Letters to the Editor for Saturday — May 22, 2004

• Another view

• Against Bush

• Changing Kaua‘i

Another view

The Garden Island’s story regarding per capita taxes paid by Hawai‘i’s residents (May 21st) caught my eye and precipitated a couple of thoughts:

First, sexual minorities in this state are treated as second- and third-class yet are billed for services that they disproportionately don’t use or enjoy, such as education. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered citizens should therefore be alloted a lesser tax rate.

Does this sound absurd? Yes? Well so does the notion that in this day and age, the same group of people do not enjoy equal employment, housing, public accommodation or relationship privleges guaranteed by the government as do the majority of the citizens of this state. Equal taxation should precipitate equal opportunites and basic rights.

The second thought precipitated has to do with the politically active religious entities, most notably the Mormon and Catholic Churches. If churches insist on trying to influence government with their faith-based dogma, then they should shoulder the same tax burden that private citizens and the business community does. That means taxing church land and buildings, income, collections and the free clothing, education, housing and board given to clergy.

The legislature and the governor then would have the tools to balance the budget.

Martin Rice

Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i

Against Bush

I am the daughter of a veteran. I am the wife of a veteran. It has been my honor to care for veterans at the Veteran’s Hospital as a medical professional and as a volunteer.

The whole world now knows we have terrible intelligence. Did any of the pre-attack on Iraq predictions come true? Any? When you hear Mr. Rumsfield or Mr. Bush or Mr. Wolfowitz state they are “confident” in a particular piece of information, do you feel that same confidence in them and their statements? I don’t. I don’t trust them anymore.

Mr. Bush lost me when he diverted our attention and troops from Afghanistan to Iraq. Remember how we could not wait even another month to attack Iraq? It was so crucial that we get in there immediately — he was a threat to the USA and he was threatening his neighbors too. By the way, wouldn’t you think at least one of the neighbor states would have pitched in to help quash this terrible threat? Even Jordan would not let us mass our troops there, that’s how threatened they felt.

Americas’ sons and daughters have once again answered her call to service. I do not fault these fine people nor blame them. I am concerned for them and their future and how they will come to view their participation in Iraq. It seems one cannot ram freedom down anyone’s throat — they must want it for themselves. What is happening over there now is not freedom — it is occupation. And for what? Lies and misrepresentations by our administration. We have done immeasurable long term damage to our reputation around the world. And I think we cannot be trusted as long as Mr. Bush retains the presidency.

What is happening now is obviously an inept policy based on false assumptions. We have squandered a lot of life and money and innocent lives with no end in sight. Remember we were supposed to be drawing down by now, not increasing the occupation. We all know the June 30 hand over is essentially in name only as our troops will remain for “security”. We move troops from South Korea — a truly scary place that we know has WMD — and move them to Iraq — who was supposed to welcome us with flowers. Remember? An the Iraq oil was going to pay for our freeing the Iraqi people. Remember?

I am admonished by some to keep these unpatriotic thoughts to myself during a time of (undeclared) war. But, even those of you who supported the Iraq policy must also be wondering what has gone wrong. Is what is being done in our name okay with you?

The prison abuse scandal is shameful. Boys are being abused in front of their fathers in an effort to get the fathers to talk. And we see how “taking responsibility” means absolutely nothing unless you happen to be on the low end of the food chain and were just “following orders”. If I (and perhaps you too) had ever messed up my work as bad as these folks it would be beyond my getting fired — I dare say some sort of prosecution would be forthcoming and maybe even with some time in the house of many doors (the slammer). At the least, I would lose my job and probably my professional license.

Sherry Lynn French

Kapa‘a

Changing Kaua‘i

Reading a recent letter to the editor blaming “locals” driving habits for their decision to not return to Kaua‘i on their annual month long vacation, compelled me to write back.

Yes, we all know that we have traffic problems on the island, especially in Kapa‘a. Is this a fault of the local residents? In a sense, yes — as most “locals” need to work two or more jobs to make ends meet, requiring us to be on the roads more often, and sometimes hurrying to make it to that next job.

As Kaua‘i gains more population and continues to do well as a popular visitor destination, we fit more cars and people on the same roads that we’ve driven on for the last twenty years. Not us locals fault, right?

In my observations, I’ve seen many locals as well as visitors speeding down the Wailua speedway. People are people. No matter where you go, you’ll find some people who drive the speed limit, some who go faster and in the sun belt, a lot more who drive under the speed limit. To blame us “locals” driving too fast as a deciding factor in not returning for an annual visit may be too extreme. While this particular visitor leaves the island every year after their vacation to go “home”, we (locals and visitors alike) get to sit in traffic, pay higher than national average prices for everything, and work every day and night to ensure that our family has the option of staying on or visiting our island paradise.

This local, who is often a visitor elsewhere, is offended by the letters’ general referral to all us “locals” as rude, disrespectful and angry towards visitors. We’re all “people” and to use the “us tourists” versus “you locals” mentality just isn’t right. As a visitor lets me into the gridlock traffic, I continue to believe that the aloha spirit still flows naturally, for all people.

I’m born and raised on Kaua‘i and work in the visitor industry. Even with all of the changes happening on the island, I choose to be happy living here, traffic and all.

Kamika Smith

Kapa‘a