Most people want the ‘center’
I wonder why Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and others are framed as “far left,” “fringe,” “radical,” or “socialist” in talking points and by those who don’t agree with their proposals. Even Fox News polls confirm trends that Robert Reich documents in his article about what the majority of Americans want:
1. 70% of Americans are in favor of Medicare For All, including 60% of Republicans
2. 76% of Americans support higher taxes on the super-rich, including over half of Republicans
3. 92% are in favor of lower drug prices, over 78% think we should be able to buy drugs from Canada
4. More than 80% of Americans want paid maternity leave.
5. 79% of voters want more affordable child care. And that includes 80% of Republicans.
6. 60 % of Americans support free college tuition for those who meet income requirements.
7. 62% think climate change is man-made and needs addressing.
8. 84% think money has too much influence in politics. 77% support limits on campaign spending. And that includes 71% of Republicans.
The “center” is not halfway between what most Americans want and what big corporations, Wall Street, and the super-wealthy want. The “center” is what the vast majority of Americans want.
Susan Oakley, Kapaa
We all need to care for Earth
We are in the process of world wide mass biological extinction. We are the center of that extinction here in Hawaii.
According to Google search, more than 90% of the plants and animals inhabiting Hawaii are endemic to the state and a greater variety of fish exist in Hawaiian waters than anywhere else.
Hawaii, known as the endangered species capital of the world, is home to at least one-third of all the endangered species of the United States. Hawaii comprises only .02% of the total land mass of the United States. The amount of C02 we humans are omitting to the atmosphere by displacing natural habitat for wild species of plants and animals and creating this gas CO2 as exhaust has upset the amount the climate can tolerate without disruption.
So it isn’t surprising we are experiencing radical increases in species loss. Changes in climate world over have made some places uninhabitable by humans as well as wild life. In the last few months we have seen three big old trees come down along the main highway through Hanapepe.
Two of those trees were cut down on the Hongwanji property bordering the public library. The principals involved at the Buddhist Temple went to the county to ask permission due to part of the trees were on county property bordering the street. I saw a crew of men out there taking those trees down.
They looked like ants climbing around, the trunks were so large. Leaving big old trees in place is important. Not only do they absorb CO2 helping to keep our atmosphere in balance. They are home to diverse insects, birds, lizards toads and microscopic organisms all of which feed the soil that plants derive nutrients from and we then get second hand from eating them.
Trees provide shade from an otherwise unforgiving sun. I know of a residence that took down a big old Monkeypod tree. He has had to since build a porch onto his house to protect it from the sun and rain as well as a tent to protect his car from the weather.
Do your part by decreasing your omissions of CO2 and encourage tree retention and growth.
Linda Harmon, Hanapepe
Susan, right on! But you failed to mention 70% fvor background checks to purchase guns. Also most approve of ban on assault weapons meant for military use!
Susan and Linda, we are so sorry for your choice to live in fear, and for your adaptation of a “sky is falling” abrogated illusion. All we can say is, take a deep breath and relax. Everything will be ok. You will be alive and well decades from now. The earth will be ok and we humans will adapt to any climate change. Humans have been adapting to climate change for thousands of years and you are not any more special than they. The current political scare tactics you’ve become caught up in are nothing more than a smoke screen put up by liberal politicians and their surrogates (fake news media, academics, and doltish celebrities) who don’t have any other way to get attention and satisfy their Socialist agendas. Creating a false agenda of fear is the best way to control people like you, and millions of other likely voters, who have the ability to give them the power and money for which they so desperately thirst. If one has no experience, intelligence, understanding, or morals, all they can do to gain power is to promote fear in the voter class, and then claim to be your Savior. Don’t fall for it!! It’s the only way they can become wealthy! They can’t do it by inventing something useful, creating a great company and jobs, or competing in the “dog eat dog” real life on a level playing field. All they can do to succeed in their quest for power is scream “without me, the world will end in 12 years”, every white person who is not a Democrat is a “racist”, all Conservatives are homophobes, narcissists, blah blah blah. You’re falling for it ladies. You would be better off going out there and doing something to help another family get jobs, own homes, and reach the American Dream that so many billions of other people will walk thousands of miles to steal for themselves. Watch the following for perspective. https://www.facebook.com/excaliburnewsnetwork/videos/1131330333643169/
Mr O—hardly know where to begin, but let’s start with some perspective: it’s your tribe that owes it’s furtherance to fear mongering, so spare us the projection (or leave it up to the Orange One—he does it better). Second, your do-nothing, hands-off approach to climate is naive and dangerous, and helps to promote inaction. You want to roll the dice I suggest you find a planet to inhabit with like minded individuals such as yourself, and let us take care of the one we’ve got.
Beautiful and thoughtful letters to the ed today. Thank you Susan Oakley and Linda Harmon. Both were right on.
That’s OK Mr. CC, I do know where to begin. No one said we shouldn’t do anything to help the environment. The truth is we in the United States are a knat’s ass compared to the elephants in the room China, India and Russia! The United States, and all the companies in the world don’t have the money to clean the big 3 producers of pollution! You and your plastic straws will make a millisecond difference in the date of your so called projected world ending. The only way to solve the environment problem is through technology and businesses creating wealth by fixing the problem. Some company, let’s call it the Apple of the Environment Company, will figure out how to make money to save the planet. It will happen so fast it will make your head spin! You will not shame and fear monger your way to success in fixing a problem of this nature! Wake up to reality and stop chasing unicorns.
Eulogy for Blackpot
One of the wonders of moving from California to Kauai was not just the obvious beauty of the island but the special world of Black Pot Beach in Hanalei.
Last evening was my first visit back since it reopened after the 2018 flooding and devastation. The parking was ample; the port o potties were all perfectly lined up in a row and the white plastic fencing was making sure not a single car could get closer than 300’ to the beach. It all looked neat and orderly like a highly regulated coastal California beach.
But I have been here long enough to remember Black Pot as it was before the storm. On any given evening you could find the locals and tourists engaged in the spirit of Ohana. Fishermen would be proudly showing off their catch of the afternoon. Nearby, small camp fires would be anxiously awaiting the gift of the sea that would ultimately be shared by anyone inquisitive enough to ask “what’s cooking”. Cars and trucks would go to and fro with the young and old engaged with music from Bob Marley, to Iz to Bach. Passing by any tailgate or open trunk there was laughter, a surfboard or 3 and a cool beverage. Every visit you came away with at least a new acquaintance you would soon see again. It was like a Menehune village of old Hawaii that came to life each day and disappeared at midnight.
It wasn’t the storm that destroyed this village. It was because someone decided all this was to be no more.
The beach is now environmentally friendly but lacking of life and character. By comparison, it is sparsely used, the engaging fishermen, music and laughter is now gone and those who stroll by are silent. They will never know what treasured ground this was only 16 months ago.
Dave Prew
Princeville
Probably the worst week Oswald has had to suffer through. He must be truly grateful to offer up “climate change is a hoax” instead of having to defend his racist pig’s incitement to assault rifle killing in El Paso and how his serial molester of women went there and showed NO EMPATHY WHATSOEVER and talked instead about his rally ternout weeks ago.
Donald J. Trump is, in almost every human capacity, nothiong more than a disgusting PIG!
So distract yourself Oswald…..It’s gonna get worse!