Existing B&B laws need to be enforced

City Council Chairman Ernest Martin proposes a vacation rental and bed-and-breakfast permitting scheme, and will crack down on the large number of illegal vacation homes ("Council bill would raise taxes on residential vacation homes," Star-Advertiser, March 12).

This failed approach was taken by Barbara Marshall and Ikaika Anderson to allow more hotel rooms to operate in our neighborhoods, with the flow of overnight strangers among us.

If Martin and Anderson wanted to crack down, they could have done so with three bills the Council refused to hear.

Some elected officials and supporters see our residential neighborhoods as cash generators instead of the last place where most of us can temporarily escape the mounting flood of tourists.

People across Oahu are begging for enforcement to close the illegal vacation rentals — not for more permitting.

I hope this new Council understands why this approach failed before. We must have effective, proven enforcement before any new permitting process will be acceptable.

Larry Bartley
Executive director, Save Oahu’s Neighborhoods

‘Single payer’ will save us billions

More Republican talking points and scare tactics from opponents of the single-payer system for health care ("‘Single-payer’ was always goal," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 12).

Should we really allow insurance companies to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions?

Should we really allow insurance companies to make medical decisions for us?

Should we who have insurance really continue to pay for the uninsured who have no recourse but emergency rooms?

Should we really be stuck in dead-end jobs because insurance isn’t portable, or not be able to keep our adult children on our policies until they get established?

My former graduate school and teachingcolleague who is now the governor is right: Single-payer would give insurance coverage to all and save billions of dollars each year without insurance companies taking their big cut.

The Affordable Care Act is a move in the right direction, but single payer is the only affordable and just future for health care.

Howie Anderson
Ponsford, Minn.

It’s not accurate to call a tax a fee

The proposed fee on Hawaii health care providers that do not participate in the Health Care Exchange is not a fee ("Lawmakers propose fees for state health exchange," Star-Advertiser, March 10).

A fee is a charge that is intended to cover the administrative cost of a program, service or maintenance of an asset. Fees are to be levied on the users. If a citizen chooses not to participate, he would not be subject to the fee.

Revenue collected from a non-user is a tax. So the proposed "fee" to be collected from the non-participating health care plan providers is a tax for their decision not to use the exchange.

A tax should be levied uniformly on all citizens or entities without regard to their actions or beliefs. Taxing an individual or entity for non-action is a tax for the purpose of social engineering and is government control at its worst.

Our senators and representative should know that this practice is reprehensible and unacceptable.

Richard Webster
Lahaina

Small things make Waikiki attractive

I read with interest the commentary by Franco Mancassola ("Hawaii has lost its edge as dreamy tropical paradise," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 13).

I wholeheartedly agree. I have been coming to Waikiki for 15 years. I have seen all the ups and downs of how the city maintains the "tourist" area of Waikiki.

For years the tiki torches along the beach were gone. They are finally back. The beautiful pools and fountains along the beach are all empty and not running, or the ones working have dirty water in them.

Do the leaders of Honolulu not understand that all these small details contribute to the atmosphere and beauty of the area and help make Honolulu not just another big city on the ocean?

Michael Peterson
Atlanta, Ga.

Russia’s position easy to understand

Crimea has been effectively controlled by Russia for more than 200 years, and is home to vital Russian naval facilities.

When German forces stormed across the Ukraine in 1941, they met little resistance until they entered Crimea. More than 20,000 Russian soldiers were killed defending Crimea, and gratitude to Russia runs deep among the Russian-speaking people of the region. The people of western Ukraine have no such loyalties, and many are hoping that they will be able to join the NATO military alliance.

Relinquishing control of the Crimean ports to NATO is strategically unthinkable from a Russian perspective. Should it surprise anyone that Russia needs to prevent this from happening? Just think what the U.S. would do if Southern California voted to secede from the union and join an alliance with Mexico.

Would the U.S. be willing to abandon San Diego naval facilities to control of another country?

John Lockwood
Volcano, Hawaii island

Susan Scott column next best thing

As a subscriber for 40 years, the first thing I read is Susan Scott’s "Ocean Watch" column.

As someone who is afraid to go near the ocean, this is the next best thing.

Barbara Ikeda
Mililani