• Utility wires alternative • “A Few Good Men” • Communication • Antonson response Utility wires alternative I read the opinion piece by Alton Miyamoto and Gregg Gardiner giving the well-thought-out and precise reasons why we can’t put the unsightly
• Utility wires alternative
• “A Few Good Men”
• Communication
• Antonson response
Utility wires alternative
I read the opinion piece by Alton Miyamoto and Gregg Gardiner giving the well-thought-out and precise reasons why we can’t put the unsightly wires encompassing this island underground.
Their thought process is confusing. Yes, it costs four times more money to put wires underground.
No, we don’t have the funds to place all wires underground. Yes, there is an alternative. The most important thing Kaua‘i has to offer the world is its beauty. We must do everything in our power to protect and enhance our most wonderful resource. Two major tropical storms and one hurricane will cost an equivalent amount to fix a large portion of the surface structure as it would to get much of it underground. That must be the goal! Here is a novel idea.
Canvas the island and pick out the areas on our main highways that have views. Put all wires underground at those points first. Even a half mile a year would add up over time at those strategic spots. The next time we lose some of our surface structure in a storm, use a portion of the money provided by the state and federal government to place a portion of the surface structure underground at these points. I assure you there will be enough money to replace the surface structure and whittle away at the underground necessity. Many thanks to those who are sending in their rebate checks and showing the county how it’s done. One step at a time will get us there.
Gordon Oswald
Kapa‘a
“A Few Good Men”
In response to Governor Lingle’s defense of President Bush’s international and domestic records (Garden Island 6/6). She says, “I want to distinguish the Democratic rhetoric from the reality.”
If Ms. Lingle calls truth rhetoric then maybe, as Jack Nicholson told Tom Cruise in ” A Few Good Men, ” “you can’t handle the truth”. The truth is that we are in a war that has cost the lives of 850 brave men and women and thousands more who have been wounded. Respected people like David Kay, Hans Blix, Paul O’Neil and Richard Clark n no partisan Democrats and three served the Bush White House n plus a number of high ranking, respectable Generals including Kaua‘i’s own General Shinseki have all either criticized our invasion of Iraq or questioned the strategy we used.
We had the world behind us when we invaded Afghanistan to avenge 9/11 but we turned this support into hatred when we attacked Iraq. Why exactly did we start this war? WMD that we have spent over one billion dollars to find to justify our invasion; to rid the world of madman Hussein n what about the guy in North Korea who is just as much a madman and has atomic weapons n isn’t he more of an imminent threat than Saddam?; the Al Qaeda connection n another myth that even the Administration has dispelled; bad information from the CIA and FBI or even more thought provoking, the theory put out by many that the powerful group of people surrounding the President have plans to build a world empire?
We have spent billions of dollars, lost too many lives, and damaged our world reputation beyond repair for a war that should never have happened. When you look for the truth, Madam Governor, be sure you can handle it
Glenn Mickens
Kapa‘a
Communication
A good communicator must have three key attributes: 1) clarity of thought, 2) a command of the language, and 3) devotion to the truth. Ronald Reagan was called the great communicator. I have no doubt but that a similar appellation will soon be coined for his protege, the current White House President of the United States, George W. Bush, in as much as they share similar levels of those three key attributes. Perhaps it will be someone from the staff of The Garden Island who comes up with the nickname. Certainly, The Garden Island, when measured accordingly, must also be considered a great communicator.
Which is why I think that I must have missed the issue in which you reported the resolution recently passed by the Hawaii Coffee Growers Association. The HCGA, which includes Kauai Coffee, an Alexander & Baldwin company, unanimously passed a resolution banning the growing or testing of genetically modified coffee in the Hawaiian Islands.
Apparently, they have learned a lesson at the expense of our poor papaya growers.
I have been told that before the Chairperson of the state Board of Agriculture would accept the resolution, however, it had to go back to the Association and have the clause holding liable anyone who violated the resolution stricken from the text. Perhaps your fine newspaper could find out for its readers, why it is that the corporations which build genetically modified organisms assure us that they are harmless, and yet have always been so phobic about assuming any liability for them. Doesn’t this strike you as an indication of disingenuousness?
Will Fulton
Kalaheo
Antonson response
This letter was from a Mr. Antonson. His rather verbose letter, which when boiled down, simply said, “Can’t we all get along ?” Sorry Mr Antonson, as long as there are cruel, evil , inconsiderate and selfish people in the world, one has to do more than try to negotiate. One has to take action to make sure that the pacifists and the rest of us are not mistreated.
In this letter Mr. Antonson comments about Mr. Sarmento’s letter, in which Mr. Sarmento’s made evident his personal opinion.
Then his asking the two parties to work together was a reasonable request, not a wishy-washy type thing that we have been hearing so much about during this political season. So, in fact Mr. Sarmento can have it both ways.
He can have his personal opinion and at the same time try to keep the two party system from deteriorating into a mudslinging contest. Individuals have a right to there opinion and at the same time think that the political groups have a responsibility to argue fairly.
Dr. Gordon “Doc” Smith
Kapa‘a
Gas prices
I think gas prices are way to high. I think it is ridiculous. Everything now days are costing way too much. Gas is like the most important thing you need. Even though you don’t have a car and you ride the bus to work or school you need gas. I hear rumors about a gas cap, and that the gas price are going to cut down. I hope that is true. The lowest I see is $2.47. Every time I pass the gas station the price had changed. Do you know how much it is on base? It is only $2.17. Just the other day it came up to that. Before that it was $2.12.
Shavon Torres
Waimea High School
