Human decency
at stake
The vast majority of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, continually bring new energy to this country to keep our culture and economy vibrant. If we stifle this lifeblood of human resources that has built this country, we will stagnate and advance no more. Simple as that.
The current Trump policy of kidnapping children from parents is not an immigration issue — it is a human rights and decency issue, and has no place in resolving the concerns of illegal entry into this country. It is simply wrong and immoral to punish children to resolve adult issues — the children are innocent. And to label parents, guardians, and asylum seekers from the south as murderers and rapists is also not an immigration issue — it is an issue of scapegoating, lying, gas lighting, and demagoguery.
The good people protesting across the nation and in Kona are heroic advocates of human decency and for what this country and the Statue of Liberty stands. The world saw the good side of America today.
Ray Takeguchi
Holualoa
Electric rate future
doesn’t look good
With the price of oil steadily climbing, electric rates across the state are going up.
There’s typically a four- to six-week lag between spot market prices and kWh rates increasing.
I can easily see the HELCO G rate topping 40 cents within the next couple of months with the R rate getting to 40 cents by the end of the year, if not sooner.
And with the largest renewable plant on the island (Puna Geothermal Venture) going off line, most likely forever, HELCO will have to purchase more oil in order to maintain their increased burn rate at their conventional plants.
Recently approved rate increase, plus higher oil prices, plus burning more oil, equals higher electric rates here.
Marco Mangelsdorf, president of ProVision Solar
Hilo
