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Letters for Saturday, May 23, 2009
•Empty platform
•Put energy bills into plastic bags
Empty platform
To build a political platform based purely in opposition to someone else is like filling a balloon with hot air. Once it’s popped, there’s nothing there.
Case in point: Sen. Gary Hooser — a man who shows he is constantly full of hot air.
Hooser — who is campaigning for statewide office — recently spoke in a derogatory manner to news media about Gov. Lingle’s six-plus years in office.
To the contrary, I think most people will agree that she has achieved a great deal in her nearly seven years as governor.
Because of decisions she has made and actions she and her Cabinet have taken, thousands of homeless are in transitional shelters; native Hawaiians are receiving homestead leases at a faster pace than ever before; businesses are paying millions less in fees, assessments and unemployment insurance taxes; the number of children in foster care has declined by 50 percent; and Hawai‘i has taken significant steps toward a clean energy future.
This affirmation of the public’s support was seen in the governor’s win of all 51 legislative districts in her 2006 historic re-election.
The public needs to begin asking what naysayers like Sen. Hooser actually stand for. What meaningful legislation has he sponsored during his tenure in office? His constant politicizing and blatantly political statements offer nothing but a disservice to the people of Hawai‘i.
Lenny Klompus, Governor’s communications senior adviser
Put energy bills into plastic bags
In response to Coco Zickos recent articles I wish to complement her on her work including her latest on the energy bills awaiting Gov. Lingle’s signing or vetoing.
She presents the news in a straightforward, non-biased manner reminiscent of journalism of the past. She reviewed the issues, quoted the sources and refrained from introducing rightwing or leftwing editorial interpretations.
Responding to a letter written by Anita Cook entitled “Ban plastic bags now,” her second attempt to rid Kaua‘i of a precious natural asset, I’d like to point out that when most people address this plastic bags issue they do not recognize their value.
They are convenient yet they do turn into garbage, like everything else we ship to Hawai‘i. What people do not realize is that garbage is a source of natural assets to be reused and that plastic bags were made from petroleum and can be recycled back into petroleum. Yes, there is a process waiting to come to Kaua‘i that can turn all of the plastics in Hawai‘i, 1-categories 1-7, back into crude oil which can then be refined into diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, bunker oil, all of which would be produced and utilized here on Kaua‘i or in Honolulu, all depending on the will of the people.
Every bit of imported products are made of natural elements combined together to make some kind of useful product that will eventually turn into garbage someday and can be recycled into a new form of a useful product. The technology, technicians, equipment, financing and desire are waiting to come to Kaua‘i or Honolulu. The only thing preventing it from coming to our island state is the lack of political will.
Our present day “self-seeking” politicians are so wrapped up in “self-seeking” ambitions and agendas that they are blinded by greed. Only the will of the citizens can make real solutions to preserve our beautiful island environment and rid us of the real problems of solid waste and expensive energy. To make these negative issues vanish citizens must demand that such technologies be welcomed into our community now rather that being blocked from coming to Kaua‘i or Hawai‘i for another 10, 20 or 30 years. Jobs will be provided now.
In the past 10 years Kaua‘i’s County Council and Mayor’s Office has proven itself incapable of resolving our island’s waste and energy disasters. Examples: Kekaha Landfill and the highest electric bills in the nation. It appears the only aloha for solving these problems is a lot of hot air in lower case.
There is no need to wait to achieve sustainability. It can begin happening rapidly within three to four years and cost the residents not 1 cent. But our past and present local governing bodies are unwilling to listen, with one exception: The only government officials that may appear willing to listen to a positive solution to our waste and energy problems are our newly elected Mayor Carvalho and a couple of council members.
The mayor has yet to indicate which direction he is willing to travel in resolving these issues. I do hope he, and others, will contact this writer so that we can at least present an immediate viable solution to these damaging and divisive issues. Otherwise, do place the present energy bills into plastic bags and wait for them both to biodegrade because it will not be resolved if left up to “self-seeking” politicians. By then, the entire island should be littered with overflowing landfills.
John Hoff, Lawai
•Put energy bills into plastic bags
Empty platform
To build a political platform based purely in opposition to someone else is like filling a balloon with hot air. Once it’s popped, there’s nothing there.
Case in point: Sen. Gary Hooser — a man who shows he is constantly full of hot air.
Hooser — who is campaigning for statewide office — recently spoke in a derogatory manner to news media about Gov. Lingle’s six-plus years in office.
To the contrary, I think most people will agree that she has achieved a great deal in her nearly seven years as governor.
Because of decisions she has made and actions she and her Cabinet have taken, thousands of homeless are in transitional shelters; native Hawaiians are receiving homestead leases at a faster pace than ever before; businesses are paying millions less in fees, assessments and unemployment insurance taxes; the number of children in foster care has declined by 50 percent; and Hawai‘i has taken significant steps toward a clean energy future.
This affirmation of the public’s support was seen in the governor’s win of all 51 legislative districts in her 2006 historic re-election.
The public needs to begin asking what naysayers like Sen. Hooser actually stand for. What meaningful legislation has he sponsored during his tenure in office? His constant politicizing and blatantly political statements offer nothing but a disservice to the people of Hawai‘i.
Lenny Klompus, Governor’s communications senior adviser
Put energy bills into plastic bags
In response to Coco Zickos recent articles I wish to complement her on her work including her latest on the energy bills awaiting Gov. Lingle’s signing or vetoing.
She presents the news in a straightforward, non-biased manner reminiscent of journalism of the past. She reviewed the issues, quoted the sources and refrained from introducing rightwing or leftwing editorial interpretations.
