• U.S. military presence in Libya unjustified • Complimenting KIUC (sort of) • Down to one dermatologist • Trash fees on rentals are garbage U.S. military presence in Libya unjustified Our fine U.S. military plunges headlong into yet another battlefront,
• U.S. military presence in Libya unjustified • Complimenting
KIUC (sort of) • Down to one dermatologist • Trash fees on rentals
are garbage
U.S. military presence in Libya unjustified
Our fine U.S. military plunges headlong into yet another battlefront, now against Libya on President Obama’s unilateral orders — like his predecessor, bypassing our Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, which states Congress shall declare war.
Shortly after airstrikes commenced, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul correctly reminded the nation of this important constitutional obligation (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrV_Txg47Q) pointing to the hypocrisy of then candidate Obama’s own campaign words in 2007.
Obama said, “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”
What imminent threat is Libya to the U.S.?
The President is clearly and unfortunately ignoring his own advice. Instead he is ordering our brave, patriotic forces into Libya, not to defend America but to now deepen our military’s role as world-wide police and nation-builder.
To complicate matters, an ally in this new warfront has emerged and it is none other than our infamous foe al-Qaeda. Though few doubt the dubiousness of the creature we fight in Gadhafi, it is unclear who America is fighting for.
Could a worse leadership emerge in Libya?
Additionally, only two days into this operation, taxpayers are again saddled with another expensive bill: $600 million.
I concur with Senator Paul when he concludes that our soldiers deserve, at the very least, before we send them into a third war, Congress deliberate, debate and decide whether this war is in our vital national interest.
Rolf Bieber, Kapa‘a
Complimenting KIUC (sort of)
Though I have issues with the board at KIUC, i.e. the pace of implementing alternatives to fuel oil, apparent failure to hedge the price of oil a couple years ago when it dropped to $50, no plan for solar thermal, no apparent recognition that the technology now exists to store solar energy in salt deposits, no plan to substitute liquefied natural gas for oil and so on, I want to publicly thank the guys on the emergency repair crew who responded quickly and got me back up and running in short order yesterday when I stupidly dropped a large coconut tree onto the wires leading to my house. They were efficient, friendly and did a great job.
Thanks guys. You are much appreciated.
Michael Wells, Moloa‘a
Down to one dermatologist
I have recently learned that Dr. Thompson, dermatologist at Kaua‘i Medical Clinic, is leaving the island and Wilcox does not intend to hire a replacement. That will leave a community of 60,000 people living under a tropical sun with only one dermatologist. This seems extremely short-sighted on the part of the Wilcox administrators. Maybe this decision is based on money or logistics, but it is certainly not based on the needs of the community. If enough people feel the same way, maybe they can be pressured into reconsidering. Speak up here or contact Wilcox and let them know how you feel!
Roger Barques, Koloa
Trash fees on rentals are garbage
Having just finished my 20th year on Kaua‘i, and my 16th year in a vacation cottage, I am just amazed that the county seems to continue to tax the visitor. The latest is the trash pick-up fee. That fee will have to be passed on to the rentors — who else. I realize there is a cost, but based on what the Garden Island published as your tax rates, it seems they are leaning pretty heavy on the rental business. The county taxes visitors every chance it gets, it seems, my car rental for my five weeks is 1/3 taxes and fees.
How long will the visitor, even very loyal visitors like my wife and I keep coming back to be taxed out of existence. The trash fee is just the last straw — charging rentals $70 plus dollars when households are charged $12. The rentals in our area never seem to have more than a bag, maybe two.
Where is the outrage from rental owners and agents? Please don’t run the visitor off the island — PLEASE.
What happens is we spend less in the community, in order to pay our rent. Not a good trade off.
Sheldon Segerman, Yarmouthport, Mass.
