Unmask our keiki
The thing I find so hard to believe is that prominent medical doctors have studied the pandemic, masks, and vaccinations for nearly two years, and concluded that masks really do not prevent transmission, or even offer extra personal protection. Unfortunately, the only science accepted is that put forth by the CDC and the federal government.
Teachers, of course, are welcome to wear a mask. What they’re not welcome to do is subject our children to the true torture of being muzzled all the time, living in fear, and unable to get a handle on the emotions of those around them and all for nothing! If teachers are so paranoid about seeing their student’s faces, they shouldn’t be teaching. It’s time for them to go far, far from the classroom.
Consider that most children almost invariably experience COVID-19 as a mild cold. The American Academy of Pediatrics shows that just 0.1% to 1.5% of child COVID cases resulted in hospitalization and 0.00% to 0.01% resulted in death. And they’re unlikely to infect others.
Children by nature hate having their faces covered, don’t detect emotions well from covered faces, have speech delays, get their masks filthy, and are more likely than adults to engage in activities requiring lots of oxygen. It’s call playing.
We as Americans are primarily in trouble because we have no understanding of the Bible, or of the U.S. Constitution. We are a constitutional republic and not a dictatorship or a socialist country. It is long past the time to turn this ship around and face the truth. We have let ourselves be brainwashed under the guise of teaching truth, only to find at last that most of this is all lies.
Doctors know better, but most are afraid they will lose their license if they attempt to speak the truth. This is medical tyranny. Lawsuits are coming!
Teresa Lyons
Kailua-Kona
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Measure will result in raise in electric rates
I urge your readers to oppose Senate Bill 2510, which would raise electric rates on every island and worsen our climate crisis. Proposed by Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz and Glenn Wakai, if passed in its original form it will also remove planning flexibility from our utilities and PUC and reward carbon-polluting corporations.
The bill would require a set percentage of “firm renewable” sources in our electric utilities. (While this percentage has been removed from the most recent versions, it will return in “conference committee,” because without it this bill is meaningless.)
This would prevent the utilities from adopting the cheapest, most reliable mix of resources. A more flexible mix with extra solar, wind and battery capacity will be cheaper and just as reliable.
Our electric utilities and PUC have guided Hawaii to be the nation’s leader in renewable energy, with the careful planning that is standard with such professionals. They somehow did it without any help from Dela Cruz and Wakai, but now the good senators are stepping in to save us from this pattern of consistency and professionalism.
I know some of the planners at the PUC and Hawaiian Electric Industries a little bit. They are capable professionals in their field and have kept the lights on through our transition to renewables. I know Dela Cruz and Wakai quite well. Fair play, democratic principles, and concern for our environment have never hindered their efforts to please their corporate sponsors.
Russell E. Ruderman
President, Island Naturals Markets and former state senator
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