Water problem from the past shows no foresight
I’ve been reading your story line in West Hawaii Today on Department of Water Manager and Chief Engineer Keith Okamoto’s comments on the four wells whose pumps are inoperable and how these pumps are specially ordered because companies who manufacture them are made to order.
He also goes on stating they need to have backup pumps and motors for high capacity and critical wells. Pumps also need to be replaced every seven years. These same statements were made by Keith Okamoto in the early 2000s when we were faced with the same situation when one of the deep well pumps went down.
Yet, here we are without backup pumps or parts. Why wasn’t anything purchased then? Wouldn’t you think it should be top priority in upcoming fiscal budgets leading up to the present timeline? Do we, as West Hawaii citizens, need to call for an audit of his department budget from years past to see why new pumps and motors were not purchased?
As a voting citizen, I always wonder what really happens to increase in fees and taxes meant for projects like this one. Customers abusing the restriction need to be issued warning with their bill and, if need be, fined on their bill. When will government get programs funded correctly and make sure it gets done with no overcost to taxpaying citizens?
Terry Tatsugawa
North Kona
Problems abound from the left
Poor Mark Van Pernis (WHT June 20), by his own admission, as he gets older, he gets more out of touch with reality and history. We won’t entertain him by arguing with his classic revisions of history this time. It’s the same old strategy used by leftists for decades.
However, let’s dwell on the present and the successes of the leftist policies that he loves so much and wants to push on others. Please Mark, tell us why there are still any problems after eight years of your beloved leftist president? Why are there still 50 million Americans on food stamps and 90 million Americans unemployed? Why is our nation and most states underwater with debt? Why are health insurance premiums skyrocketing to unaffordable levels for many families? Why are our inner cities, mostly ruled by leftists for decades, riddled with poverty, crime, unemployment, poor schools and fatherless children? Why do we have more takers than providers in our economy? After eight years of leftist rule, shouldn’t we all be living in a state of utopia?
After answering the above queries (there are plenty more), please give us the examples in history where leftist policies have actually succeeded and not crumbled into a heap of despair and ruin.
You are an apparent expert on the failures of conservatism, how about educating us on the successes of leftism if they exist at all except for the groups of victims that leftists help create.
Conservatives do not promote a universal soup kitchen but rather universal opportunities for all.
Jim Higgins
Puuanahulu