Death can be a welcome option

I find it very interesting that the bill to legalize physician-assisted dying was slammed to the ground.

At the same time, the Big Q poll in Thursday’s paper showed 77 percent of respondents wanting the option of physician-assisted dying.

If you have not witnessed the death of a loved one from a terminal illness, first of all, I’m glad for you. You have no concept that having an option to stop unimaginable pain would be wise. If you have witnessed death in this manner, you would realize, as I do, that if I find myself in that place I would demand an option.

Drug violence tied to illegality

Your editorial is correct that decriminalizing marijuana possession would free up law enforcement resources so police and courts could focus on stopping and punishing violent crime ("Adopt lesser pot penalty," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Feb. 9).

But merely ceasing to arrest people for marijuana possession will do nothing to hurt the violent cartels and gangs that control the currently illegal market for the drug.

Only legalizing and regulating the sales of marijuana to adults can do that. It’s worth remembering that during the 1920s and ’30s alcohol possession was essentially decriminalized in the U.S., but gangsters battled it out because making alcohol sales illegal gave them a lucrative business opportunity. Today, you don’t see Budweiser and Coors executives shooting each other over market share.

By legalizing marijuana now, we can deal an enormous blow to the cartels that make as much as 70 percent of their revenues from marijuana alone.

Bravo for article on car speakers

Kudos for your article about the insanely noisy car stereos ("Bill would mute big car speakers," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 9). This legislation is long overdue. It is unfortunate that a small number of the populace can be so obnoxious and disruptive to the rest of us, particularly in the wee hours of the morning. Where is the aloha with this fad? And, perhaps we could extend the bill to curtail the over-the-top exhaust noise of the typical Harley.

Beautiful stretch used as a dump

Last Wednesday I drove Kapaa Quarry Road and I counted 16 newly deposited mattresses, two couches and a refrigerator along the roadside. For those of us who drive this road, it is so disheartening to see garbage thrown along what could be a beautiful, scenic drive. I don’t understand how anyone could deliberately throw trash along the roadsides of our beautiful island, yet over the years I’ve grown to expect some new surprise thrown in the ditch nearly every time I drive that stretch of road.

The one thing I can honestly say that I have never seen on Kapaa Quarry Road is a police patrol car. Would it be too much to ask our police department to start patrolling that area to help stop the littering and reduce the dangerous speeders we see every day?

Please look into taxi complaints

Morton Brown is correct when he says the complaints received about airport taxi service are "just the tip of the iceberg" ("Taxi complaints don’t tell it all," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 8).

Hawaii law states that a taxi driver must speak and understand the English language. In order to obtain a taxi certificate, drivers must pass a written exam as well as a rigorous oral location exam to determine their ability to understand the English language and knowledge of the streets and roadways of Honolulu.

Perhaps Mayor Peter Carlisle can get to the root of the problem and investigate the procedure by which taxi certificates are issued to ensure that the examiners are issuing taxi certificates to drivers who are truly qualified.

Health issue just ruse for new tax

Gov. Neil Abercombie’s proposed tax on beverages to improve the health and welfare of consumers by encouraging people to make healthy choices to control obesity is an insult to our intelligence. Obesity is caused by overindulgence of foods and beverages and not enough exercise.

The governor should be up front with us on whatever he proposes to tax; the reason should not be to help control our health and lifestyle. In fact, his proposed tax on pensions will definitely negatively affect my health and lifestyle.

Everyone is aware of the state’s budget deficit. Tell it like it is, but don’t pretend you will be improving our lifestyle with a tax.