Letters to the Editor

Lieutenant gov role supportive

One of the primary functions of the lieutenant governor is to step in if the governor is out of state or is in some way unable to perform his or her duties.

That being the case, shouldn’t the lieutenant governor be prepared to follow the intentions of the governor? After all, those are the policies that a majority of Hawaii voters have supported.

A better system might have the gubernatorial candidates select their own running mates after the primary election. Since that won’t happen any time soon, perhaps the most important questions we can ask lieutenant governor candidates is: Which gubernatorial candidate best represents your ideas? Whom will you vote for? That would tell us which one would best support our choice for governor and whom we should vote for.

Avoid politics in naming buildings

Am I the only one who thinks that county and state buildings should not be named after individuals? These are either elected officials — not necessarily ones I voted for — or appointed officials.

I’d rather see a building named for its location and function. For example, the King Street Courthouse. Or, the Kapolei City Annex.

These elected/appointed officials were doing their job. They got paid. They got the recognition while employed, deserved or not.

You want to name a building after an individual? Not me.

Case is the one who’s dangerous

Ed Case views Mufi Hannemann "as the most dangerous politician in a generation." Disturbingly, Case never backs up his views with any facts or evidence of truth.

Case fails to see the damage he could have done, and has done, to Hawaii’s Democratic Party by his past two failed attempts for elected office.

First he tried to knock off our beloved and distinguished U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. He then gave the Republican Party a coveted congressional seat, which Neil Abercrombie vacated during a critical time for President Obama.

Who is really the most dangerous politician in a generation to Hawaii’s Democratic Party?

Case did right to speak up

Though I have not been a fan of Ed Case, I must speak up for him now.

Saying what you believe, and what you feel to be very important for our community, is the duty of all of us. I’m not saying we should "talk stink" — far from it. But Case expressed what lots of us feel after observing Mufi Hannemann for decades. He does not work productively with other viewpoints to reach agreement, but imposes his own "wiser" choices. It is my observation that he never addresses different viewpoints, except to belittle and marginalize them.

Traffic cam critic stuck in the past

A recent letter moaned about money spent on traffic cam video feeds ("Traffic website waste of money," Aug. 27).

The writer is stuck in the 20th century. Perhaps he doesn’t yet realize he can check the cams before setting out. His passenger can check the cams on their phone while en route. In the near future his car will show him traffic conditions using these cams or, if that is too complicated, just tell him where to go. These traffic cams will save time and money. They already do that for me.

Medicare regs a disincentive

I feel terrible. I have a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel, somehow, guilty. On June 15 I closed my medical practice to new Medicare patients.

I know many specialists don’t take Medicare, but I’m a primary care doctor. I practice in rural Kauai, where doctors are in limited supply. This year alone, I’ve watched new policies from Medicare and pharmacy benefit companies triple the paperwork required. Our senators and congressmen have mucked around, temporarily reducing doctors’ reimbursement by 21.3 percent, only to give a temporary reprieve until Nov. 30, when it will once again be instituted. Then there is an additional 6 percent reimbursement cut in 2011. Plus Medicare won’t pay any state general excise tax, but doctors must pay that 4-plus percent tax anyway.

There is simply no way to keep the doors open while accepting Medicare, at least in primary care. I assure my current patients that (for now) I will not drop any enrolled in Medicare, or those soon to turn 65. I feel terrible.