• The aloha of democracy • Hybrids best for wallet, environment • Dazzling hypocrisy • Kaua‘i’s Inept Utility Company The aloha of democracy Thank you Chief Perry and all of KPD. I wish to thank you for your demonstration of
• The aloha of democracy • Hybrids best for wallet,
environment • Dazzling hypocrisy • Kaua‘i’s Inept Utility
Company
The aloha of democracy
Thank you Chief Perry and all of KPD. I wish to thank you for your demonstration of what aloha and democracy looks like.
The general public, as well as the 99 percent who demonstrated today, were well served by our various county government officials and employees, who ensured theirs and our rights of assembly, free speech, to petition the government, and otherwise exercise our civil liberties as citizens engaged in peaceful gatherings.
Indeed, our 99 percenters will post the videos of appropriate and proper KPD actions on YouTube where the “whole world is watching.” The whole world will watch the power of aloha, the power of the people, and the grace of KPD.
Our brothers and sisters occupying Boston, New York and other cities and towns face weighted riot clubs and Mace sprayed in their faces. Just perhaps we will hear the Occupy crowds begin chanting “Chief Perry – Aloha” in New York, or at the APEC Summit if the protesters are engaged by riot squads and tactical units.
Thank you, KPD. You are the aloha that American democracy should look like.
Lonnie Sykos, Kapa‘a
Hybrids best for wallet, environment
An outstanding reporter for The Garden Island newspaper is Vanessa Van Voorhis. In Friday’s edition of The Garden Island she wrote an article regarding the new Nissan Leaf — a totally electric car. In that article she pointed out that “…the prospect of zero emission and zero trips to the gas station is an appealing one. However, in reality, a zero emissions electric vehicle is not possible unless it is being charged by a zero-emissions source, such as solar or wind power.”
Here in Kaua‘i the electric cost will be slightly over $14 for a charge (the cost components carefully detailed in the article) that will take the Leaf its average range of 68 miles. “That equates to an average cost of 21 cents (per mile) and 0.21 kg of carbon per mile to operate.”
On the Mainland, the cost of electricity may be less, but if the power source is coal, the carbon kg will be higher.
Compared to a standard gasoline powered car that averages 30 miles per gallon the cost here in Kaua‘i ($4.47 per gallon) would be 15 cents per mile and 0.08 kg of carbon per mile.
Conclusion, unless you own a “solar farm” it appears that a hybrid or economy car may be best on both the wallet and the environment.
Joe Frisinger, Princeville
Dazzling hypocrisy
Wall Street seems to be America’s current scapegoat for all our problems.
There is a new movement called “Occupy Wall Street” that is just starting to come into its own with protests all over the country even including Kaua‘i in the middle of the Pacific.
America is all about free speech and like the ‘60s many things were changed through protests. Whether you agree or disagree on the current movement, the one thing we can all agree on is that America is the greatest country on Earth where we can all speak our mind.
I am heretofore enclosing my favorite words of a recent poster entitled, “Occupy Wall Street.” I feel it says quite a bit.
“Here is one of the many fun ways to enjoy the dazzling hypocrisy of the Occupy Wall Streeters. Join us as we organize against corporations, using social networking (by corporations), smart phones (by corporations) serviced by wireless carriers (that are corporations), wearing clothes (made by corporations), capturing it all with cameras (made by corporations), and getting there via cars, buses, bicycles, and shoes (made by corporations). We deserve more from these greedy corporations. Join us afterwards at Starbucks!”
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Kaua‘i’s Inept Utility Company
I read on the front page of The Garden Island newspaper that KIUC wants to limit its members rights to express grievences.
I have mentioned before that Kaua‘i retail customers pay the highest electric rates in the country — four times the national average. KIUC and its brethren at Hawaiian Electric are quick to place blame on the doorsteps of Chevron and Tessoro — Hawai‘i’s unregulated petroleum duopoly. As anyone who drives will probably say “amen” to that sorry situation. Do you know that even if all the fuel they burn were free we on Kaua‘i would still be paying twice the national average price for electricity.
I applaud KIUC’s efforts to move to solar energy and away from burning fossil fuels. But — and this is a big but — KIUC’s ruling junta should be taken to task for agreeing to pay Alexander & Baldwin a hugely inflated price for power to come from a proposed A&B Port Allen solar farm. I have stated my position to the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission which is reviewing the matter, and have requested that a public hearing be held so that Kaua‘i’s electricity consumers may have their views heard.
Allan Rachap, Koloa
