Downward spiral
Downward spiral
Regarding the Democrats’ lawsuit for partisan primaries: I would imagine that I speak for a good many people who are sick of the partisan general election. The non-partisan primaries let me vote for who I want, regardless of political affiliation, and then when we get to the general I have to select a party and only have choices from that ballot.
And I tell you, as many years as I can remember, even though I would vote for some Democrats, there is always a Republican or a Green that I really want to see elected, so I then pull that ballot in the general and don’t vote Democrat at all.
This country is in a downward spiral. The Democrats are the same as the Republicans now, and that is why we are in such a mess. Us “sheeple” need to wake up! The Fed has destroyed our currency, and you all owe interest to the Fed for the next seven generations or so. Hello — is anybody out there?
It is time for a new party — or at least some alternatives, like the Greens and Libertarians — to step forth and put in some good candidates, and then let us vote for whomever we want, not tied to any party at all.
I apologize for getting excited, but we are on a downward spiral, and it is going to get worse if we don’t wake up now.
Sara Steiner
Pahoa
Hurting the poor
Dear Mayor Kenoi: I am writing this letter to ask you to you repeal the Hawaii County Council’s bus fare increase.
I remember long ago walking into your office. You had some pamphlets indicating your achievements, and one of them was maintaining free public transportation for island folk. What happened, sir?
I take it you don’t offer that literature anymore, because since then we’ve had fares and charges for bringing even a shopping bag onto the bus.
Speaking for those of us who do not rely on public transportation but surely will be bitten by new property taxes, I’d like to say that I find it reprehensible that such an exorbitant increase (10 percent) is to be added to the poorest of island folk — those who ride the bus.
I don’t have to remind you that most of rural Hawaii hardly gets any benefits from the taxes we pay. Are these poor folk going to balance the budget for the Transportation Department? Is the county thinking that we would stop driving our cars to pay $2 each way, with bag charges? Certainly not.
The bus is not well-managed, the service is poor, and some of us would have a hard time contemplating using this service, which does not offer convenience — nor is it a pleasure to use.
Even if we personally are not affected by this increase, I’d like to ask you: Do you know a kupuna who is not yet 60, a student or any other folk without their own transportation? Sure you do: They are our neighbors, our family and our friends.
Are you aware that the two largest insurance companies that provide services to Medicaid are ending their medical transportation services to patients on the island? They are advising folks to take public transportation to the doctor. How will this affect constituents throughout the island with a fixed or low income?
Sir, in all the time you have been our mayor, we had our ups and downs, but mostly all of us have supported you. At this time I am asking you that you support the island folk and veto the council’s increase on bus fares.
A. Camargo
Hilo