‘Chasms between wealth and poverty’
Fun facts: The height of a stack of a million $1 bills measures about the height of a 30- to 35-story building. The height of a stack of one billion $1 bills would reach from the Earth’s surface into the lower portion of the troposphere — one of the major outer layers of Earth’s atmosphere. The least expensive private jets capable of flying to Hawaii start at $10 million and upwards of $30 million.
Private jets fill the airport tarmac in Kona, while their unfathomably wealthy owners pay rock-bottom fees to use that public facility. Nearby, houseless humans huddle in shrubs, dodging alternating flood and drought conditions that increase their uncertain days, nights and future.
Those same unlivable places, along with parks and strangers’ yards, are also increasingly the dumping grounds of an explosion of unwanted and abandoned pets. The animals have little chance of adoption or a humane death these days because, says the county, of a lack of “resources” (also known as public money and space) to help care for them — just like houseless humans.
According to statistics, our nation has never seen such chasms between wealth and poverty.
Both epidemics (human and animal neglect and abuse) have increased to obscene levels while the wealth of many of the people coming to and living on our shores couldn’t be spent in 10 lifetimes.
Many of those same privileged people don’t pay taxes anywhere (not just Hawaii), yet they depend upon the largesse of the hard-working, taxpaying public to help keep them comfortable and safe while they’re here (e.g., publicly funded roadways, clean beaches, police, etc.).
Mere mortals can call the Hawaii Humane Society to adopt a needy pet or volunteer with social services organizations to help unsheltered people. But as Bernie Sanders said, “There should be no billionaires.”
For the big fix, we need to tax the rich.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
Why let this suspect out on the street?
From the Tribune Herald, Nov. 3, “Ocean View man, charged with attempted murder, granted supervised release”:
An Ocean View man charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting another man in the face on Oct. 15 was granted supervised release during his initial appearance Thursday in Kona District Court.
Dorson Buddy Behrendt of Ocean View is charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of carrying and/or using a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Behrendt’s bail initially was set at $350,000. However, District Court Judge Kimberly Taniyama granted the defense’s request that he be released on his own recognizance.
Really? How does Judge Kimberly Taniyama justify releasing this person, with or without bail, who “allegedly” shot another man in the face last month?
Protecting our community?
Russell E. Ruderman
Keaau