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Best energy is cheapest energy
As the Hawaii County water board recently announced, increased electrical energy prices from the Hawaii Electric Light Co. are forcing an 18 percent increase in water rates.
Not stated is that this is in part because use of alternative energy sources is more expensive than existing sources, and will continue to worsen as further such mandated replacement occurs.
Instead of raising the cost of living, which increases hardship, poverty and suffering, we need policies that lower our costs. How about cheap energy as a state policy? Wouldn’t that be the best "alternative" source?
Edward Gutteling
Vice president, Conservative Forum for Hawaii, Hilo
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Curb liberty and the terrorists win
So, Congress renewed the PATRIOT Act and gave the president unlimited war powers. If we create our own dictatorship, the terrorists have already won.
As we struggle with the federal debt, I want to remind everyone of Dwight Eisenhower’s words: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
Regina Gregory
Honolulu
Corporations are doing their part
Sadly, the commentary by Peter Goldmark was a narrow-minded, unilateral political statement ("Getting all to help," Star-Advertiser, June 2).
Politics is the problem, not the answer. If we are "getting all to help," why is he lambasting corporations? Recent articles state that half of America pays no taxes and thus benefits through entitlements.
Unions and health groups are equally large in promoting their own agendas much to their benefit.
To row the boat we need balance: Everybody must contribute fairly to get it in motion. Corporations provide jobs and economic stimulus, unions provide worker benefits, health organizations yearn to keep us healthy, etc.
Fiscal balance is a necessity. To solely align with any one political stance sinks the boat. Fair and balanced taxation and benefits must have temperance.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Legislature could certainly apply this metaphor to Hawaii’s canoe.
Bill Comerford
Honolulu
UH baseball team had a great year
Kudos to the 2011 University of Hawaii baseball team for winning the 2011 WAC baseball title, the first in 19 years.
They exemplified the never-say-die spirit all year. Example: Their miracle ninth-inning win against San Jose State. Wow — too good!
Their games were sometimes in doubt, but they always persevered.
A highlight of the season was the outstanding performance of WAC all-star second baseman Kolten Wong. A future major league star, without a doubt.
Go, Bows!
Mel Rodenhurst
Kailua
Not just rich kids deserve treats
I am a victim of domestic violence and had to go on welfare while I look for a job.
I use my food stamps to purchase meat, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. After the basics, I allow my children to choose snacks, and of course, they chose cookies, candies, ice cream and chips.
Are children on food stamps not allowed to have these snacks? Are they in a class that is so low that the snacks they choose should be forbidden? Let them watch the rich kids eat candies, cookies and chips?
I’m sorry, but I will continue to buy these snacks for my children.
Anna Marie Ehia
Ewa Beach
Take politics out of picking judges
The commentary, "Goodwin Liu’s nomination should have been OK’d" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 29), correctly laments the U.S. Senate’s shabby treatment of Liu — but it severely understates federal judicial selection’s impoverished state.
The party that does not hold the White House delays, and even blocks, nominees’ confirmation in the hope that its candidate will win the next presidential election and, thus, fill the many vacancies. Professor Liu is only the most recent example of this dynamic.
The accusations and recriminations and paybacks that were previously reserved for U.S. Supreme Court nominees have now infected the appellate, and even the district courts, so that well-qualified, uncontroversial nominees cannot be confirmed. The serious damage of a 9 percent vacancy rate is inflicted on the lower federal courts, which resolve 99 percent of cases.
Republican senators must cease their hyperpartisan politicization of the selection process.
Democrats, in the executive branch and the Senate, must take seriously their responsibilities to treat the judiciary as the third coordinate branch.
The parties must fill the 90 current vacancies for the good of the country.
Carl Tobias
Law professor, Richmond, Va.
Industrial park bad for Nanakuli
I am against the proposed industrial park in our community of Nanakuli because we do have a traffic problem.
Every day a large number of garbage trucks drive through Nanakuli to the PVT Landfill located on Lualualei Naval Road.
I am concerned with all the industrial traffic, which would certainly double with the proposed industrial park.
The fact is that we do not have any access road in Nanakuli to prevent gridlock along the Waianae Coast in the event of a natural disaster.
Pearl L. Taylor
Waianae
