BASIC QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT HEALTH CARE BILL
I want to see health care coverage for the millions of poor Americans who can't afford it.I'm ashamed that my country is the only first world country on the planet that does not provide health care for all.
So, why does the media say we're all against the health care bill in Congress, implying that we're against it because we don't like it? Answer: Because the media doesn't know, doesn't care and only seeks sensationalism. It also doesn't help that political parties give in to special interests and care less about people suffering without health care coverage.
I believe Americans would judge a health care bill on its merits, if only they could understand it. They're against that which no one has explained to them. I'm reasonably intelligent and I keep up with the news, but I don't know how much the bill in Congress now would cost me, how it would affect my current coverage or how it would work.Damned if I'll support any legislation without knowing the answer to these three basic questions.
William A. Jenkins
Pukalani
*****
MISS MAUI SCORING SYSTEM IS DISAPPOINTING
On Jan. 31, we flew to Maui from Oahu to enjoy watching our friends' daughter compete in the Miss Mauischolarship pageant.
Congratulations to all the beautiful young women that worked so hard. There werea few contestants that clearly were front-runners. Weknew a few were clear winners and ourfavorite girl, unfortunately, wasn'tone of them. The young woman of South Kihei was by farthe most elegant on stage. The eventual MissUlalena had not won one category, yet walked away with the title.
As pageant parents, we were very disappointed in Maui's scoring system. The question after the pageant was over was how the judges score. We werevery surprised to find out they throw all the scores out after all the categories and let the judges pick.
This systemnot only is biased but clearly unfair to the contestants who worked so hard.
We won'tbe coming back to Maui for any competition in the future.
RudyPalamino
Miliani, Oahu
*****
MORATORIUM SHOULD BE PLACED ON DEVELOPMENTS
Regarding the Feb. 10 article "Group: DIRE need for injection wells action":
Mayor Charmaine Tavares purports to eliminate the county's injection wells at five sewage treatment plants. In order to achieve this, she has convened disjointed working groups to make recommendations by December to improve from 20 percent recycled water use to 100 percent.
Meanwhile, in other county offices, development projects continue through approval. These projects are not supported by county-available infrastructure (sewer systems). This necessitates developers provide their own sewage treatment facilities (more injection wells).
Is this a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing? Or are we again faced with the inmates running the asylum syndrome.
Given the mayor's meritorious goal to eliminate injection wells, it would follow that all county departments should place a moratorium on all developments where existing county sewers are not available.
Why are we governing at cross purposes?
Ed Conlon
Maalaea
*****
READER WANTS TO JOIN WATER METER LAWSUIT
I am sure I am just one of many unfair water meter stories.
Back in the 1950s, when a small, 12-lot subdivision was made in Pukalani, the owner kept two lots. He built a house on one and used the other for his wife to garden. When they died, I acquired that lot. It has a lateral in for a meter. All I wanted was to be able to build a small cottage for my daughter and grandson, who was a baby. I put my name on the list.
My grandson is now 12 years old and they still live with me. I have not moved on the list. They tax me at $700,000per yearfor a 11,000-square-foot lot with no water meter. Useless.
I've tried to change this, to deaf ears. I cannotuse it or sell it. I just pay taxes on it. It is so unfair.
Meanwhile, I have watcheda newshopping center, industrial park, swimming pools, entire newsubdivisionsbe put inand another subdivision is in the works.
I'm getting older and so is everyone else. My daughter cannot fulfill her dream of owning her own home. Something is wrong with this system.
Can I join your lawsuit, Mr. Davis (The Maui News, Feb. 7)?
Linda McDonald
Kihei
*****
MAUI FILM FESTIVAL IS ALIVE AND WELL
For weeks, many people have been asking us, "What's up with the CandleLight Cafe & Cinema?"
Simply put, in its holiday season FirstLight at the MACC and its under-the-stars, annual, early summer, open air, celebration of cinema in Wailea incarnations, the Maui Film Festival is alive and well.
The weekly CandleLight Cafe & Cinema, however, remains in a state of suspended animation while the festival staff works to bring it back to life as soon as possible.
We know that thousands of Mauians and island visitors love the festival. We are truly appreciative and thankful that many of you have shared your aloha with us for years.
We love what we do and want to continue to be here for all of you. The festival has always been about building community through cinema.
Despite Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Twitter and Facebook's popularity, we still believe that leaving your cave and basking in the glow of great stories told around a cinematic campfire among a community of friends - old and new - is what true social networking is all about.
Face time is the yang to Facebook's yin. Emerging triumphant over our current shared challenges is a dance best done together. Community cinema and the window-on-the-world that it opens provide much-needed balance and chi to contemporary mainstream culture.
We look forward to welcoming you home for many weekly Wednesday showings soon. Please stay tuned to www.MauiFilmFestival.com or our Facebook page for updates.
Barry and Stella Rivers
Paia
*****
HC&S IS SUPPLYING JOBS, NOT WASTING WATER
A Feb. 7 letter writer thinks that Alexander & Baldwin and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar are being selfish because they want to keep our central valley green and in agriculture and keep several hundred people employed?
As a fifth-generation employee of HC&S, I don't agree. I think that it's pretty selfish for someone that doesn't live on Maui and has no real interest in our community to try to shut down a longtime local farming operation and put hundreds of people out of work. The letter writer claims he has "aloha for plantation workers," but he'd see us all to the unemployment line. I'd say that A&B and HC&S are pretty generous to the community. For years, they've donated land and money to a lot of our community organizations to help the people of Maui. They've provided jobs for generations of Mauians to support their families and their community.
The letter writer claims that we waste huge amounts of water. Well, I work at the Puunene Mill and see how we recycle the wash water over and over to reduce the amount we use and then, when the water has completed the cycling in the factory, we send it out to the fields where it irrigates the cane. I don't call that waste.
Keith A. Watimar
Puunene
*****
CAT SANCTUARY DESERVES RECOGNITION, SUPPORT
On a recent visit to Maui, I had the good fortune to tour 9th Life Hawaii, Maui's only no-kill cat rescue sanctuary. It turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip.
The entire operation is first class - from the accommodations for all-age felines to the obvious tender-loving care the volunteers provide. I saw meticulously clean living spaces, an operating area for spaying and neutering, an inviting adoption room and a secure, expansive yard with friendly, happy cats lounging like they'd made it to heaven.
I loved being there so much I was ready to volunteer myself.
9th Life Hawaii is Maui's only no-kill sanctuary, run solely by volunteers and has sterilized more than 2,400 cats.
We hear so much about the homeless these days, but I wanted to get the word out about the special place that is dedicated to protecting homeless cats in Hawaii. They deserve both recognition and support for their tireless, lifesaving work.
Please consider donating to and/or adopting from 9th Life Hawaii.
Candace Kerber
Bend, Ore.
