• Mahalo on Memorial Day • Don’t be afraid to vote no • Wise to keep tobacco-control funding Mahalo on Memorial Day On this Memorial Day 2011, I say a heartfelt “mahalo” to express my appreciation, gratitude and deep respect
• Mahalo on Memorial Day • Don’t be
afraid to vote no • Wise to keep tobacco-control
funding
Mahalo on Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day 2011, I say a heartfelt “mahalo” to express my appreciation, gratitude and deep respect to all my ancestors, both familial and in the broadest sense of brother and sisterhood, whether they were military practitioners or not.
Today, I’ll extend an extra measure of thanks to all those who did not go to war or otherwise engage in warlike behavior. To me, Buffy Saint-Marie hit the nail on the head in her song “Universal Soldier” when she wrote of soldiers and our militarized mentality:
“Without him Caesar would have stood alone
He’s the one who gives his body as a weapon of the war.
And without him all this killing can’t go on
He’s the universal soldier
And he really is the blame
His orders comes from far away no more.
They come from him.
And you and me.
And brothers can’t you see.
This is not the way we put an end to war.”
Please give peace every chance in our lives.
David Makana Martin, Kilauea
Don’t be afraid to vote no
KipuKai Kualii continues to bring his common sense to the council with his research and evaluation of issues that truly represent the interests of and benefit to the people.
Together with Councilman Rapozo, the other dynamic force who passionately stays on the people’s side of issues, they form a duo that puts the public’s welfare at the top of the chart when voting, a modus operandi not often seen today in the game of politics.
This is not to say that our other council members don’t have legitimate reasons for voting yea on subjects like this but the presentations that Mel and KipuKai give seems to more accurately define the subject matter.
The excellent article in the May 26 edition titled “Council approves $269M budget; Rapozo lone ‘nay’ vote” emphasizes my above evaluation of these two fine council members.
As Mel so wisely said, “If we continue to vote yes on budgets we don’t agree with, then the system won’t change.” The operating budget for FY 2011 totals $185.97 million representing an increase of more than $38 million or approximately 25 percent over last years $147.6 million budget.
Obviously the administration is playing the old “shell game” with the tax payers as victims by creating five new positions at a cost of over half a million dollars. As Kualii said, “By creating these positions in the middle of the budget year, the mayor is not required to obtain council approval for funding” — great end run, mayor!
When so many of our citizens are struggling just to survive; when we put a hardship on so many with the furloughs; and when we ask others to take pay cuts, how can this administration possibly justify adding a total of 24 new county positions costing a staggering $2,018,447 which includes benefits?
KipuKai, you couldn’t have been more accurate when you “spoke of concerns with the budget’s POLITICAL (emphasis added) process, specifically Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s creation of five new positions in his administration …”
In these dire times, for what other reason could these positions have been created except for political ones?
You may have only been on the council for six weeks, KipuKai, but please, don’t ever be afraid to follow Mel’s lead and vote no on any issue that you don’t firmly agree with. The people know who is on their side, just as they knew how correct you were by being the lone no vote on the Marathon debacle. And they will be the ones on your side at election time.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Wise to keep tobacco-control funding
Every year, smoking kills more people than the combined deaths from alcohol, murders, car accidents, drug use and AIDS. Luckily, Hawai‘i has one of the lowest smoking rates in the nation.
The programs in place for tobacco prevention have proven worthy of the funds they receive. More than 40,000 people have quit smoking, and youth smoking rates are down by 11 percent statewide. On Kaua‘i rates are down 5 percent at Waimea High School and down 7.5 percent at Kapa‘a High School. It’s scary to think about the potential impact, if we take away tobacco-control funding, or even further reduce it. Progress made could backslide. It’s a deadly move.
Other states that have cut tobacco funding have seen positive trends like these youth rates, reverse.
Smokers will not be the only ones suffering; we will all suffer. We will suffer in terms of a lower quality of life, and we’ll pay in the end when the health problems that stem from tobacco-use settle in and burden Hawai‘i’s healthcare system.
I really appreciate the legislature’s wise moves in preserving funding for tobacco prevention, and I continue to urge our decision makers to make honest choices that benefit Hawai‘i’s future, health and economy.
Valerie Saiki, Kapa‘a
