• How awful the new generation has it… • A form of animal cruelty • No new taxes, period! How awful the new generation has it… The older generations may not have had “the green thing” in its day, but
• How awful the new generation has it… •
A form of animal cruelty • No new taxes,
period!
How awful the new generation has it…
The older generations may not have had “the green thing” in its day, but it had some other things:
Back then, paint was filled with lead.
Back then, asbestos was used as insulation.
Back then, child mortality was much higher, and life expectancy in general was lower.
Back then, a drought in a food growing region might mean catastrophe, rather than a momentary rise in prices or a shortage as supply chains from other areas took up the slack.
Back then, black people were considered less than second class citizens. If one was caught talking to a white person, or dared openly contemplate such a farfetched idea as being President of the United States, they might just find themselves strung up to a tree (such “strange fruit”).
Back then, women were widely considered not equal to men, and any talk of equality for women might be met by a condescending pat on the head, a laugh, and an instruction to go into the kitchen and get supper ready.
Back then, there were no treatments for many of the diseases and illnesses people are able to live with and manage today.
Back then, smoking was considered so cool that television regularly showed ads promoting it — even incorporating beloved TV characters into the mix (ever see the cigarette ad with Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble?).
Back then, workers had very little say in the quality of their work environment.
Back then, corporations could act with relative impunity with regards to their environmental stewardship. Back then, many people had exceedingly few opportunities in life and disturbingly small worldviews because they simply could not get access to the types of information that serve to “expand the mind.”
Before you start pining for “the good ol’ days,” you might want to think very carefully about the things you take for granted in these “bad new days.”
What are you willing to give up?
Rather than contemplating going backwards, how about contemplating how we can all go forwards in a responsible manner?
I am Michael Mann, and I take full credit for this message.
Michael Mann, Lihu‘e
A form of animal cruelty
I am an animal lover, especially a dog lover. I am deeply saddened by the actions of some dog owners on the island of Kaua‘i (especially in my neighborhood).
I have always had a firm belief if you are going to own a pet you need to treat it with respect and not abuse them. When you leave your pet in your fenced in yard all day long and tied to a clothes line, do you not realize this is a form of animal cruelty?
Dogs need to be interacted with. Dogs need to run, to play, and to be spoken to. I don’t blame the dogs for constantly barking almost 10 hours a day, every single day; although this does grate on my very last nerve. I blame the owner!
The only interaction some owners have with their dog when they are home and the dog will not stop barking is to yell out the window/door “Quiet.”
What good is that for the dog? Not only do you not have any respect for your pet, but you have no respect for your neighbors who have to listen to the constant barking!
I have read articles in The Garden Island about starting a new law, if your dog barks you can be fined. This sounds like a great idea, but I seriously doubt it will ever happen.
Why should there be a law like this? If you are going to go so far as to purchase a dog to be your pet, or adopt a dog from the humane society as your pet, why not treat that dog with love and respect?
I understand everyone that gets a dog does not want it to be a “house dog,” which is fine, that is your right. But if you are going to have a dog and leave it outside please do not ignore the dog!
Please interact with it. Please take it on walks. Please play ball with it. Please talk to it. Please let your children play with the dog. And please do not have it tied to a clothes line where it really can not run and play.
All animals need to be treated with respect as well as humans.
Shauna Griffin, Kapa‘a
No new taxes, period!
TGI’s Sunday editorial, “State should collect sales tax from online retailers,” is a bad idea for many reasons.
In your editorial you neglect to state that when you buy online there is usually a shipping and handling fee which usually amounts to more than what the sales tax would be.
People have been buying mail order for years, even before the Internet people who lived in rural communities more than anyone relied on mail order for much of their shopping needs. The Internet did not invent mail order companies.
If such a tax where to be voted into law it would force many mail order companies to have disclaimers, “not available in Hawai‘i.”
Many companies that include free shipping already have such a disclaimer.
What business located outside of Hawai‘i would want the extra work of filing a Hawaiian tax form, hence creating more book-keeping for them?
How about this for a start, every state, and county politicians take a mandatory 20% pay-cut and donate their car allowances to the state budget.
Mail order has existed for ever, no more laws, we are buried with laws, let us breathe!
Politicians must look in the mirror before proceeding, no new taxes, period.!
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
