• Doctor’s departure • Private accounts • Tax relief can be implemented now • Grassroots Doctor’s departure When I read the article in The Garden Island about Karen Ratliff, MD, leaving Wilcox Hospital after almost 20 years of service as
• Doctor’s departure
• Private accounts
• Tax relief can be implemented now
• Grassroots
Doctor’s departure
When I read the article in The Garden Island about Karen Ratliff, MD, leaving Wilcox Hospital after almost 20 years of service as a general practitioner, I was really distressed about the “tone” of the article.
I doubt that the inference that Dr. Ratliff was “fired” for incompetence, was intentional, but if I didn’t know better, I might think that was what was being implied. And the inclusion in the article about Dr. Ratliff’s financial contributions to the hospital may have been well-intentioned, but again, it suggests that donations should have a bearing on her status.
Dr. Ratliff was primary physician for my husband and I for many years and we both feel that at critical times she helped save our lives. We found her to be very thorough and an excellent diagnostician.
We changed doctors within the past year or so because as time marched on, we needed the services of specialists and Dr. Ratliff is uncomfortable renewing medications prescribed by other doctors. We left her service with regret but understood this was her preference not a failing.
I know she wasn’t offered a new contract. I’m guessing the reason is based somehow on Wilcox’s need to convert from a patient-needs hospital to a business-needs facility. But it seems as though her departure has been handled in a shabby manner. A “Mahalo” party, for many years of fine service, would seem more appropriate. I know decisions that have led to several doctors departing from the staff at Wilcox, are not easy to make. But don’t forget that the investments staff make in the hospital, are not just time, but also emotions, friendships, skills and reputation.
- Georgia & Ralph Mossman Kapa‘a
Private accounts
First I would like to thank the letter writer of July 8 for pointing out who was in charge of the Congress for so many years. He is absolutely correct on that matter
The really important point of my letter regarding Social Security is the “Private Account” possibility. Many politicians, both Republican and Democrat, have been using the Social Security money as a low interest lending institution for their pet projects. Those moneys plus interest will have to be paid back to future Social Security Recipients by other tax payers , that’s our grand or great grand children.
If we are able to get the “Private Account” system incorporated into existing Social Security it will mean a little less money for the politicians of both parties to use for their pet projects. And it will mean that future wage earners can have a nest egg that they can use and pass on to their heirs. It is a win win situation. I hope that all readers will understand the significance of this and that they will urge their Congress people, Democrat or Republican, to help get the volunteer “Private Accounts” incorporated into any changes in the Social Security plan.
It is a plan that won’t hurt the people but it will keep some of the money out of the spenders that are in the Congress.
- Gordon “Doc” Smith
Kapa‘a
Tax relief can be implemented now
The recent optimistic Council on Revenues projection makes this a good time to focus our attention on ways to mitigate the tax burden for all taxpayers. The Lingle-Aiona administration supports several proposals that relieve the burden on struggling low-income and middle income persons and families.
One way is to cut taxes for those earning the least. Hawai‘i’s net income tax standard deduction has not been adjusted for 20 years. The standard deduction is the amount that can be deducted from your wages and salaries in order to calculate your taxable income, which determines how much tax you pay. Cutting taxes by increasing the standard deduction would make our tax system fairer and more progressive by providing tax relief directly to low-income and struggling taxpayers.
Another way to provide tax relief to everyone in Hawai‘i is to expand the tax rate brackets to have the higher tax rates apply at higher income levels. Bracket expansion would essentially provide relief to all of Hawai‘i’s tax-payers, regardless of income level.
Finally, the regressive effect of the general excise tax can be mitigated by providing tax credits or rebates for general excise taxes paid on purchases of basic necessities like food, medical services and non-prescription drugs.
By making these much-needed changes to our tax system during a special session of the legislature, we could cut taxes for nearly everyone living in Hawai‘i, and provide even greater tax relief for those struggling to meet the high cost of living.
The state has the money to fund this tax relief. The relief is warranted. The time is right.
- Kurt Kawafuchi
Director State Department of Taxation
Grassroots
In Sunday’s Forum we were treated to a breathless report from Hilo about how a FEC Research poll, for the Grassroots Institute, had turned the perception of support for the Akaka Bill upside down. FEC Research, as given up by Google, calls itself an advertising company (ccAdvertising) on their own Web site.
They aren’t hiding it.
They go on to say they “…ensure that our political…clients have their messages reach the households they have targeted…” In other words, they spread the word for you while masquerading as an automated phone poll. As far as these data they provide are concerned, doesn’t it make sense that a greater number of people who agree with the message would stay on the line to finish the poll?
This is all baloney. What is becoming routinely annoying, is the number of people, trying to persuade us of something, who don’t even spend five minutes checking out the very core of their argument.
