It’s a personal choice
Let’s examine the issues raised in V. Fuqua’s letter on Feb. 26. Where does (s)he get the notion that gambling causes alcoholism, drugs, poverty, homelessness and crime? I know of local people who love to travel to Las Vegas (as an example) to partake in games of chance, yet none of them have any of the “aliments” attributed by Fuqua to gambling. Are they the norm, or rather the exception? I think that to play these games is a personal choice, and not something to be regulated by government.
How about state sanctioned lotteries, do they also attribute to the aforementioned conditions?
Let’s look at Hawaii — there is no legal gambling (including lotteries) in the islands. However, I see plenty of alcoholism, drugs use and homelessness right here. Where does this come from because there is no legal games of chance? Do they arise out of non-legal gambling as well?
Let me say again that to play any game, whether legal or not, is a choice. And the day you take away that right via legislation is a loss for individual freedom. I have no interest in playing any game of chance, unless of course if it’s free to play. Case in point: two years ago I played the Monopoly game at Safeway, and won $2,600. If I lost, my only investment would have been my time and effort to play. My only obligation was to report the winnings to the governments as income, which I did. But I also think that the choice should, and must be left to the individual, without governmental intervention.
Michael L. Last
Na‘alehu
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Together we can do it
I wanted to find people who would share my concern about current condition of Highway 130.
It hurts my head every time I drive on it to see how dirty it becomes, how long it stay this way and that it is getting worse every day! A lot of trash bags, just lots and trash flies, around especially around Kea‘au Transfer station and generally between Kea‘au turn to 130 and Pahoa. It is painful to watch.
I am cleaning the stretch of the ocean cliff between Paradise and Maku‘u streets in Hawaiian Paradise Park, on a regular basis and unfortunately collecting big bag of trash practically every day. I am doing this little thing, so I believe there are some other people there who can help problem along the Highway 130.
I would be willing to go and help clean the grass area around Highway 130 but I do not know if it is legal to park the car on the curb of the highway and definitely concern about the safety to collect trash along the speedy traffic.
Is there anyway we can help this situation? This land is crying for help! This is America! The main concern of mine is not original. Everyone knows we are in the middle of the ocean, which we have to protect of pollution and we have to do our part. All of this trash ends up into the ocean and we have to stop it.
Please let’s get together and do all necessary to fix the problem. I called the state highway department that is responsible for cleaning our highways. Their phone number is (808)933-8866. So far, I do not see any action from their part. Maybe some other concerned neighbors can contact them as well ? This island is our home, we need to take care of this beautiful land and our spectacular ocean.
If any neighbor, group or organization would be willing to join me to start cleaning Highway 130, I will be with you. Please let me know. Together we can do it.
Elena Pomelov
Kea‘au
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