Politicians
don’t care
Why do we keep putting in politicians who keep making the same promises year after year, decade after decade, that do nothing?
For example, we have had a housing crisis on all levels for at least 50 years, and our keiki leave for the mainland because they cannot find good paying jobs here. Only now the parents are leaving, too.
We have traffic problems. A high-speed rail system for Oahu is billions of dollars over cost and does not go to or from where it is needed.
There is a budget surplus of billions of dollars, with billions more in the next few years. So, what do they do? Give the taxpayer up to $300 back. All of it should go back to the taxpayers. It is our money.
We tighten our belts, while they go on a spending spree. On top of that, they want to raise taxes.
Inflation has put food prices through the roof. More and more people can no longer put food on the table. Many more struggle to put food on the table.
We have a doctor shortage. On our island, we are about 200 doctors short, and it is going up. That should scare you.
Our governor ran on a promise to get rid of the general excise tax on medicine and food. He did a 180-degree turn on that.
He said the tourists need to pay their fair share. So, we all pay. The politicians care more about tax money than us.
We need to put them on notice that this has to stop. Either do your job, for the people, or get out and let someone who can and will serve the people.
We have a one-party system in this state. This never serves the people. We need a balance of power to keep the other in check.
David Prager
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Cannabis
reform needed
It is, indeed, disappointing that our state legislators have once again failed to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis for personal use (Tribune-Herald, March 26).
The blame entirely lies with three powerful House Committee chairpersons who did not schedule the bill for hearings. Had they called for hearings, the bill (which had already passed overwhelmingly in the Senate) would have sailed through House approval and moved onto the governor’s desk.
At this time, the demise of much-needed cannabis reform legislation is particularly tragic. Legalization could have provided the state with greatly needed tax revenue to educate our youth and adults about the deadly effects of fentanyl and highly addictive drugs, thereby saving lives, and regulated a market currently controlled by criminals.
Next session, let’s hold our legislators accountable and force committee chairs to be fair about opening hearings on legislation for which they may be personally opposed.
This is a democracy, and legalizing, taxing and regulating cannabis is what the majority of Hawai’is citizens demand.
Andrea Tischler
Hilo
