per year in private nursing home care. It makes far greater sense — and costs a lot less — to maintain support services that help family caregivers provide for their loved ones at home.
So why did legislators fail to support Senate Bill 1679, which would have provided much-needed funding to kupuna care and senior centers? It's a sad day when our island community turns its back on elderly citizens and the people who care for them. I understand that public resources are stretched, but failing to provide for the basic needs of our citizens in tough economic times is failed public policy.
It's time we recognize the enormous contributions of family caregivers by supporting their ability to help each of us age in place.
Dottie Kennedy | Honolulu
GUN DEATH RATE
ARTICLE FAILED TO MENTION KEY FACTS
To be clear, I'm a member of the NRA and supporter of the Second Amendment.
At least that's more disclosure than the May 8 "Gun death rate is lowest in Hawai'i" article in The Advertiser. In that article The Advertiser failed to note that the Violence Policy Center is a strong anti-gun group, a group that would be happy to see private gun ownership banned. The article also failed to mention the state ranked 48th lowest in death by gun (Rhode Island) has amongst the most liberal gun ownership laws.
When looking at murders by gun, New Hampshire, another state with liberal gun laws, recorded three murders by gun in 2006 or a rate of .23 per 100,000. In 2006 Hawai'i recorded seven murders by gun or a rate of .55 per 100,000.
Finally, the article referred to assault weapons as particularly hazardous. By what measure was this conclusion reached? Using the most liberal definition of what constitutes an assault weapon, they are involved in fewer than 10 percent of all firearm-related deaths. The Advertiser article is an example of poor reporting that omits key facts in an effort to sway public opinion.
Robert Lottie | Kailua
