TAX HIKE BETTER THAN SACRIFICING EDUCATION

There are two basic ways to balance a budget: decrease spending (budget cuts) or increase revenue (raise taxes). For months I have read about the frustration stemming from budget cuts, particularly the recent furlough Fridays in which not only our teachers took a pay cut, but nearly 200,000 children took a decrease in their education and, ultimately, took a decrease in their earning potential.

With so much anger over these budget cuts, I am surprised there is little mention of the seemingly taboo subject of raising taxes. In light of our current situation, a responsible government must start looking at all options. Now is the time to consider raising our taxes across the board.

Consider this:Raising taxes requires everyone to contribute, instead of select individuals who get their pay cut. All of us are able to make greater headway on balancing the budget than if only a few of us take a pay cut. No one wants to pay more taxes, but some modest increase with a moderated decrease in our spending makes more sense than what the government is doing now. I am willing to pay more in taxes if it means my child has more educational days in school.

Jason garrett | Kailua

CABOTAGE LAWS

JONES ACT PROVISIONS STILL NEEDED TODAY

Those against the Jones Act, this time, are trying to legislate from the bench, since they repeatedly fail in Congress. These narrowly focused, self-interested industries are working against the common good.

What is clearly not remembered is that cabotage laws in one form or another have existed since the Republic began.

The Jones Act benefits the local economy with safe, reliable and regularly scheduled service.

It gives decent wages and benefits to American workers, many who are local residents that support local businesses and pay all manner of taxes.

It provides a pool of skilled professionals to maintain a surge capacity to supply our troops in times of crisis.

New-build and ship-repair work is given to our shipyards to keep these skilled workers in times of need.

All in all, the Jones Act is comprehensive legislation that has withstood the test of time and is still needed today.

randy swindell | President, Hawaii Ports Maritime Council

GLOBAL WARMING

COMMENTARY BLIND TO THE BIG PICTURE

Bob McDermott's "Global-warming agenda ignores scientific facts" (Nov. 2) stresses 2009 data showing lower than average summer temperatures. This "scientific fact" means little.

Temperatures rise and fall annually, but the trend since 1890 shows a dramatic increase (www.arctic.noaa.gov/detect/global-temps.shtml).

The ice caps are, in fact melting, and children in flooded coastal Sri Lanka have to get their schooling on boats.

He cites "astronomer" Milutin Milankovitch's theories blaming astronomical phenomena for climate change. Milutin, who died in 1958, was actually a civil engineer and geophysicist, who has clearly been out of the debate for quite a while.

McDermott resorts to invective: "the media chattering class," "assorted know-nothings," and "environmental extremist position." He further touts carbon dioxide as one of the life-sustaining gases of this planet's ecosystem. Hey, Bob, too much of a good thing can be bad. Try living in a roomful of CO2 for a few hours.

Even given the very remote possibility that humans are not responsible for rising CO2 levels, we very likely can mitigate the problem with activities that actually create needed jobs.

What if climate change were not a leftist plot? What would this mean for our children? Do you really want to roll those dice, Bob?

ken rubenstein | Haleiwa

TUNA FARM

SCHEME BEGS OUR CAREFUL SCRUTINY

The AP story "Big Isle tuna farm approved by state" (Advertiser, Oct. 26) merits careful scrutiny by citizens and decision-makers alike.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources reviewed an application to raise 6,000 tons of ahi yearly in 12 huge submerged cages off the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

Concerns were raised over cultural rights violations; untested technology; lack of sharks and marine mammals management plans; poor community outreach; pollution and disease; and inherent unsustainability in importing 100 percent of fish feed and exporting 90 percent of the fish to sushi markets in Japan and the Mainland.

Though the BLNR conditionally granted the permit by a 4-1 vote, the Kanaka Council of the Big Island filed a contested case.

High-tech attempts to replicate nature's grand designs often fall short of the mark. Greater emphasis could be placed on restoring proven systems, such as the native Hawaiian coastal fishponds. The Hawaiian loko ia were developed from millenia of careful observation of natural processes, and were not predicated on an economic bottom line, or an air-flown final product.

We must support efforts to feed ourselves here in Hawaii before allowing others to cash in on schemes that compromise our natural resources.

rob parsons | Haiku, Maui

B&BS

BILL 7 BRINGS EXTRA DEMANDS, HARDSHIP

The B&B Bill 7 will require the city to expand its workforce to meet the enforcement demands that this expanded commercial activity will bring to our residential communities.

Are the residential areas of Lanikai, Kailua, Maunalua and Kalihi asking their councilmen to pass Bill 7 and expand the city work force?

Does Chairman Apo serve his constituents in West Oahu by supporting Bill 7?

If Bill 7 were to pass, some small off-beach hotels could find it hard to compete with B&B mini-hotels that are nestled in quiet, residential, beachfront communities.

Why does the city want to create this kind of competition by expanding tourism into our residential neighborhoods, especially during this recession?

A mahalo nui to councilmembers Cachola, Dela Cruz, Kobayashi and Djou for supporting the integrity of the residential communities by opposing Bill 7.

If Bill 7 were to pass, Mayor Hannemann should veto it.

Bob Hampton | Hawaii Kai