In-state tuition is ironic issue

Recent Star-Advertiser commentaries about allowing in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants have generated renewed interest in the issue.

While the debate is important in these days of tight budgets, it raises another question. Since its founding, the United States has expanded its boundaries on numerous occasions, absorbing many indigenous peoples, including Native Americans and Native Hawaiians, some willingly, but many not.

Because these peoples represent the First Americans on newly claimed American soils, their place of residence transcends the artificial boundaries now defined as separate states. These true original citizens should therefore be granted in-state tuition rates regardless of the particular geographic name their present government has assigned to their homes.

By this reasoning, an Apache Indian living in New Mexico would be entitled to in-state tuition in Vermont, Hawaii, or any other state. The same principle would apply to Native Hawaiians.

Bernard J. Wilson
Laie

Syrian rebels get priority over us?

President Barack Obama cuts $82 billion from federal programs and blames it on the GOP in Congress. Meanwhile, he promises $60 million in aid to Syrian rebels.

So where is that money coming from? How can he afford to send that much money to a country that does nothing for our country while essentially putting Americans out of work and cutting programs that serve his own countrymen?

Here’s an even better question: Why isn’t the mainstream media asking these questions instead of continuing to drink Obama’s Kool-Aid and trying to pin all the blame on the GOP?

Shawn Lathrop
Waikoloa

Allegations about UH sound serious

As an alumnus of the University of Hawaii, I have followed with great interest Rob Perez’s recent articles of Dennis Mitsunaga’s allegation of "blatant mismanagement" against Brian Minaai, director of capital improvements at the university.

I reviewed a copy of Mitsunaga’s Feb. 14 written testimony given to the Senate Committee on Higher Education. The allegations outlined in the testimony sound very serious. If true, the problem is costing the university millions of dollars that are badly needed for the benefit of the students.

I would hope the attorney general will investigate these allegations with the samezeal and passion that state Senate President Donna Mercado Kim did in the Stevie Wonder debacle.

After all, that amount was manini compared to this.

Ron Kashimoto
Hawaii Kai

Taxes wrong way to fight obesity

Your editorial warrants clarification for your readers ("Getting healthier may keep tax away," Star-Advertiser, Our View, March 4).

We all have a role to play in reducing obesity. But if we want to get serious about obesity, it starts with education — not taxes.

People get fewer calories from soda today.Since 2000, there has been a 39 percent decline in consumption of added sugars in soda. And 45 percent of beverages purchased today are zero-calorie. Fewer and fewer calories from soft drinks every year is being driven by consumer demand — not government mandates.

As far as kids drinking soda is concerned, the beverage industry voluntarily removed full-calorie soft drinks in elementary, middle and high schools. Those beverages were replaced with lower-calorie options and smaller portions. The result is a 90 percent reduction in beverage calories shipped to schools.

The beverage landscape has changed — without taxes or regulation.

David Thorp
American Beverage Association, Washington, D.C.

Fuel tax increase seems excessive

In response to "Time to hike city’s vehicle fuel tax" (Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 7): Well and good, if this money is going into a fund exclusively for road upkeep purposes and not the general fund.

I appreciate that this tax has not been increased for many years, but a lower increase such as 2 cents would be a lot easier to swallow.

Lani Johnson
Salt Lake