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Thursday, August 21, 2008
Letters to the Editor August 21, 2008
By Andrew Walden @ 12:04 AM :: 3519 Views

Misinformation on Takamine Donors

Dear Editor,

In an August 4 story in the Tribune-Herald, “Takamine is top spender outside of mayor’s race”, State Senate District 1 Candidate Dwight Takamine stated “more that 80% of this reporting period’s contributions were from people who gave $100 or less” and “I believe this is reflective of the grassroots nature of the support that I’ve received.”

This is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. A closer look at the recently published campaign spending commission report shows a vastly different story. Here is the truth: Of 245 total donors in this reporting period; 96 of the 245 donors gave $100 or less. This is 39% NOT 80%. Of Takamine’s $88,201 in total contributions; $30,250 came from people giving $100 or less. This is 34% NOT 80%.

Can we afford a State Senator who does math like this?

Of Takamine donors 28% are corporate, unions, Political Action Committees or some other special interest groups; 54% are not from the Big Island.

Frank DeLuz

Marie Ruhland

Hilo, Hawai`i

Who is to judge?

Dear Editor,

According to The Associated Press, August 17, 2008 an honorably discharged Marine sergeant Jose Luis Nazario Jr. will be tried by a civilian Federal court in Riverside CA for an alleged “war crime” that he killed “unarmed detainees” in Fallujah, Iraq during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

He is being prosecuted under a law allowing the government to try defense contractors and those no longer in the military. This law effectively makes a crime of obeying orders to kill the enemy when at war. This is what lawyers have done to America and our armed forces. We the people should not tolerate such nonsense!

Bob Williams

Na`alehu, Hawai`i

Spaceport pipedream

Dear Editor,

I got a real chuckle out comments by State Senator Will Espero reprinted on HawaiiReporter.com and titled “Hawaii’s Aerospace Industry, The Next Frontier”. Somebody should check to see what’s in his coffee.

The Senator apparently believes that high taxes, stifling regulation, rotten schools, and living costs that are driving current residents out of the state will attract new business. Not to mention the state’s outmoded and choked transportation system, and the cadre of environmental Luddites that materialize at the mention of words like “progress” or “development”. But I suppose it’s easier to dangle fantasy in front of a gullible public than attempt to reign in an out of control bureaucracy.

Someone needs to explain to the Senator that the Aerospace Industry is not some nebulous government think tank. It’s a consortium of private companies that actually build things. And in our capitalistic society they need to make a profit in doing so.

So why would anyone in their right mind want to bring their business here? The industry shift is away from highly taxed and regulated states to those that offer a business-friendly environment and communities that people can afford to live in.

As a state legislator, Senator Espero shares responsibility for creating and fostering an environment that inhibits the development of high-tech research and manufacturing jobs in Hawaii.

Instead of billowing a “new frontier” smokescreen, the interests of Hawai`i citizens would be better served if Espero and his fellow legislators came down to earth and addressed the business-killing issues that separate this pipedream from reality.

Richard Hoeflinger

Retired Aerospace Engineering Manager

Kea`au, Hawai`i

ED NOTE: Maybe they think a space port will work because it operates under the protection of “old boys” like former Gov. George Ariyoshi.

Son kept out of school

Dear Editor,

Hawai`i lawmakers spend a fair amount of time writing our laws, but how do state agencies fare in interpreting and implementing such laws?

When our son (who has Down syndrome) was five years old and ready for preschool, he was turned away because he was “too old.” Now that he is seven years old and ready for kindergarten, he is also being turned away from kindergarten because he is “too old.”

Yet our son has met the age requirement and criteria for kindergarten per Hawai`i Revised Statutes 302A-411 and 302A-1132 and for the purpose I believe is set out in Act 13 (2002) which defines school readiness as “young children are ready to have successful learning experiences in school when there is a positive interaction among the child’s developmental characteristics, school practices, and family and community support.”

Our son has never been to kindergarten. He is ready to learn what other children learn in kindergarten.

Given the school’s practice to promote a child with special education needs based on chronological age rather than school readiness, I believe the denial for our son to attend kindergarten is not a true reflection of our state laws.

Linda Elento

Kaneohe, O`ahu

Barack McGovern Obama

Dear Editor,

In what some may consider prophetic, Hoover Institution senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson recently identified buyers’ remorse from those who increasingly have cause to regret their impulsive embrace of Barack Obama as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

For example Hanson observes, “Many are beginning to notice how a Saint Obama talks down to them. We American yokels can’t speak French or Spanish. We eat too much. Our cars are too big, our houses either overheated or overcooled. And we don’t even put enough air in our car tires. In contrast, a lean, hip Obama [assured] adoring Germans that he is a citizen of the world.”

Some wonder if this pretentious, thinly resuméd fellow -- who gives breathtaking new meanings to the word “audacity” -- thinks he is running for President of the U.S. or Emperor of the world.

More to the point, are Democrats about to nominate ANOTHER George McGovern?

Cordially,

Thomas E. Stuart, Kapa`au, Hawai`i

3rd in costs, 47th in rank

Dear Editor,

Where Does Hawai`i Rank on Traffic Fatalities, Deficient Bridges, Congestion?

This 17th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (1984-2006) released in July by David T. Hartgen, Ph.D., P.E., Ravi K. Karanarn, Project Director, and Adrian T. Moore, Ph.D. of the Reason Foundation, shows Hawai`i’s overall ranking is nearly the worst- 47th out of 50 states.

Hawai`i is also getting worse every year in urban congestion, currently rated number 17.

The report says “However, Hawai`i has 26.53% of its urban interstates in poor condition, 50th in the nation. 48th in deficient bridges, narrow rural primary pavements (47th).

Hawai`i is spending two to three times the national average per mile of highway, yet its system is performing poorly.”

You can read the report at www.reason.org/ps369.pdf .

Sincerely,

Dale Evans

Hawaii Highway Users Alliance

Honolulu, O`ahu

Finish the road already

Dear Editor,

I’m getting very frustrated that neither Hokuli`a nor Hawai`i County has taken the bull by its horns and started construction on the last 2.07 miles of the Hokuli`a bypass.

I know that Charles and Joan Coupe still have a pending appeal that has blocked the completion of this roadway thus far. On top of that, Hokuli`a’s financial condition has probably dissuaded it from proceeding with the construction of this road.

But in my opinion, these are really ludicrous excuses. As it stands now, Hawai`i County has possession of the Coupe parcel (pending appeal). Even if the Coupe’s successfully overturn the condemnation (and construction has already started), Hawai`i County just has to file another condemnation action against the Coupes. In other words, the Coupes are fighting a losing battle. It is their legal right to fight this until all their legal options are exhausted, but in my view they are just stalling the inevitable.

As far as Hokuli`a’s financial condition, this should not be used as another excuse to not complete this roadway. Hokuli`a is legally obligated to complete the entire roadway between Keauhou and Napo`opo`o. On top of that, there are surety bonds in place that should at least cover most of the cost of constructing this last segment of roadway.

The Hokuli`a bypass debacle is a poster child for Hawai`i’s political gridlock. It is simply an embarrassment to Mayor Kim’s administration that this has dragged on for nearly eight years. All the while, South Kona’s traffic gridlock has gotten worse and worse. We need politicians who can think outside the box to get this road finished. I will vote for any politician in the upcoming elections who can guarantee that they will accomplish the latter.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i

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