• New Year’s resolutions • Leave handicap parking spots for those in need • Let the people decide • Jails should not be hotels New Year’s resolutions As we collectively anticipate what may be in store for all of us
• New Year’s resolutions
• Leave handicap parking spots for those
in need • Let the people decide •
Jails should not be hotels
New Year’s resolutions
As we collectively anticipate what may be in store for all of us here on our beloved Kaua‘i in the year 2011, it may make all the difference in the world if we all adopt the following resolutions:
1. To be more cautious and courteous as we drive on our roadways to diminish the number of accidents and possible death tolls;
2. To be conscientious about the way we trash our trash and be responsive to the new policies and procedures that the Solid Waste Department is promoting.
3. To go beyond the talk and actually get involved in growing our own food organically, to actualize the reality of becoming as self-sufficient as possible to produce what we eat.
4. To truly “live aloha” by being stewards of the land. Each of us, as residents and visitors, must pitch in, to “malama ‘aina” as a way of life, to take care of ourselves and each other, and to share that concept with every one we come in contact with, no matter where we are or wherever we go!
5. And finally, to begin each day with a smile, reminding oneself that the option to be happy may not be such a bad way to get up and go! Wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?
Jose Bulatao Jr.
Kekaha
Leave handicap parking spots for those in need
My husband, my son, who is currently a wheelchair user, and myself recently had to go into Lihu‘e to Costco and we parked in a designated disabled parking stall.
When we were leaving we saw a group of young adults and teenagers getting into a truck parked in a disabled spot but none had any visible disabilities and they had no disabled placard.
That annoyed me but I thought to myself they are still young and will make better choices with more life experiences under their belts. Then we got to our vehicle and parked right next to us in a disabled parking spot was another car with no disabled placard and this really upset because we knew who this car belonged to and saw him walking into the store with no visible disability and the most disturbing thing is he is a former police commissioner.
Now I realize he may have a disability that is not visible and he may have a placard that he forgot to hang on his rearview mirror or maybe he just wanted a close parking spot on a busy day. The real message here is please leave the disabled parking spaces for those that need them even if you are only going be there for “just a few minutes.”
Patricia Gonsalves
‘Ele‘ele
Let the people decide
Ed Coll’s recent letter on using technology to evolve government into a more beneficial entity to the citizenry by empowering the people instead of perpetuating the often corrupt and cumbersome representative system which too often fails society by placing too much power in the hands of too few is a great example of how the most important revolutions of this century won’t be won with guns and guillotines.
Revolutionary change will come by the instantaneous ability of modern communication to spread important ideas to all corners of the planet. A simple concept I’ve wanted implemented for some time to empower citizens at the state and federal level is to let taxpayers decide how their taxes are spent.
Just list all federal programs on the back of federal tax returns and state programs on the back of state tax returns with boxes to check next to each program. A box with check all would give an even amount to every program listed or each tax payers could individually pick which programs they wanted their taxes to fund.
The budget would be balanced by the people and there would be no more worrying about skyrocketing debt. Whatever amount of tax money was allotted to each program would determine that program’s budget. I’m willing to bet there would be a large increase in education spending and a massive reduction in military spending if the people had the power to choose. I could be wrong about that but I know what I would choose.
Jason Nichols
Koloa
Jails should not be hotels
The jail on Kaua‘i is not even fenced in, when you drive by the inmates are usually playing volleyball or tending to the jail garden.
I called the correctional facility and spoke with Warden Wagasama concerning escaped convicts, since there is no fence what is stopping an inmate from a pretty easy escape and just walking out? First all, everyone is advised of the consequences on many matters inclusive of escape and signs a disclaimer as such. If convicted first degree escape is an up to an additional 10 years jail time and second degree escape holds up to a 5 year additional sentence, plus the facility would be on lock down, jeopardizing all the other guests, (inmates) freedoms. “Nobody wants to be the one responsible for a shut down,” the other guests won’t welcome you back, and third, an escapee conviction stays on your record for life, thus any prison you may go to in the future you will be high risk and not have all of the rights as others inmates.
With three square meals a day, free medical and dental, a weight room, volleyball court, television and garden, these guys do not mind being incarcerated.
In these rough economic times many prisoners have it better than most. We need to defer criminal acts, bring back chain gangs and the death sentence!
The recent cold blooded murder in Anahola was between a couple of local career criminals, who most likely had it to easy at the Kaua‘i community correctional facility. What is the detriment for their criminal acts, free health-care, three catered meals a day, volleyball and a vegetable garden maintained by inmates, with products used by KCCC’s food services unit.
Prisons are not hotels and unless we change the system the lines will continue to grow for a visit to your local correctional facility.
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapa‘a
