How ironic
How ironic
It’s laughable (in the most pro-union state in America) to see our bloated, incompetent, corrupt state government try to impose a “final offer” on the teachers, with financial and performance targets, when they couldn’t pass the same on themselves. Why don’t they support the teachers with what they need? Easy: They want to spend the money on themselves! You don’t see them taking a pay cut, do you?
William Wade
Kehena Beach
‘Billboard of hate’
I am writing in regard to the pickup truck that’s been parked at Lincoln Park for over a year now.
It disheartens me to see the leader of the free world so blatantly disrespected. It’s hard not to pull the “race” card when you see an African-American and his wife “hanging” as if being lynched. I shudder to think what our tourists and other visitors must think and feel at the sight of such hatefulness in its entirety.
What is this teaching the children that frequent Lincoln Park who can’t read? Exposing children to this propaganda should be illegal. It’s shameful that President Obama, being an African-American from Hawaii, be so disrespected in his home state.
With all of the powerful and intelligent people in Hilo, I would have thought that someone would have done something about this. I guess it’s going take a visitor, taking pictures of this standing “billboard of hate” to take it to the national media before anything is done. By then, our already weakened economy is going to take a major hit in tourism and other economic endeavors.
I hope our leaders stand-up and do something before its too late. Please don’t allow Hilo to be known as a place that allows others to openly and unforgivably perpetuate hate. I’m not saying take away this person’s right to freedom of speech — just have this idiot park his truck in his own driveway. Mahalo
Jonnie Davis
Hilo
Hybrids cost more
Regarding “Why drive a hybrid” (Tribune-Herald, Your Views): Contrary to the argument raised in Mr. Ed Comstock’s June 17 letter, financial saving is not a good reason to buy a hybrid automobile.
Mr. Comstock argues that he can save almost $300 per year in the cost of gasoline. At that rate of “savings,” it will take Mr. Comstock about 30 years to pay the extra $9,000 or so a hybrid will cost him over a comparably equipped 4-cylinder. Hybrid drivers also need to salt away about $625 per year to replace the drive-train battery in their car when it gives out in about eight years.
So buy a hybrid if you want to feel like you are saving the planet from greenhouse gases, or buy it because it is a liberal status symbol, but please don’t delude yourself into thinking that you are saving money.
I will stick with my 20-year old, gas-guzzling Ford Explorer V6 and think about all the money that I am saving by not having a car payment.
Norm Stahl
Hilo