Letters for Sunday, December 4, 2011

Stop fighting

natural selection

I received an e-mail tonight that said, “Witnessing Democrats and Republicans debate over the deficit is like watching two drunks argue over a bar bill on the titanic.”

Alexander Hamilton said from the beginning of this great country that the American public was too stupid to vote, hence the electoral college. Now, modern day, the college cast their vote according to the popular vote of the districts they represent even when their education tells them that the populace has made the wrong decision.

I would gamble a digit that if you asked 100 people at the polling booth during the next election, 9 out of 10 couldn’t tell you a half dozen planks of the platform any given candidate they are voting for stand on.

Still their vote counts the same as mine. You have to take a test to get a license to drive. You need a license for your car, your bike, your dog, your business… but they’ll let any idiot be a registered voter or even a parent.

Here’s my ludicrous thought: we could split the country down the middle, using the Mississippi (the river not the state) or the Mason/Dixon line. Let the liberals have one half and the conservatives the other.

One side would be broke in a very short order, and the other, divided into multiple city-states with each having it’s own militia, and only willing to contribute what is absolutely necessary to insure their domain is not attacked. It seems to me that both sides should realize the other has valid points.

The trepidation of the “occupy” movement reinforces the stupidity of the American public. I get that they’re unhappy, but shouldn’t a plan, or at least a statement of intention define the objective? What do they want, and how do they suggest we achieve their requests? A load of people in tents, without running water is an invitation for dysentery. We need to stop fighting natural selection.

Joseph Lavery, Kapa‘a

County should lean on its experienced employees

Let us delve into this new automated trash pickup service and factually see what is going on.

So far the automated trash service is being implemented on 50 percent of our Island and I believe that 6 automated trucks and 6 regular pickup trucks are being used.

Supposedly we went to the automation system to save money but since each truck we are leasing costs $325,000, we spent $70 or more to buy thousands of 96 gallon containers (a million dollars), and we redeployed the 2 county workers from the manual trucks to Public Works, it seem implausible that “overtime” savings and fewer injuries to those picking up our containers (they wouldn’t pick up over 50 pounds), would make the new system more cost efficient than the old one.

And, remember that everyone in the new automated system is paying $6 more per month for this service. Plus we are now being charged $6 per month for use of the transfer station whether we use it or not.

Before these new fees were added to our tax bill, we were paying for trash pick up and for transfer station use — either in our property tax bill or in some other “hidden” area.

So since these previous taxes have never been removed (not in my billing anyway!), aren’t we now being double charged for the same service? If this is the case that the county is making, needing more revenue to operate our government, then why didn’t they tell the tax payers up front? Of course since we have a $48 million to $52 million unappropriated surplus in our general fund (already overtaxing the people) it should be hard for them to make the case for needing MORE revenue!!

And, as one council member said, this automated system may work in a city area like Lihu‘e but it is not practical for spread out and hilly areas like the Homesteads. These large containers have to be left on the streets being an eye sore as many people cannot push them up and down long driveways.

A lot of citizens feel that if this complete solid waste program (SWP) would have been done properly, we would have:

1) Had a new landfill in place years ago

2) Had a MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) operating

3) Had curbside and pay to throw recycling in place

With these measures in place, the 96 gal containers wouldn’t have been necessary and the small ones would have sufficed.

Now that the experienced and capable John Harder has been hired for our SWP and Allison and Troy are doing their jobs, it becomes apparent that someone or something in the system is keeping Kaua‘i from being compliant with EPA standards — any ideas, Mayor, of what or who that might be?

Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a

 Don’t rush while driving

This just didn’t happen in front of me before my eyes. But it truly did. At 11 a.m. while driving through Hanapepe on Kaumuali‘i Highway I observed a Kaua‘i Bus overtake another car on the right shoulder of the highway traveling eastbound at the Hanapepe Public Library fronting Westside Pharmacy.

A vehicle was waiting to make a left turn into the pharmacy. The Kaua‘i Bus driver took over on the right shoulder with a load of passengers. The shoulder of the highway there is barely wide enough. The Kaua‘i Bus was only inches away from the edge of the shoulder and could have easily fallen off the shoulder and tipped over on its side. Probably would have a bus full of injured people.

Vehicles should not be taking over on the right, especially traveling through towns. There are pedestrians and cyclists that use the shoulders of the road to exercise and/or to get to a destination.

Kaua‘i Bus and all those who take over on the right shoulder should practice safe driving and have patience because the life you save may be your own and you have a responsibility to keep your passengers safe.

Remember that there is no excuse for rushing while driving on the island. Don’t worry, you’ll get there.

Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele