Conservative supporting liberal ideas, with a twist
Here’s a conservative’s point of view regarding the homeless and panhandlers. We, as a community, should not support this behavior. It’s enabling and encourages others of this practice. It should be viewed as blight. Within a half mile from any of these persons with signs asking for money, donations, spare cash or change, there are at least three businesses with “help wanted” signs. Octogenarians may not have anything better to do, but, I as a baby boomer, agree with them. Besides, octogenarians lived through some very tough economic and war-faring times. They know how to be industrious and how work pays off. They were also around and supported the New Deal from FDR. How do you think the liberals of today, ACLU or unions would react to the actions of his Works Progress Administration?
However, let’s start with adequate housing for the homeless. Take that trauma off their shoulders. I know there are people on this island with ideas and plans that can make a significant impact. In fact, this newspaper featured a doctor on the front page in December 2015 who walked around the island to bring light to his ideas and plans. People should listen.
Then, raise the minimum wage so working families can earn a decent wage. There’s a liberal idea that this conservative can support. But wait. Freeze the income tax rate for this increase at the current minimum wage amount. This increase in wages should be about the worker. Not means for the government to increase its coffers at the same time. This helps the worker as well as the employer. By the way, it’s the small “millionaire business person” (who I doubt is a millionaire) that is serving his community to the best of his ability by creating jobs and supporting his customers needs.
One last comment. Jesus was not homeless. He was serving his community by providing spirituality, guidance, encouragement and motivation. Jesus did not beg for anything. Due to his teachings, he was supported by the community and followers accordingly. He was probably the original Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Earl Nightingale, Steven Covey or any other modern day motivational speaker. Give the man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach the man to fish and feed him for life.
Vernon Dede
Kailua-Kona
We have lost a good and great man
Sometimes you don’t realize how much you will miss someone until you have lost them and for me that is the case with our Sen. Gilbert Kahele, who was by his actions a senator for our whole island. Sometimes you don’t thank people enough while there is still time to thank them. I have thanked Gil many times but in the end not enough.
Gil Kahele was an unusually good man and an unusually good politician, not just a skilled politician, because, of course, in his quiet, unassuming way he was an excellent politician, but a truly good politician. He was kind, wise and considerate of others.
He was, unasked, my mentor and a guiding brother and kupuna to me in the Legislature. He watched over me and I hope he still is. He may have passed on but he will always be a member of my internal Legislature, and I pray that wherever he may be, he can hear and feel my thanks and gratitude.
Amen.
Richard Creagan
Naalehu