• Fix our government • One easy question • 2 paws up for good dog etiquette • Drugs are bad • Are you talking to me? Fix our government For many years, we, the public, have known about the many
• Fix our government
• One easy question
• 2 paws up for good dog etiquette
• Drugs are bad
• Are you talking to me?
Fix our government
For many years, we, the public, have known about the many obstructions that have are put up to keep us from knowing what is actually happening in our county government.
We have known that many times the lawyers that we pay are called in by different government groups, especially the County Council and the Planning Commission.
The opinion the lawyers give these groups is done behind closed doors and the public can never get the information. This is against state law and many efforts have been made to get the state involved in these disputes with little success.
The other constant obstruction to democracy on Kaua‘i has been the practice of the chair of the County Council refusing to introduce bills put forward by council members.
This practice is less well known and has become more and more used by the council chair to keep bills he does not like, or bills introduced by council members he does not like, from coming before the whole council for discussion and vote.
Since the Council Rules specifically say that any council member may introduce a bill and it will be put on the agenda, this practice is clearly illegal.
The more inside problem of certain council members not being given information that other council members get is so behind the scenes that most of us don’t even know when it happens.
We are very lucky we now have Tim Bynum and Lani Kawahara, who have enough nerve to try to get these obstructions to democracy brought up before the whole council for discussion and vote.
We take our hats off to them both, thank them for their work for democracy, and hope the public will join this discussion and back their efforts.
We have had an undemocratic government far too long. Let’s stop it now.
Marge Freeman, Wailua
One easy question
The question on health care is simple.
Will Congress vote on the side of big money and big insurance, or will it vote on the side of 100-plus million people that need free health insurance?
All the rest of the debate is good-sounding, reasonable-sounding camouflage.
Does Congress work for the good of the people or themselves?
Let’s ask for a rider amendment on the health care bill that says Congress gets the exact same plan that they give the American people.
Scott Robeson, Hanalei
2 paws up for good dog etiquette
June signals completion of the first six months of the 18-month trial period allowing responsible dog walking on the county’s shared use path from Lihi boat ramp to Kealia Bridge in Kapa‘a. So far, so good.
As expected, there have been very few issues and a large number of dogs with their families enjoying the two-mile stretch of the beautiful coastal path.
The few issues have included proper waste disposal, the restocking of complimentary poop bags provided by the Kaua‘i Humane Society, and rare reports of a loose dog.
But by and large, the minor waste concerns and handful of leash law violations are far outweighed by the benefits to families with their dogs.
As new segments — Kealia to Donkey Beach — of the county’s shared use path open to the public, it is imperative that families refrain from walking their dogs there because dogs are not allowed on this segment during the trial period.
Any violations of the path rules may jeopardize our future allowing responsible dog walking.
Thank you for keeping your dogs leashed and picking up their poop!
Dr. Becky Rhoades, Executive Director, Kaua‘i Humane Society
Drugs are bad
In my opinion, Chief Perry was 100 percent correct in his factual assessment of marijuana. (“On the Beat No. 29,” The Garden Island, June 7)
And, Bruce Mirken’s take on marijuana (“Prohibition is the problem,” Letters, June 12) was completely wrong.
Marijuana is by federal law an illegal drug, and those who sell, buy, or use it can be prosecuted. And yes, it does have medical benefits to alleviate pain and can be restrictively prescribed by a physician — I have no problem with that.
But any foreign substance put into the body that is mind-altering should be made illegal unless prescribed by a physician. Driving a vehicle takes unobstructed physical and mental abilities and thus any drug that impairs this function should be banned.
Yes, as Mr. Mirken stated, alcohol is probably more addictive and toxic than marijuana and causes many more deaths and tragedies in our society. Even though the U.S. would be better off without alcoholic beverages, prohibition was repealed and the multi-billion-dollar booze industry has prevailed.
To see our youth bombarded by the alcoholic beverage TV ads is sad, but in a free society we must accept the bad with the good.
But all the other drugs that Chief Perry mentioned are illegal and every effort should be made to eradicate them.
Certainly our drug control people cannot tell how many drugs a bust will gather until the bust. But they are doing their jobs, and for every drug they keep out of the hands of the dealer or user we should be applauding them for their efforts.
Chief and KPD officers, keep up your fine work.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Are you talking to me?
My girlfriend and I went to the lighthouse by the airport as we and many other people, including the fishermen, have done for many years.
We came upon a sign that read “GOVERNMENT PROPERTY KEEP OUT.” Does this mean we can’t even go out to the point and enjoy the scenery?
Daniel Renaud, Kapa‘a
