•A ruse to pass a gay marriage law •Think outside the box to raise some money •$30 for a pizza is a crime A ruse to pass a gay marriage law This is in response to David Thorpe’s March 28
•A ruse to pass a gay marriage law
•Think outside the box to raise some money
•$30 for a pizza is a crime
A ruse to pass a gay marriage law
This is in response to David Thorpe’s March 28 letter “Mahalo Senator Hooser,” applauding Sen. Hooser’s support of civil unions.
He seems to base his thanks on the fact that a civil union law would finally allow long-term, same-sex relationships the right to hospital visitation. As he said, “Who but a heartless bigot would deny a person this right?” Certainly not the state of Hawai‘i.
Since 1997 our state’s Reciprocal Benefit Rights law for same-sex couples includes the right for hospital visitation, health decisions, support benefits, pension, death and accidental death benefits, and inheritance rights and the right to hold title as tenants by the surviving gay member of the relationship, just to name a few. These are the exact same rights afforded couples of traditional marriage.
Moreover, we have long had legislation explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, public accommodations and housing.
So what was Hooser’s real agenda in his ardent fight for “equality” for gay couples? HB 444 was simply a ruse to pass a gay marriage law in Hawai‘i. Come on senator, “If it walks like a duck…” This law was rejected by a great majority of our state’s citizens over a decade ago.
As an attorney and great admirer of the U.S. Constitution, I am hard pressed to find the constitutional right to gay marriage. That is exactly why the court has left this matter up to the states.
Mr. Thorpe and others, just take a moment to do a quick Internet search of the Reciprocal Benefit Rights law. You see, our Legislature is not heartless. And now a majority of our lawmakers realize that to have pulled the proposed gay marriage law out of committee was against the values of a great majority of our citizens.
Our legislators’ final opposition to gay marriage was no doubt finally forged with an eye toward their own re-elections. Let’s face it, that’s the real issue for career politicians.
Vann Slatter, Koloa
Think outside the box to raise some money
Hawaiians’ No. 1 vacation destination is Las Vegas. Gambling and prostitution are legal there.
If Hawai‘i would legalize gambling, prostitution and marijuana, the state could tax all those things which would give Hawai‘i the finances necessary for many projects such as new roads, parks, pools, inexpensive housing, new libraries, public transportation, pedestrian trails, housing for the homeless, and have adequate funding for Honolulu’s controversial rail system, etc.
Hawai‘i should legalize gambling with the start of a state lottery. Hawai‘i and Utah are the only states currently without a lottery. The lottery could help generate funds for the states below average educational system, every week another person would become rich.
Hawai‘i should legalize prostitution, with AIDS and other STDs out there, at least prostitution would be controlled. The prostitutes would need to be licensed and required to see a doctor periodically for a clean bill of health. The police would have more time to focus on the more serious crimes such as murder and robberies. Prostitution exists in Hawai‘i, just walk the streets of Waikiki or observe the numerous massage and relaxation parlors in Honolulu. Let’s make it legal, safe and tax it.
Hawai‘i should legalize marijuana. Marijuana is accessible to anyone who wants it, why not legalize it and control the substance just as alcohol is controlled with legal age limits. (Many studies show marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.) The state could become very rich with legalizing and growing marijuana in Hawai‘i’s perfect climate.
I am not a gambler, I do not buy prostitutes or smoke pot. Legalizing everything would be a win-win situation for law enforcement and the financial state of Hawai‘i, plus alleviate the overcrowded prisons which cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
This is how to stimulate the economy, prohibition just doesn’t work!
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
$30 for a pizza is a crime
While reading the article “KPD: Take steps to protect yourself from property crime,” (The Garden Island, March 30), I found the quote from Adam Orens, owner of A & B Audio and Video, pretty interesting.
He “I hate to see people being taken advantage of.” That is exactly how I felt the last time I bought a pizza at Kilauea Bakery for $30. The people of Kilauea get taken advantage of everyday by the businesses in the community.
To me, that is a crime.
Chris Bielle, Kilauea
