• Let’s hold a bake sale to bail out Hawai‘i • On the path of inclusivity • Nothing to lose • Workers’ rights are human rights Let’s hold a bake sale to bail out Hawai‘i Gov. Abercrombie, Senate, Congress ,
• Let’s hold a bake sale to bail out Hawai‘i • On the path of
inclusivity • Nothing to lose • Workers’ rights are human
rights
Let’s hold a bake sale to bail out Hawai‘i
Gov. Abercrombie, Senate, Congress , mayors and county councils of the great cosmic state of Hawai‘i, I think I have the solution for the state economic crisis.
When a company is hurting financially they can file for bankruptcy protection and can sometimes re-organize with court-approved discounts by paying a lower amount for every dollar owed to a creditor. For instance, sometimes the courts will order a business to pay 30 cents on the dollar with the concept that creditors get something in lieu of nothing if the company where to totally fold.
In the same essence, why doesn’t the state of Hawai‘i just file for bankruptcy protection?
Here’s the real million dollar idea. Just like there are fund raisers and people donate money for natural disasters like Katrina, the Japanese earthquake and Tsunami where millions can be collected.
Why not have fundraisers for the states economic tsunami, it’s a disaster too, just not a physical one but a disaster that effects every-one’s bank account.
Let’s do a state fundraiser for the economic tsunami. Have musicians donate time and throw a concert, have bake sales, do what ever it takes to help the economic tsunami.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
On the path of inclusivity
I am pleased to write to the Kaua‘i community that at the recent meeting of The Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i a significant event took place.
Mayor Carvalho attended our meeting which addressed the forthcoming National Day of Prayer on May 5, 2011. After much interaction and discussion, we have been assured that our mayor embraces a broad, all-inclusive approach to this day and will be forthcoming by both proclamation and by action to urge every religious faith to embrace this day of prayer in accordance with their various beliefs. This is consistent with the intent expressed by Congress when this measure was passed.
I wish to thank the mayor and those members of the Interfaith Roundtable for their determination to continue on a path of inclusivity. It is in the spirit of Aloha that serves as our guide. For this I am grateful to you all.
Monroe Richman, Chairperson
Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i
Nothing to lose
Thanks, Roger, for beginning the discussion about inadequate medical care on Kauai (“Down to one dermatologist,” Letters, April 1).
As a member of the Parkinson’s Disease community — my husband has it and I lead the local support group — we are sad to see that there is only one neurologist on the island, and unfortunately he is not a movement disorder specialist.
People with Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other movement disorders need very specific care, and it’s just not available here.
Honolulu has one specialist, but not everyone can fly to O‘ahu every time they need to see their doctor. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us were able to obtain adequate care in every area of medical need?
I think it’s possible if everyone, including our medical clinics and hospitals, make it a priority.
Let’s all speak up because as Bob Dylan once said, “When you ain’t got nothing you got nothing to lose.”
Susan Storm, Kapa‘a
Workers’ rights are human rights
April 4, 1968, marks the date that Dr. Martin Luther King, the great African-American civil rights leader, was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.
This was just before he was about to lead the city’s mostly Black refuse workers in a march demanding an end to racial discrimination and calling for collective bargaining rights. The workers were demanding to be represented by the American Federation of State and Municipal Employees.
Exactly one year earlier at the Riverside Church in New York City, Dr. King called for an end to the Vietnam War and the U.S. military occupation of that country. Dr. King had never separated the issues of economic justice, racial equality and peace.
His words that stirred the audience still hold true today, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
He irritated the warmongers in our government who used patriotism to reward their financial contributors in the munitions industry.
From Wisconsin to Hawai‘i, public workers’ collective bargaining rights are being attacked by conservatives and even so-called pro-labor liberals like Gov. Abercrombie.
Without the right to bargain for decent wages, medical benefits and pensions we will not be able to support our families. These are basic human rights for all working people, both public and private.
This Monday at 4 p.m. at the Lihu‘e Airport intersection, please join Kaua‘i’s working folks in upholding Dr. King’s ideal that workers’ rights are human rights.
Ray Catania, Lihu‘e
