• Deeply disturbing confluence of events • Get menaces off the road • On censoring President Bush • In defense of hang backs Deeply disturbing confluence of events Item: Recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the government to condemn private property
• Deeply disturbing confluence of events
• Get menaces off the road
• On censoring President Bush
• In defense of hang backs
Deeply disturbing confluence of events
Item: Recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the government to condemn private property through eminent domain, not for a public use, but the highest private use with a public good. The public good — more taxes collected.
Item: The Counties opposition to the ‘Ohana Amendment and the voting majority, (also called the will of the people).
Item: The County battle with OIP in defense of Executive Session transcripts as if they were top secret documents.
Item: The recent needless and repetitive use of the word “leaders” in The Garden Island. “KIUC leader”, “County Council leaders”, “OIP leaders.” Leaders this. Leaders that. Who are these people? Who decided they are leaders?
A conspiracy theorist might see these disturbing confluences of events as proof of a coup by the dark forces of self-serving interests over an open and democratic society.
It appears our elected representatives and non-profit volunteers have deluded themselves into thinking that since they were elected to “represent” us they are “leaders.”
As our beloved leaders they fall further into delusional thinking. These “leaders” think they know what is best for the ignorant masses.
These elected representatives think they know best because they meet in secret (executive sessions) so only they understand “the big picture.”
What occurs in these secret confabs is not available to the public because the public does not have a need to know. Says who? Well, our all-knowing leaders of course.
Could it be time for some tough love ballot box therapy to shock these people out of their delusional fugue states. Representatives who do not represent us and assume the role of leader, need to be brought back into the public fold and turned back into “just plain folks.” Let’s all work hard to help them see the light sunshine can bring to these important civic issues.
Get menaces off the road
I think the bigger picture in the Hanalei collision – rather than the inconvenience of the traffic hold up – is looking at what we can do to get these menaces off our roads at the very least. Perhaps the “click it or ticket” campaign could be refocused to target these dangerous and erratic drivers by establishing random daytime sobriety check points.
I personally know of two individuals who have been hit head-on in broad daylight recently by drivers on drugs: ice or heroin, and caused serious injury in the process.
It used to be I worried about my kids driving at night on our dark roads, now the daytime is not necessarily even safe for any of us.
Wake up, Kaua‘i. Something’s got to change.
On censoring President Bush
Attn: Senator Inouye,
I just received your letter of June 15th, which was in response to my asking you to support censoring President Bush.
I am puzzled that Congress never seems to get the same information that a private citizen can get online. It seems like all you get are the lies and the “cooked” intelligence reports the administration chooses to give you.
When other countries and the UN didn’t support us, didn’t that make you wonder even a little bit? And now in the face of the Downing Street memos, not to mention other information such as the neocon agenda as outlined in the Project for a New American Century (PNAC), don’t you question the administration’s motives for being in Iraq? What about the big conference that “our handpicked Iraqi” government is having with the oil companies to divide up the “oil pie”? And the Iraqis aren’t even invited!
From my perspective, the oil companies, the weapons manufacturers and corporations that support the military are the big winners — the big losers are the military and the Iraqi civilians. And, of course, the American people who are paying for a war that nearly half of us opposed, leaving a pittance for our kids’ and elders’ education and healthcare.
This president is fond of bringing religion into politics. I haven’t figured out how he justifies Jesus’ commandment of “Love thy neighbor” with killing them and destroying their homes.
I would appreciate knowing how you resolve all these things in your mind.
- Judie Hilke Lundborg
Lihu‘e
In defense of hang backs
Who is this maverick incessantly flapping his gums about “Passive Aggressive” drivers (aka: “Hang Backs”) and all that claptrap? Upon reading Mr. Antonson’s long-winded diatribes, I am compelled to respond in defense of the accused (which might include myself).
The accused, in general, fall into the following categories:
#1) Elderly drivers. (Further defense on their behalf should not be required).
#2) Drivers with already-tainted driving records, moving along cautiously with the threat of losing their licenses indefinitely hanging over their heads.
#3) Tranquil tourists enjoying the scenery that so many of us residents have sadly taken for granted.
#4) Drivers of “island cars” (that by some miracle are even still in operating condition), and feel humbly fortunate to have some form of transportation.
#5) Surreptitious renegades who have disagreeably read Mr. Antonson’s letters to the forum and seize this entertaining opportunity to watch him riding behind them while measuring the assorted shades of red blooming upon his agitated face.
Although I do experience the same frustrations at times when I find myself pressed for time and feelings of road-rage and things of that sorry ilk escalate within my otherwise-gentle spirit while trapped behind these “hang backs”: I have only my very own self to blame. I simply had not managed my time wisely to allow for a comfortable, safe and tranquil drive to my destination.
With regards to Mr. Antonson’s complaint of impractical speed limits: I shall agree with this grievance only in the case where the 50mph “raceway” (deathtrap) in Wailua should be immediately re-assessed and modified to avoid any further injuries or deaths. I would suggest dropping the speed limit to 35, and educating drivers to only use the left lane for the purpose of passing only.
