ANTI-SODA EFFORTS NOT ABOUT HEALTH

Michael Jacobson's claim that taxing soft drinks is a good idea because they're "unnecessary" is great recession rhetoric ("Soda's costs are hidden, but real," July 7). The argument that soda taxes are an effective preventive health measure is also a timely ruse. But let's be honest. Jacobson doesn't just want to tax our lifestyles. He wants to control them.

As Jacobson himself points out, most states already tax soft drinks. But there isn't any data to show that it has had any impact on obesity rates. The only major study to analyze changes in state soft drink taxes, from 1990 to 2006, found that their impact on people's weight was minimal.

It's time to start recognizing the so-called liquid-lifestyle tax for what it really is: a "sin" tax. And anti-soda evangelism has little to do with paying for health care or curbing obesity rates. It's the same kind of "for your own good" finger-wagging that involves locking up other people's liquor cabinets and banning salt shakers from restaurant tables.

Haven't we had enough of this?

J. Justin Wilson | Senior research analyst, Center for Consumer Freedom, Washington, D.C.

CLIMATE CHANGE

BILL WILL LET CRITICAL COLLABORATION BEGIN

To keep Hawai'i in the forefront of states addressing climate change, Gov. Lingle should sign Senate Bill 266, creating an "adaptation task force," so that we can begin — now, not later — the critical collaborative planning among agencies, businesses, academia, and island communities facing a future impacted by climate change.

Hawai'i will be uniquely impacted by climate change. This challenge presents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on anticipated impacts such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events, coral reef bleaching, ocean acidification, and contamination of freshwater resources with saltwater.

Hawai'i already took a critically important first step. The governor's Clean Energy Initiative and the landmark greenhouse gas emissions legislation (Act 234) in 2007 put Hawai'i on the path to reducing our heat-trapping pollution and achieving energy security. However, until now, there has been no such foresight on building our islands' resilience to the inevitable effects of climate change.

We shouldn't leave it to our children to figure out how to deal with sea levels that will regularly wash over important coastal roadways; flood storm drainage systems; erode precious beaches; dislocate coastal neighborhoods, visitor areas and industrial zones; lap against airport runways; and poison low-lying freshwater aquifers. Planning should start now.

SB 266 addresses these issues proactively by creating a task force that will provide a comprehensive analysis and clear deliverables about our need to plan for adaptation to climate change.

Mark Fox | External affairs director, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i

Robert Harris | Executive director, Sierra Club Hawai'i

Denise Antolini | Professor and director, Environmental Law Program, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai'i

Shannon Wood | President and co-founder, Windward Ahupua'a Alliance

Jeff Mikulina | Executive director, Blue Planet Foundation

HEALTH CARE

OBAMA'S REFORMS ARE A GOOD START

As I am one of those folks who can't afford the health care they need, I would like to ask everyone to support President Obama's health care reforms.

While no plan will be perfect, I'm convinced that something has to be done, and the administration's initiatives are a good start. Just remember, these problems are going to affect you, too. Wait and see — and take some action to mitigate the problems now.

Kurt Olsen | Honolulu

RECESSION

UNCHECKED GREED GOT US IN THIS MESS

Everyone is worried about the current recession. How deep will it go, have I or will I be affected, how long is it going to last — all valid issues in the current tough times.

What people also need to think about is what caused this catastrophic mess in the first place.

For years, while the average American was steadily increasing his financial wealth and stability at a moderate pace, unbridled financial brokers and bankers were betting our financial security for quick, high-paying commissions. This get-rich-quick mentality has crumbled our social and financial stability, bringing the value of the dollar to record lows. While the average American has suffered tremendous losses in this recession, the financial "wizards" who concocted this mess got away with millions of dollars in bonuses.

Lobbyists hired by the financial market have long clamored for and gotten reduced government oversight. Apparently, the government has forgotten the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, where deregulation caused the savings and loans to lend out too much money on risky real estate ventures.

It is obvious that greed again has overcome fiscal prudence and that more government regulation by knowledgeable analysts must be put in place.

Jon Shimamoto | Mililani

STATE BUDGET

UNIONS' BATTLES HAVE HELPED ALL WORKERS

If you had cancer, would you wish your neighbor to feel your pain? Would you want your neighbor to become afflicted as well? Would this satisfy your hunger for equality and justice?

At bottom, this is the kind of emotional and destructive reasoning behind those who want the unions to suffer since they (the public, whoever they might be) are suffering. Misery loves company. The golden rule doesn't apply. Please remember the strong union heritage of this state and the fact that all workers have benefitted from the battles they have fought. And the battles they continue to fight.

Some sacrifice, yes! Balancing the budget totally on the back of our union workers, no!

Roman Leverenz | Honolulu