• Walmart’s negative effects on the local economy • Please use responsible stewardship • Vandalism dampers summer programs • Get out and vote • Move over Walmart’s negative effects on the local economy In response to James Rosen’s letter on
• Walmart’s negative effects on the local economy • Please use responsible stewardship • Vandalism dampers summer programs • Get out and vote • Move over
Walmart’s negative effects on the local economy
In response to James Rosen’s letter on “What’s so bad about Walmart,” consider its labor policies, its involvement in China, its lack of U.S. and Hawaiian products and its invasion of privacy for starters.
We read regularly about employee groups suing Walmart for unfair labor practices, i.e., women paid less than men for the same jobs, employees being required to work more hours than they are paid for, and employees being fired for trying to form a union.
Reading the labels shows us that our money often goes to China and not to our own people. (For further on this subject read “Death by China” by Peter Navarro). Let’s check the labels when buying and support Hawaiian grown goods and foods.
Walmart records each purchase we make and keeps a mine-able data asset that is unmatched in U.S. retail. (See Information Systems, Section 11.7 by John Gallagher).
What do they know about you?
One can run a sweatshop as they did in the industrial age, pay less than subsistent wages and justify it by claiming they are providing jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be there.
It happens at the subcontractors to Walmart’s China factory today. Can Walmart employees support themselves on the wage they receive?
Let’s work toward self-containment and buy goods grown and made here as much as possible. Let’s be willing to pay a bit more to provide jobs for our own people. Let’s support the mom-and-pop stores in our neighborhoods; it’s good to be our own bosses.
Marjorie Fitting Gifford
Princeville
Please use responsible stewardship
Many of us are well aware of the fact that heavy toxic industrial chemicals are being used on corn in more and more places around Kaua‘i in ever increasing doses. The use of pesticides puts our children, our flora, our fauna, our land, our water, our air and ourselves at risk. Is it worth it? Is it what we want? I hope not.
Just the use of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid alone causes birth defects, neurological damage and lowered sperm counts. 2,4-D is easily blown or tracked into homes, it sticks to carpets and house dust and ends up on children’s hands and in their bodies.
Since children aren’t as equipped to shed toxins as adults, they are particularly susceptible to its effects.
We must become sustainable. There are clean, viable and positive agricultural alternatives. Please may the insanity stop and responsible stewardship blossom.
Michaela Boudreaux
Kalaheo
Vandalism dampers summer programs
I am constantly asking myself why people continue to steal, destroy and vandalize the Kapa‘a Boys & Girls Club.
Anyone with eyes to see can look around and notice that financially we could always use more.
Anyone with a soul should realize that the services we provide not only benefit our youth but their families, our community and our island as a whole.
The most recent crimes involve our only transportation. Someone cut the gas line of our passenger van.
Of course this comes just after some jerk did doughnuts in the gym parking lot busting three windows in the van and four windows of the clubhouse costing well above our means to repair.
So needless to say, the gas-line move has left us stranded on the final days of summer. We are trying to stay positive but it angers me that 25 good kids are paying the price for bad people’s thoughtless crimes.
We could be at the beach right now enjoying the waves, instead we are watching Bethany Hamiliton’s movie about the waves. It would be so nice to return to work one Monday and still have our recycling in tact, have gas untouched in the vehicles and have the storage area undisturbed.
Our community needs to put an end to these senseless crimes that are hurting all of us.
Katy Means
Kapa‘a
Get out and vote
The smell of election time is in the air. There is a good chance that the status quo will continue and can only change for the better if you vote, and urge your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.
When heading to the polls this fall, think about this: Politicians are the only people in the world who create all of our problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both Democrats and Republicans are against deficits? Why do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered if all politicians are against inflation and high taxes? Why do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal and state budget, have the authority to vote on appropriations, write the tax codes, set fiscal policy or have any input for control of monetary policy.
There are approximately 100 senators, 435 congressman, one president and nine Supreme Court justices, who, out of approximately 300 million of us, are responsible for the problems that plaque this state and country.
The people we continually elect spend most of their time convincing us that the condition of our problems is not their fault.
They cooperate in this common con regardless of party affiliation. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million people cannot replace approximately 545 people who stand convicted by present facts of incompetence and irresponsibility. It’s a must we make the necessary changes. If we don’t, you can only blame yourselves for our current situations.
Steve Martin
Kapa‘a
Move over
In response to Ms. Chloe Marchant’s letter regarding driving safely, here is my suggestion that I have used all over the western Mainland: Move over.
If someone behind you needs to get past you, it is in your best interest psychologically to just move over when it is safe to do so. Staying in front of an impatient driving is stressful to you and to them, and they may start driving erratically. My philosophy is that if they need to get somewhere, it is not my duty to play cop and monitor their speed.
Let them go on their way. After all, if there is a police officer nearby and the driver is moving at a greater speed than you, guess who the police officer is going to notice and ticket.
Move over and keep driving safely!
Robin Voorhies
Kapa‘a
