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SOS ad makes a complex issue too black and white

Even when the costs have been much higher, I have shopped locally as much as I could for 40 years to support local businesses; however, there are still too many local businesses that seem to take advantage of our isolation, and/or who do not carry many products that are therefore purchased elsewhere.

We were once pretty much held hostage to just a few stores that could charge what they wanted — we were economic hostages for food, travel, building supplies, etc., until recently. Like it or not, Maui is now part of an international marketplace and local businesses need to better adapt.

I will always buy locally first but when the difference in price is unreasonable, as it often is, I take advantage of my Amazon Prime. Appropriate and fair competition is good for everyone, especially in tough economic times.

The Maui News’ full-page SOS ad really made a complex issue far too black and white, while also seriously inferring that those not shopping locally are not practicing aloha.

And finally, many of our local economic issues are directly tied to several huge local monopolies that have an excessive control on land, rent, import/export and Maui’s economic base. Let’s take a good look at that!

Vincent Linares

Kula

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