• Making money most important • Clandestine maneuverings • Salvaging our island • How long will it take? Making money most important I would like to respond to The Garden Island’s opinion piece “County Superferry meeting discards safety for comfort”
• Making money most important
• Clandestine maneuverings
• Salvaging our island
• How long will it take?
Making money most important
I would like to respond to The Garden Island’s opinion piece “County Superferry meeting discards safety for comfort” on Sept. 5.
Maybe The Garden Island news was not invited because you would have figured out that the “powers that be” — i.e.., Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Bryan Baptiste and the Hawaii Superferry — came up with their own EIS, which was a study to look into how the Superferry could own the harbor and bay at Nawiliwili when the Superferry came back, ASAP.
After all, the Superferry making money is more important then our Supreme Court. The Superferry doing business is more important than Kauaians being able to use our harbor.
And to make sure that people do not get in the way, it is important to make a plan and take as much time as needed to make sure they figure out a way to make it safe for the Superferry to make money.
I was for the Superferry, but I am not for it now.
The Superferry could have already done an EIS. The only reason they have not done so is because they have something to hide.
And those in political power protecting them know this.
This is all about an old-boy network here in Hawai‘i.
The deputy director of the Department of Transportation was put into place by Lingle nine months ago. He is a lawyer whose firm currently handles cases in the shipping industry.
A select group of people are determined to allow a business to operate illegally, and this select political group is currently in power on O‘ahu and here on Kaua‘i.
Nothing must stand in their way.
Not the people.
Not the environment.
Not free press.
Dennis Chaquette
Kapa‘a
Clandestine maneuverings
At last, we have editors at The Garden Island willing to stand up for the right of people to know what is going on (“County Superferry meeting discards safety for comfort,” In our voices, Sept. 4).
For so many years, past editors would never challenge government or powerful business interests, whether for fear of retribution, loss of advertising revenue or other reasons.
It is refreshing to see you daring to rock the boat at last. Thank you for making it clear (sarcastically) that the council chair and mayor were acting “to protect the people from the newspaper.”
It is not factual reporting we need to fear; it is the actions of elected officials behind closed doors. Such closed-door meetings have been the modus operandi for almost 16 years under our last two mayors; it is sad to see that our council chair now also participating in such clandestine maneuverings.
When leaders are afraid of the media, we can be sure they really do have something to hide.
Barbara Elmore
Lihu‘e
Salvaging our island
To Rachel Forer (“My Superferry ‘soulectomy,’” Letters, Aug. 31).
The developments you refer to in Po‘ipu were approved over 20 years ago by a completely different administration, so throwing ourselves in front of the heavy machinery would seem pointless. The Superferry, on the other hand, was approved by government without any regard for what the people of Kaua‘i (or Maui) thought. You can’t blame them for being angry. Unfortunately, a couple “bad eggs” took it a little too far. If you want to ride the Superferry, go right ahead. But don’t belittle the people who are trying to salvage what we have left of our island environment.
Betsy Rivers
Lihu‘e
How long will it take?
Webster’s new world dictionary defines fascism as a system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized government control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism.
In the last few years we have seen dangerous symptoms of this on national, state and local levels. On the national level, we are hoodwinked into a war under false pretenses, a war without end; no-bid contracts are issued to the administration’s favorite corporations and the taxpayers foot the bill. We are now the greatest debtor nation on earth. Our grandchildren and their children will be paying for it.
On the state level, our government ignores the law and exempts the Superferry from an EIS with the astounding twist of logic that they have never required it before of any vessel, so why bother now?! Since when did two wrongs make a right? Then, the government calls out the local and state police and federal military to try to force its illegal action upon the people. In this case, at least on Kaua‘i, the people have responded and possibly the government will be forced to obey its own laws.
On a local level, our government thwarts the will of the voters, sues itself to prevent the implementation of the Ohana Kauai charter amendment. Then, after two years of litigation and waiting, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court rules the word ‘county’ actually means county council, not the people. This while the county charter defines it clearly as the body politic. Webster defines body politic as “ the people, who collectively constitute a political unit under a government.”
When a government ignores the law and/or attempts to circumvent the will of the voters, it is not only the right but the obligation of all patriotic citizens to stop that government through civil disobedience. From the Boston tea party, the struggle for women’s suffrage, the labor struggles nationally and right here on Kaua‘i plantations, through the civil rights movement and the Vietnam era, it has always been a conscious and committed minority of citizens who have risen up and changed history.
The issue is not whether you are for or against the Superferry, the war in Iraq or the charter amendment. The issue is how long will you tolerate a government that does not adhere to the law nor respect the will of the voters? How long will you remain asleep?
Michael Wells
Kapa‘a
