• Monopoly rules the sea • Who killed the electric car? • Judge not … • On government control Monopoly rules the sea This morning’s paper brought the news that Young Brothers, our sole inter-island freight service (except for some
• Monopoly rules the sea
• Who killed the electric car?
• Judge not …
• On government control
Monopoly rules the sea
This morning’s paper brought the news that Young Brothers, our sole inter-island freight service (except for some Matson barges) is asking to increase its freight rates by about 18 percent (“Young Brothers asks to raise rates,” A4, Dec. 21).
They must feel that our Kaua‘i insurgency has permanently chased away the Superferry and their Neighbor Island monopoly will be protected — except for Maui, which likely will not see increased rates.
We have saved the whales, beach rocks, and fish while maintaining our rural isolation and thwarting thieves who don’t fly by air but are eager to do so by ferry.
Of course, the cost of all this is to ensure ever-increasing prices for our basic food supplies. The food bank had better get ready for increased usage.
We have won the battle of the Superferry — and lost our choice of transportation and competition in the inter-island freight service.
The victory seems more hollow as time goes by.
• Stan Godes, Hanalei
Who killed the electric car?
Please note the cartoon at the bottom of page A10 of the Dec. 21 edition of The Garden Island. Truth is that Ford should not have been shown in the cartoon with GM and Chrysler.
Ford has refused to be humiliated by going to the trough as have GM and Chrysler. Ford must know something about business management, huh? That’s my take anyway.
I have very little regard for GM, having viewed the 2003 PBS documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” several times. I get madder and madder each time viewing the DVD, realizing how totally stupid GM was. And that GM, big oil and politicians were all party to the disaster.
They had a chance to revolutionize the auto industry and, well, I suggest watching the movie. After viewing “Who Killed the Electric Car,” you will realize why GM is at the trough.
We could be driving around Kaua‘i today with an EV-1 that goes from zero to 60 in nine seconds, has a top speed of 100 mph and can roam some 100 or 200 miles between charges.
With photovoltaic at home, we would not buy gasoline. Except for the lawnmower. Put that in your pipe, GM, and smoke it.
Oh, and when a conventional auto accident involves burning gasoline, lives are at risk. With electrics, there is no gasoline to burn or even hydrogen to blow up, as in the hydrogen-fuel cell prototypes. These hydrogen jobs are dismal failures and dangerous.
We should all hope that the huge bailout-handout for GM and Chrysler will soon lead to EVs for all in the U.S. and the world.
• Alan Fayé, Hanalei
Judge not …
I am writing in regards to the article about the pedestrian struck in Kapa’a (“Pedestrian struck in Kapa‘a,” The Garden Island, Dec. 19). It was sad to hear that the accident occurred and I am very thankful that the elderly woman is okay.
We pray that her and her family is doing well since the incident. The repercussions of the incident though, are that we, as a society, become judgmental.
First and foremost, we feel for the woman and her family for what they have to endure emotionally as they wait to see the outcome of the woman’s injuries and prognosis.
Then we start to think things like, how can anyone let a 16-year-old drive, what was this teen looking at that they didn’t see the woman crossing the street, or worse, was the teen on drugs that hindered their vision when they were driving?
We don’t stop to think that maybe, just maybe that the teen is just as traumatized as the woman and her family at what just happened. Nor do we try to believe that the teen and their family are sincerely and genuinely sorry for what happened. Sadly, the teen is unforgiving of themself and is now receiving counseling because of the incident.
The cruelest repercussion that has happened is that the teen was persecuted by their peers because of the sordid stories of the incident, like the teen not only struck the woman but proceeded to run her over, which distorts the facts and makes it seem malicious.
This type of repercussion can turn an outgoing, healthy, productive, and community-oriented teen to a depressed, introverted, suicidal teen.
Is this what we, as a community, as a society, wish to leave as a contribution to our community’s future? I don’t think so. We must know the whole story before we make assumptions or the distorted facts can have adverse effects on a life.
Yes, as KPD stated, due to the season, we must be vigilant and safe in our travels. But we must also, because of the season, remember that our hearts need to be in the spirit of the season.
It is not our place to judge or condemn. I pray that everyone is safe and spirit-filled this Christmas season and let us not forget the reason for the season. If we cannot forgive others, how can we expect Him to forgive us?
• Leah Ho, Kilauea
On government control
Our government is drunk with power and greed! (Sunday) morning on ABC’s “This Week,” Joe Biden announced that he will be the “honcho” of a new government task force called the “White House Task Force On Working Families.”
Its rime purpose is basically to monitor the health and welfare of the middle class family in our nation. Never in the history of our beloved nation have we seen such a shift in policies pertaining to the middle class.
This new task force will add even more layers of policies and control over the people of this land and especially the paying, working middle class.
Biden will be able to make executive orders and imperial decrees that will affect “working families every day lives.” This is scary!
I’m glad that I am part of this beautiful island with loving and charitable people. As time goes by, and things become more intense with the challenges within our nation and world, I hope and pray that we, as an island and as a people will continue to support and uplift each other especially our children, kupuna and those that are less fortunate.
If you haven’t started yet, start stocking your homes with a years food supply and basic essentials. Get out of debt.
We as an island can start being more self-sufficient with farming crops and livestock grazing. We did it in the past on the Big Island, why can’t we reinstate that now?
• Myron Lindsey, Koloa
