Big business, big labor just doing what they do

Leah Horowitz’s and Jack Arnest’s letters to the editor on Oct. 7, venting against the paving over of Hawaii, are typical of dozens I read every month.

Most blame those "greedy" corporations and construction companies. None ever blame the unions who are just as happy to see these cement trucks keep on rolling. And it’s the unions that have the muscle to send out their minions to the various precincts to get out the vote for compliant politicians.

But I truly can’t blame big business or big unions for turning Hawaii into a concrete Los Angeles. That’s just what they do. Big business has to keep on growing to survive, and unions have to keep on supplying jobs.

The problem rests at the door of our elected officials. They appoint the agencies and regulators. They accept the endorsements and contributions from these unions, engineering firms and contractors. You keep voting the same people back into office and expect a different outcome, so stop complaining.

Art Todd
Kaneohe

It’s demeaning to call people ‘scavengers’

Regarding the Kokua Line column, "Turn in human scavengers, says city’s recycling honcho" (Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line, Oct. 15):

First, it is inappropriate to refer to our presumably homeless and low-income population as "human scavengers."

Second, is "stealing from taxpayers" a mischaracterization?

The city and state are quick to boast about our beverage container deposit program, with a 76 percent return rate and the added value of helping to keep our streets and beaches free of litter. However, almost none of our city streets or beach parks offer municipal recycling bins. This high rate of redemption would not be possible without so-called scavengers. Sure, it is illegal for someone to disturb private refuse bins without permission, but the city and state should be making recycling effortless and uncomplicated. That would be a truly progressive approach.

Rachel Harvey
Kailua

State should monitor debris for radiation

Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (BEACH) had no choice but to cancel two upcoming marine debris removal events in Kahuku because there has been no checking for radiation on those beaches by the state Department of Health and, in fact, no checking for radiation on any beach on Oahu, Hawaii island and Lanai known for accumulation of marine debris.

BEACH will not put any volunteers’ health at risk and has asked DOH for help in monitoring radiation at the beach of marine debris. It will not do it because the cleanups are on Saturdays.

The claim by government agencies that the debris missed being contaminated because it went out to sea before the explosions is false. Some 80 percent of the fallout went out to sea where the debris was. Elevated levels of radiation were measured on a U.S. warship 100 miles off the coast of Japan.

Suzanne Frazer
Co-founder, BEACH

True cost of blunder not really being told

With all the talk about the Wonder Blunder costing $1.1 million, why is everyone neglecting to include the salaries of the dozens of state employees who are spending their time on this?

It goes from the clerks and secretaries who do the legwork all the way up to and including the governor; all are paid by the taxpayers.

$1.1 million, indeed! It’s probably closer to $2 million.

Donald C. Blaser
Makiki

Have students grow food at isle schools

A government-appointed task force plans to identify public school land that could be leased or developed for revenue ("Panel surveys school land for possible profit," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 13).

My suggestion is to lease the land to grow food.Doing so would provide farming jobs (considered one of the up-and-coming careers), increase "green" corridors in urban environments, serve our communities with local fresh food and provide a much-needed educational and nutritional component to our children’s educations.

The land could be leased to local farmers or nonprofits that are willing to incorporate students from the schools, using a student workforce, or selling the harvests through a school-run farmers market.

Public schools are located in every community and we all need to eat. Why not grow the freshest, most local food possible at our schools, a truly efficient farm-to-table concept?

Debbie Millikan
Diamond Head

Lingle, Djou, Crowley betray conservatives

Racially dividing our lands and people is so dangerous to Hawaii it outweighs national economic issues — remember Bosnia, Rwanda and Sri Lanka?

Former Gov. Linda Lingle, Charles Djou and Kawika Crowley all favor the Akaka Bill. So I’m asking conservative Republicans to vote for their Democrat opponents.

Senate Republicans have blocked the Akaka Bill for 12 years. Lingle spent eight years pushing the Akaka Bill as her top federal priority. Lingle loudly proclaimed that she would work inside her Republican Senate caucus to get them to stop blocking it.

Hirono also favors the Akaka Bill, but Republicans will ignore her. Vote for Hirono.

Djou excitedly proclaimed on OHA radio he could persuade fellow Republicans to vote for the Akaka Bill and racial entitlements.

Maybe so. Vote for Hanabusa.

Republican national and state platforms both oppose the Akaka Bill. Lingle, Djou and Crowley have abandoned Republican principles. Conservatives can abandon those candidates without guilt.

Ken Conklin
Kaneohe

It seems Republicans can’t handle the truth

Recently, the Republicans were accusing pollsters of manipulating data to show that the president is leading in the presidential race.