Responding to a letter written by Anita Cook entitled “Ban plastic bags now,” her second attempt to rid Kaua‘i of a precious natural asset, I’d like to point out that when most people address this plastic bags issue they do not recognize their value.
They are convenient yet they do turn into garbage, like everything else we ship to Hawai‘i. What people do not realize is that garbage is a source of natural assets to be reused and that plastic bags were made from petroleum and can be recycled back into petroleum. Yes, there is a process waiting to come to Kaua‘i that can turn all of the plastics in Hawai‘i, 1-categories 1-7, back into crude oil which can then be refined into diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, bunker oil, all of which would be produced and utilized here on Kaua‘i or in Honolulu, all depending on the will of the people.
Every bit of imported products are made of natural elements combined together to make some kind of useful product that will eventually turn into garbage someday and can be recycled into a new form of a useful product. The technology, technicians, equipment, financing and desire are waiting to come to Kaua‘i or Honolulu. The only thing preventing it from coming to our island state is the lack of political will.
Our present day “self-seeking” politicians are so wrapped up in “self-seeking” ambitions and agendas that they are blinded by greed. Only the will of the citizens can make real solutions to preserve our beautiful island environment and rid us of the real problems of solid waste and expensive energy. To make these negative issues vanish citizens must demand that such technologies be welcomed into our community now rather that being blocked from coming to Kaua‘i or Hawai‘i for another 10, 20 or 30 years. Jobs will be provided now.
In the past 10 years Kaua‘i’s County Council and Mayor’s Office has proven itself incapable of resolving our island’s waste and energy disasters. Examples: Kekaha Landfill and the highest electric bills in the nation. It appears the only aloha for solving these problems is a lot of hot air in lower case.
There is no need to wait to achieve sustainability. It can begin happening rapidly within three to four years and cost the residents not 1 cent. But our past and present local governing bodies are unwilling to listen, with one exception: The only government officials that may appear willing to listen to a positive solution to our waste and energy problems are our newly elected Mayor Carvalho and a couple of council members.
The mayor has yet to indicate which direction he is willing to travel in resolving these issues. I do hope he, and others, will contact this writer so that we can at least present an immediate viable solution to these damaging and divisive issues. Otherwise, do place the present energy bills into plastic bags and wait for them both to biodegrade because it will not be resolved if left up to “self-seeking” politicians. By then, the entire island should be littered with overflowing landfills.
John Hoff, Lawai
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| Letters for Sunday, May 24, 2009 |
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- Letters to the Editor for Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
g-man wrote on May 23, 2009 1:38 PM:
" Lenny Klompus, Lingle and every single GOPer including your self are a filthy menance to our freedoms and society in general. Go pander your lies somewhere else. "
stankoga wrote on May 23, 2009 8:33 PM:
" Lenny Klompus....Gov. Lingle's lapdog, barking away, yip yap yip yap!
Hoff: lets ban bags now and later when the technologies that you so enthusiastically espouse become availiable and are ESTABLISHED on kauai , well then lets recant the ban on plastic bags. i for one dont want to wait around for the wheels of government to come around and do the right thing....lets take care of today today....ban bags now....its not at all something new to have folks carry their own shopping bags to go shopping...its being done in, and has been done forever in ...GASP! ...europe!!! AUWE america AUWE kauai...lets do the right thing. "
Hoff: lets ban bags now and later when the technologies that you so enthusiastically espouse become availiable and are ESTABLISHED on kauai , well then lets recant the ban on plastic bags. i for one dont want to wait around for the wheels of government to come around and do the right thing....lets take care of today today....ban bags now....its not at all something new to have folks carry their own shopping bags to go shopping...its being done in, and has been done forever in ...GASP! ...europe!!! AUWE america AUWE kauai...lets do the right thing. "
G. Gordon Smith wrote on May 25, 2009 10:16 PM:
" Golly, what a shame that g-man needs to be so full of anger. I wonder how g-man will feel when he is unable to collect his Soc. Sec. and /or can't afford to buy things 'cause the all union work places have raised the prices so high that even no one will be able to afford them even with "union wages". Or worse yet all manufacturers have moved to China, Mexico or Costa Rica. And there are no factories to hire those "Union Members" ? Oh wait ! that is already happening with American Auto Companies.
Now as to Mr Klopus, perhaps he and his ilk should just start carrying their own shopping bags like they have to in Germany and the U.K. Perhaps they might start a fad that would solve the problem. Many forget that in the U.S. freedom of choice is one of our strong points. We don't need " Big Brother" telling us when and where we can do certain things and what we can wear and what we can think.
In Germany one must report their new address to the local police whenever one moves from one residence to another. Also if one's child is not coming up to required standards at school they will required to go to a trade school. One might say this is a good idea, but do we really want it to be forced on our parents and children or should it be a choice they could make at home around the dinner table. "
Now as to Mr Klopus, perhaps he and his ilk should just start carrying their own shopping bags like they have to in Germany and the U.K. Perhaps they might start a fad that would solve the problem. Many forget that in the U.S. freedom of choice is one of our strong points. We don't need " Big Brother" telling us when and where we can do certain things and what we can wear and what we can think.
In Germany one must report their new address to the local police whenever one moves from one residence to another. Also if one's child is not coming up to required standards at school they will required to go to a trade school. One might say this is a good idea, but do we really want it to be forced on our parents and children or should it be a choice they could make at home around the dinner table. "
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interesting wrote on May 23, 2009 9:18 AM:
that sounds quite good, but could be do to a number of things
with plastics bags.....a mandatory curbside recycling bill would be far more impressive "