Two very important economics concepts are playing out regarding the long-line fishing industry: “tragedy of the commons” and “externalities.”
The “tragedy of the commons” occurs when a producer tries to take as much as he can from a limited public resource — i.e., the ocean — before someone else does.
“Externalities” are found where the environment and labor get exploited in the production of goods, but those impacts are not reflected in the actual price of those goods.
The recent expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument attempts to address both issues, and the recent reporting by the Associated Press (“Floating Prisons,” Sept. 8) exposes the negative effects of labor exploitation.
The bottom line, however, is that consumers benefit from both of these concepts by paying lower prices.
If we want ethically and sustainably sourced fish on our dinner plates, we either pay more or producers make less, but we can’t have it both ways.
John Cheever
Kalani Iki
Trends counter effort to grow food here
So 11,750 homes with 48,000 residents are planned for the Ho‘opili D.R. Horton development in Ewa.
That’s to be on 1,554 acres, of which 1,400 acres of farming will be displaced.
Gov. David Ige attended Ho‘opili ceremonies and thanked Horton for its “patience and perseverance” to produce more homes.
The same day’s newspaper had an article about Ige’s goal of wanting to double the amount of food the state produces by 2030. Estimates are that 88 percent of Hawaii’s food is imported.
Please watch the recently aired PBS documentary called “Seeds of Hope.” It tells the story of Hawaii’s struggle to grow food, amid the issues of urban sprawl, loss of agriculture land due to diverted water controls, rezoning agricultural land for home and business developments, and large companies using ag land for only GMO seed development and studies.
Chris Jansen
Mililani
High home prices benefit only a few
Big news: Oahu home prices average $600,000.
Is this good or bad news? Who actually benefits from this increase in home prices? Realtors, yes, but certainly not the average citizen.
We always hear, “We need affordable housing,” but our so-called “affordable” is out of reach for the majority of Oahu residents. Truly affordable never happens.
Then we hear of another luxury high-rise coming up. We need these luxury domiciles like a hole in the head. Enough catering to the rich.
Oh, I forgot — it’s good for the economy.
Arthur Reppun
Kaneohe
Real rail beneficiaries will be developers
The reality is that rail is not about transportation; it’s about development and money.
Ala Moana Center is the endpoint for no reason other than the city has given increased density to developers so they can increase their profits.
Developers Salem Partners and Mana‘olana Partners are both proposing new hotels for Kapiolani Boulevard, building higher and denser than allowable.
Kakaako developers were promised a “train” that would enhance their investments, but the real kicker is that rail would not be a consideration if the city had not failed to make Kapolei a true second city.
The train will link developments on both ends and the public will end up paying billions for failed city policy and lies.
Ho‘opili will make D.R. Horton billions, and Mayor Kirk Caldwell needs to admit this for there to be transparency.
Bryan Holt
Kaimuki
PSA screening still useful to detect cancer
I take issue with the implied message that PSA blood tests may be questionable because the rate of death appears unaffected and that it leads to unneeded treatment (“Early prostate cancer overrated, study says,” Associated Press, Sept. 15).
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued its recommendation against PSA screening in 2012, but the overwhelming consensus among medical practitioners in the field today opposes that short-sighted guidance.
We recognize that the identification of very low-risk prostate cancer often leads to excessive treatment affecting the quality of life. However, PSA is only one indicator — and in the last five years, increased use of imaging (largely MRI and PET scans) and biomarker tests have increased the accuracy of the biopsy and more information for the patient identifying lesions that are aggressive and life threatening.
Proper use of these tools and patient consultation should diminish the unneeded treatment and should increase “active surveillance” for those with very low risk prostate cancer.
Paul Mizue
President, Hawaii Prostate Cancer Coalition
FROM THE FORUM
“Voyaging canoe Namahoe launched amid pomp” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 12:
>> Congratulations to the men and women who worked hard to finish it. Even though it took two decades to complete, it was worth it. What a beautiful voyaging canoe. Aloha.
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“Honolulu taxpayers are on the hook for legal fees to fight HPD chief’s suit” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 14:
>> Come on now. All this money spent on lawyers because of a mailbox theft?
>> I see some smiling lawyers.
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“Finding Ensign DeMoss in the muck and mire” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 13:
>> Let DeMoss’ remains rest in peace in that tranquil forest.
>> He should have been brought out in 1945.
>> No one should ever be left behind. Much aloha to the crew up there searching for his remains.
>> This work deserves our respect. The ensign should rest with his family.
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“Anti-overdose kits go to drug addicts” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 13:
>> What a bargain: $40 compared to the costs of the investigation by the police and the medical examiners office.
>> It’s not a bargain. It’s just $40 more we pay for a drug addict who will eventually overdose sometime later and die.
>> This say it’s OK to continue to abuse illegal drugs and when you overdose we will save your precious lives. It’s ridiculous. They should be locked up for rehab or let them die if they choose to continue abusing drugs.
>> Bums getting all kinds of programs and money to house them; druggies can continue to shoot up because there’s now an OD-prevention kit. What about the rest of us who slug it out every day? Struggling to keep our heads above water. I don’t get it. When do we get a break!
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“Congress passes bill on native tourism” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 14:
>> I, for one, am sick of tourism, which has been prostituting Hawaiian people for too long. Since when is it a good idea to fish, grow taro, etc., with tourists staring at you like you’re in a zoo? I do not support this legislation or any legislation that promotes more tourism.
>> There is a tragic irony here. Sen. Brian Schatz is outspoken about the threat of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Doesn’t he realize that the main source of climate pollution in Hawaii is long-distance passenger travel on jet aircraft, especially for the annual round-trip airlift of 10 million visitors?
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“UH 169th out of 310 in annual ranking” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 14:
>> Oh, yay! We’re number 169 … er, oh, never mind.
>> This article doesn’t fully convey what a strong showing this actually is for University of Hawaii. Just being “near the middle” of the national universities ranking means that UH is among the best colleges in the country.
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“Politicians say they will help foreign fishers” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 15:
>> “We’re from the government, and we’re here to help you.” Now where have we heard that song before? LOL
>> The federal government was the one behind the laws allowing exploitation of workers on those boats. A nonsense regulatory environment gets stupid results.
>> U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and President Barack Obama should stay away from this issue. Otherwise, the price of fish will escalate tremendously, as if it wasn’t already unaffordable. Congression al laws and administration regulations are driving up the costs of everything.
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“Groups claim racial bias over use of pesticides” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 15:
>> I can see suing a corporation or the government over the pesticides, but racial bias? Give me a break.
>> If the environmental group loses, it must pay all court and other costs for filing such a frivolous lawsuit.
>> Are the pesticides engineered to drift specifically toward Native Hawaiians? If so, that’s some advanced technology.
>> Kauai has the largest percentage of Native Hawaiians and has had the most hurricane damage. That proves hurricanes are racist!