Now, some Republicans express skepticism on the veracity of the employment report ("Jobs data draw claims of conspiracy," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 6), which shows a significant drop in the unemployment rate. They insinuate that the Obama administration conspired to manipulate the unemployment data, a notion that U.S. Labor Department officials and several conservatives dismiss as preposterous.

The Republicans seem to have difficulty in handling the truth.

The latest jobs report indicates that the economy has regained its footing and is heading toward a robust recovery. Such a report provides a sense of optimism for all job seekers.

Therefore, if the Republicans truly care about the economy, they should join others in hailing the economic report instead of peddling ludicrous conspiracy theories.

Rod B. Catiggay
Mililani

Seniors have a right to vote their pockets

As a senior I do not want anyone tampering with my Social Security, Medicare and the Obamacare health plan, and to put it all at risk with drastic changes.

People vote their pockets, jobs and the economy. We seniors have the right to look after our own interests and the rights of Social Security, Medicare and health care.

I pay taxes on Social Security and pension income and feed into Medicare. I am of the 47 percentile written off and discarded by the Romney ballot.

I have no other alternative except to vote the full Democratic Party ticket.

Michael Augusta
Honolulu

FROM THE FORUM

"Public’s unease magnified by big UH salaries," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15:

» It’s one thing to have great educational credentials, but the perception the public has of these individuals is of arrogance and high-and-mighty attitudes. I’m sure that if they were more humble and sincere and demonstrated that they care about the university (and not their pocketbooks), the public would be more accepting. Right now, there are a million reasons why these administrators are not respected.

» The University of Hawaii has pockets of excellence university-wide, but on balance, its administrators do not deserve the compensation of leaders in America’s top research universities.

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"The name game," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15:

» Unfortunately, most all of these cases will affect women. Producing documents does nothing! My Social Security card is in my name but I was told by the state ID office I would have to bring in a certified copy of my divorce decree to renew the state ID. More fees paid out of my Social Security earnings! Total shibai!

» As time goes by, the government passes new laws and creates new bureaucracies and forces the people to jump through more hoops and pay more fees and taxes to do what used to be free. Look how the Transportation Security Administration has changed air travel forever. At some point we will have to revolt against our government, scrap the current system and start over, because government never makes anything easier. It only gets worse over time.

» This isn’t a Hawaii thing. This law is to comply with the federal REAL ID Act which was signed into law in 2005 by then-President George W. Bush to combat terrorism and illegal immigration.

» It seems like the terrorists have accomplished their goal, if it was to make life as an American citizen much more difficult.

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"Council wants special-funds power," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16:

» There are actually good reasons for establishing special funds, and they usually involve more accountability and ensuring that the money collected from a specific tax (i.e., gas tax) is used for the purpose it was intended (i.e., road maintenance).

» With exception of the rail fund, I can’t think of a single "special fund" that hasn’t been raided by our politicians. "Special fund" is right next to "temporary tax" as phrases that let you know you are being lied to.

» I think the intent is to keep the administration from redirecting those funds. You can have all the funds you could ever imagine, but if the bulk of the revenue gets redirected to the general fund, then that ain’t good.

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"Synthetic drugs confiscated on Kauai," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 17:

» They need to do that on Oahu, too.

» Why do we have shops that can legally sell drug paraphernalia? It’s like allowing the sale of guns and making bullets illegal. These laws need to be fixed so that they are congruent to the goals at hand. At the current time, these laws that allow the sale of drug paraphernalia are, at best, questionable.

» I do not condone the use of illegal substances, but I believe that marijuana in itself should not be illegal. It was used for many centuries for medicinal purposes. It has even been used by religious groups for centuries. My question is: How we can have vodka and other volatile substances as legal recreational drugs (that’s what they are) and yet we make marijuana illegal?

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"Trucking company faces fine, bill for bridge repair," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 18:

» Didn’t the driver know the maximum height requirement to pass the bridge? Truck drivers are supposed to know how tall their rig is.

» Obviously your question has been answered by the bridge section laying on the ground.

» The driver was lucky. His or her careless mistake could have resulted in a tragedy.

» His insurance will not pay for the repairs due to his lack of obtaining the necessary permit. If he can’t pay, he will file for bankruptcy and start another company under another name. That’s how the game is played, folks.

» An oversight can destroy a business.

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"Firing gun at vehicle on H-1 gets Kakaako man probation," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 18:

» So I can react in public by pulling out a gun and shooting it at someone and get only probation? Awesome.

» Carrying a firearm without a permit. Discharging a weapon in public. Endangerment. And… probation? Check, please.