Letter to Editor

Star Bulletin printed my letter asking for gov's resignation. And of course one of the first responses was calling me a "whinny, state or unionized employee." Go figure.
The gov still seems teflon and nothing sticks.

Lingle must resign

Dear Editor,

I believe that Governor Lingle must resign. By reading the various forums on your web site it seems to me that she has done something that is unforgivable. She has turned the people of Hawaii against each other. People in Hawaii have assumed an attitude of us versus them. That what happens to us should happen to them. She has taken forums that were previously used for open discussion into forums of personal attacks. Personal attacks should not be the language of discussion or disagreements. It should be the job of the governor to unite the people of Hawaii.
There is a lot of misinformation around now and it seems that the governor is not willing to clarify any of it. That many people believe what she says makes more important that she be giving accurate and unbiased information.
But lastly to demand cuts in the education budget or to suggest using that money to balance the budget and then finding out that she has only applied for the funds now to me is inexcusable. We need a leader that unites us against the problems of society not one content with divisiveness.


Egan Kawamoto
Ewa Beach

808-292-4986

June 19

It seems that people do not understand that state employees contribute to the economy. That some how unions are the cause of the recession. That the recession would not happen if we had let private businesses flourish. I propose that on June 19 all state, county and union workers not spend a dime. I would like to see what private business owners would do when their sales figures are lower than anticipated.
I chose June 19 because it is a payday and all merchants expect a bump in sales.

I am also thinking of a couple of things that I might do to combat these mistaken notions. Raise my state withholding will lower tax revenues and also put a few dollars in my pocket. Pay my bills as late as I can. This doesn’t work for credit cards but canceling cards by local banks might work. Put off purchasing anything as long as I can.

Also don’t listen to Perry and Price and KSSK. They have proven to be shills for the governor, anti-union and purveyors of propaganda. In their reporting they have “mislead” many on the positions of unions. I don’t eat at Shiro’s or L&L Drive In because they both are public supporters of the governor. I also don’t shop at WalMart or Sam’s Club. They are people who are anti union, have personnel policies that harm the safety of their workers and are a drain on the public health system wherever they go. They also are one of the largest contributors to pro education voucher groups.

June 19th, gas up your car a day early or later. Have breakfast at home or take a thermos of coffee with you. Fill a cooler with refreshments for the day. Take a home lunch with you. Have a family dinner at home. Plan your purchases. Plan your day. June 19th plan for it and do it. I will.

Letter to Editor

wrote this. don't think they will publish. so..

Dear Editor,

I can agree with your editorial on 5/29. In this time of economic uncertainty strong leadership is needed. But you did not seem to include the governor. What is the role of state government in this? Across the board cuts is not leadership. Cutting payroll and health costs do not stimulate the economy. Digging in and not doing anything to generate income is not going to solve the problem.

In a letter that appeared from Kathleen Nullet, she is right that by cutting salaries and benefits to government workers it will only cut spending by that group. If furloughs or job cuts occur will the people of the state understand when things happen slower. It seems the mayors of Hawaii understand and are making do with what is being dealt to them.

As new money from the federal government comes down, if government workers are furloughed who will oversee the construction and contracts? Will we depend on the private sector to keep to all specifications of their contract? Will those receiving the contracts “share the pain” and work for less?

Yes leadership is needed. But not one who abdicates responsibility. Not one who attacks her employees. Not one who uses the media to as a bully’s pulpit

Egan Kawamoto

The governor, cyber bully?

I was wondering about this. Would the governor qualify as a cyber bully by her actions? She seems to be bargaining in the media. In essence using the media to threaten public union employees of sanctions if their union doesn’t comply with her wishes. All we have ever gotten from this governor are threats. If you don’t do this, this is what will happen. Threats, threats, threats. I am tired of it. And I will not be bullied.
Now union employees are being told that the governor has not brought forth a proposal. Her budget strategy was to cut millions from the budget and tell the unions “that’s all folks”. Is that a leader or Bugs Bunny we have on the 5th floor? I hope it is very clear to all that this was an administration that spent more time looking good than leading.
It is easy to criticize the legislature’s actions. Raising taxes is not a good thing. Especially the tax on tobacco products (cigars). But what else can you do? You need to raise revenue. Her plan to lay off or furlough workers only reduces revenue. It may cause some workers to apply for assistance; it will lower income through tax revenues. She may be correct in saying you cannot tax your way out of a recession, but neither can you just lower people’s pay and benefits.
I believe the legislature did what they thought they had to do. The legislature did not allocate more money for health benefits so we will pay more for it. The legislature raised certain taxes that will cause us to pay more. The legislature created a budget that works now what will the governor do?

I feel like a mushroom

I feel like a mushroom. Kept in the dark and fed poop. It seems the only information we get from the union lately is when they need help. Give us info.
I still don’t understand the MBC problem. The governance manual referred to in the new amendments doesn’t exist yet.
Now we are asking the leg to override the governor’s veto. Why? Because it will cost us money. The real reason should be that that is what is needed to balance the budget. While the governor insists that we cannot tax our way out of the recession, neither can we just cut services and get out of it. The president is correct in putting in a spending program as well as tax cuts.
But what is the governor’s plan? Does she have a plan? Seems only she knows it and shares it with the media. She hasn’t even brought anything to the negotiation table. I don’t understand why our union is not responding?

Grandstanding

The public veto of the proposed tax hikes by the governor is plain grandstanding. Vetoing tax hikes is okay but what alternatives does she have? She hasn’t put an offer on the table to any of the public unions. She did not submit any plan to the legislature. If she has a plan to handle the shortfall let’s hear it. Her only plan that has been articulated (in the media) is share the pain.
It seems that it is the only thing she is looking at. But what pain? She and her appointees are taking a 5% cut. What isn’t said is they have already gotten a 9% cut. Which works out to a @3.5% raise. And in the papers she is asking for public workers to take a furlough that would amount to @12% cut. If this is sharing the pain I am willing to give more pain to the governor and her appointees.
And where is the LG? Is this problem too complex for him? Where is the leadership? Leadership is making hard decisions. After talking of a $2 billion shortfall why does it all hinge on a $278 million dollar takeaway? Show me the math.