TAX SPENDING MUST NOT REST WITH UNIONS

Some unions have their place, but I question how appropriate unions are for government employees such as teachers. Government employees are public servants paid with taxpayer dollars. They are supposed to serve under the leadership of the taxpayers' choice of government officials.

I did not vote for unions to make decisions about things that affect the quality of life in Hawaii or determine how to spend my taxes. It isn't reasonable for public servants, through union activity, to vote for their own personal interests at the expense of others or to usurp the role given to elected government officials to act in the best interests of residents.

I say all government employees need to come under the direct accountability of the governor, Cabinet and staff without mitigation from unions and miscellaneous intermediary boards.

raeanne schmidt | Honolulu

NATIONAL DEBT

IT WON'T BE LONG TILL INTEREST EQUALS TAXES

When I retired from the Army the national debt stood at around $5 trillion. Our debt is now more than $11 trillion and projected to reach $20 trillion in 10 years. History tells us that our debt continues to grow in good times and bad.

Look into the future and pick a date when our national debt will be such a giant that just the interest on the debt will equal all the individual taxes that the IRS will collect in a year. Realizing that our politicians only know how to collect pork and know nothing about cutting spending, that dark day is not too far away. (The IRS collects less than $2 trillion from individuals in a year.)

warren fukushima | Pearl City

B&BS

ACCOMMODATIONS A VITAL PART OF TOURISM

Hawaii's B&B industry is an essential component to the health of our tourism industry. There are more and more people who travel abroad and look for this type of accommodation . It is the only opportunity for persons on vacation to experience the community and environment firsthand.

When I travel with my family, we stay in B&Bs, we like to eat where the locals eat and experience their community. This is the flavor of Hawaii. Hotels and resort areas are nothing more than a fabricated environment for the first-time traveler.

CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER | Kailua

HEALTH AUTHORITY

ACT 11 POISED TO OPTIMIZE ISLE CARE

Two front-page articles point out the need to implement Act 11: the U.S. Senate health bill penalizing Hawaii, and Hawaii slipping to No. 4 in state health rankings. These were primary reasons for HB 1504, creating the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan providing universal health care in Hawaii.

The bill passed the Legislature and was vetoed by the governor but overridden in special session. Those who have seen Hawaii rise to the top of the national health rankings know that as a state, we have one of the finest health care systems in the country, much of it due to the Prepaid Health Care Act, expanded Medicaid eligibility and a quality comprehensive system of community health centers.

Hawaii has come the closest to achieving universal coverage for health care and at one time had universal coverage for all keiki. There is little to gain from the federal proposals. All we may need are increases in Medicaid allocations for hospitals to meet the mandate to accept all patients in emergency rooms and for expansion of community health centers statewide. These are proposals to consider with a health care authority.

The governor needs to implement Act 11.

DENNIS ARAKAKI | Honolulu

SCENIC SITE FEES

STATE MIGHT NEED TO OFFER DISCLAIMER

The state Recreational Renaissance plan suggests charging fees at scenic sites. A truth in advertising disclaimer may be needed. Here's a ghostwritten one for HVB.

Dear Visitor:

Now that we've lured you here, bring cash when you holoholo kaa, 'cause what you'll see ain't free.

We lucky you come Hawaii!

J. Arthur rath | Aiea

GUANTANAMO

MOVING PRISONERS TO U.S. IS A TERRIBLE IDEA

The idea of moving captured terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to U.S. prisons is an asinine idea. Why would we want to move dangerous war criminals from a safely guarded, remote facility, already in place, to other locations in the continental United States?

Mainland prisons would provide bases of operation for these terrorists where they could harm American citizens and indoctrinate fellow prisoners with a flawed and evil ideology. Would Congress move the Pentagon simply because it doesn't like the way it's operated? Certainly not.

The closure idea is obviously political — an attempt by the Democrats to further discredit former President George W. Bush. Obama should modify his ill-conceived campaign promises by keeping Guantanamo open and simply changing the way it is operated.

RAY GRAHAM | Honolulu