• So how do we fix the economy? • Hybrids are indeed viable! • Enough is enough So how do we fix the economy? I don’t pretend to be the smartest guy in the world but seriously how can anyone
• So how do we fix the economy?
• Hybrids are indeed viable!
• Enough is enough
So how do we fix the economy?
I don’t pretend to be the smartest guy in the world but seriously how can anyone say that raising taxes and utility bills are the answers to fixing an economy that has no money?
I don’t think overbuilding with the intent to pay for it all with the money generated from the people who move here is the answer either. Nice dream, but reality is that right now we don’t have enough jobs and food to really support the people on island. How is increasing the amount of people who have “good credit” but no jobs going to help things?
I read a lot about how the state really makes an effort to keep the government employed and if that how you guys like be then at least construct something worthwhile. What’s been done to Wailua and all the tourist attractions look nice, I guess, but honestly what was accomplished? Nothing.
Here’s a thought. What if we built some kind of dairy/slaughterhouse that would be used to help fuel a methane digester that could also be fueled by pigs and all the feces that we don’t know what to do with that keep spilling into our oceans.
GasPro and all the propane equipment at Nawiliwili could be converted to store natural gas, or methane.
Another good use for human waste is to make fertilizer for at least bio crops. Corn being grown for seeds can only be planted in the same spot every five years or so because it’s so hard on the soil. So here’s a way to save our waters and replenish the land.
Milk, meat, renewable energy, fertilizer, waste management and jobs. Doesn’t sound so bad. I know you’re wondering how will it pay for itself in the future. Honestly, if you can’t figure it out maybe you shouldn’t be a politician.
James R. Langtad, Wailua Homesteads
Hybrids are indeed viable!
This is a response to Mark Beeksma’s letter (“No more gas tax, please!” Jan. 9) on the gas tax and hybrid issue. While I agree that we don’t need nor can afford another tax on us ordinary citizens I wholeheartedly disagree on his assumptions on hybrid vehicles.
Hybrids are no longer just “status” symbols for the well-to-do or the techies out there. Witness the ordinary mom-and-pop hybrid owners tooling around on Kaua‘i’s roads getting way above-average fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Just because this ain’t L.A. doesn’t mean hybrids are a waste of money. Dead (battery) weight? Not really, just do more research into how most hybrids work such as regenerative braking as well as being able to switch between gas only, electric only or a combination of the two.
Mark goes on to discuss photovoltaic cells but offers no realistic suggestions as to an alternative to hybrid automobiles. He also mentions wind power then goes on to say that hybrids still makes no sense. Uh, so what’s your point?
Hybrid technology is so good nowadays that reliability is really not an issue and it’s available now. Mark also says that you need to replace the main battery packs every so many years. Mark, can you be more specific? I can tell you from personal experience that that is an inaccurate statement at best. I have over 10 years experience with hybrids and I would be the first one to tell you that hybrids are not for everyone.
Owning a hybrid is not just about the gas mileage it is also about the reduced emissions and the fact that hybrids such as the Honda Insight with its on-board, inter-active ECO-Assist has the ability to teach the driver to become more fuel efficient. By monitoring and recording real-time fuel economy and other vehicle dynamics the driver becomes the other essential ingredient into making hybrids most effective.
Folks, hybrids are here to stay and they will evolve to become much more appealing and workable for the average motorist. As I said, hybrids are not for everyone but we need to start somewhere, sometime and that time has passed. Take a spin in one someday, you might like it.
Stephen Shioi, Kapa‘a
Enough is enough
I hope everyone gets to read Rolf Beiber’s entire letter “Year of conflicting ethics: ‘Together we can’t’” posted on The Garden Island Web site Jan. 5.
Rolf, some TGI reporters and Andy Parx have finally been exposed for who they really are. By God, they’ve all got a pair!
What we’ve all known about Kaua‘i government in the back of our minds is finally being put right out there. In your face, John Q. Public!
This crap has gone on long enough. We’ve got to look each other “in the eye” like Rolf and start making some changes around here. The majority of our council is “ol’ boy” minded, and our mayor is starting to show signs too.
Maybe this is more of the stuff the judge keeps ignoring.
Vince Cosner, Lihu‘e
