Gabbard no different from the rest
As far as “Gabbard bucking the system,” I love it when WHT publishes funny letters like the one from Holly Bell on April 19. She was right about Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono — they are totally worthless, true representatives of the Democrats and their handout policies — total bobbleheads.
But, the idea that Holly is “so proud of all the young people who turned out to vote for Sanders.” That “they are very aware of how our government works” is a sick joke at best! Bernie is a total clown, a true socialist who has no clue how he would pay for all the “free stuff” he wants to hand out. His idea is to bankrupt America — then what?
When Gabbard first ran for office I and many other “right-leaners” thought she would be a different kind of Democrat, one who could think for herself and make informed decisions, not bow to her overlords in the party. While it is good that she isn’t backing Hillary (yet), the idea that Bernie is actually a better choice and she is supporting him is quite sad. She would have shown some genuine spunk if she declined to support either of the Dems! So far her only positive thing is that she supports our veterans.
Frank Dickinson
Kailua-Kona
GET would be more shenanigans
The process of obtaining a tax increase is a three step process.
Step 1: Introduce a bill (GET hike draws fire, WHT, April 20).
Step 2; Convince the public that the measure has merit and that the money will be spent cost-effectively.
Step 3: Vote on the measure.
With Bill 165, I’m stuck on step two. Sure, I’d like an improved transportation system, and to do so, the county will require additional capital to pay for the improvements. Hence Bill 165, which increases the GET, was introduced. But I have misgivings about Bill 165 because I have no confidence that the county has the capacity to actually spend the tax increase wisely.
Why?
Because — as the past has shown — there will be no one watching for shenanigans. Where was the “shenanigans-checker” in the mayor’s office when Mayor Kenoi was running up all those pCard charges? Didn’t the deputy managing director or the former managing director, and now mayoral candidate have their shenanigan detectors at the ready?
Who is monitoring the overtime expenditures for county employees (WHT, April 4)? Cited was a battalion chief, with overtime, earning $205,013, and a park planner earning $157,654. With these habits as our benchmark and historical record, are we to believe that misconduct or suspect spending patterns associated with this tax increase will be reported? Does it snow in Fiji?
Good management dictates, “inspect what you expect.” Sorry, I don’t trust the government with my tax money. One politician’s hand washes the other politician’s hand — and taxpayers supply the soap.
Richard Dinges
Hilo
Pohakuloa Earth Day sham
Can you imagine such hypocrisy? Earth Day at Pohakuloa! Where is the media to raise a critical voice?
Take the blinders off. Pohakuloa is a place where upwards of 14 million live rounds are fired annually by the US military and the 133,000-acre base is contaminated with a wide range of military toxins, including depleted uranium (DU), lead, etc.
Bomb the sacred aina all year but have an “Earth Day Celebration” on April 22. That’s hypocrisy to the max! Stop the bombing now and forever! Aloha aina. Then we will celebrate.
Jim Albertini
Kurtistown