• Let science dictate, not money • The real cliff • Teachers deserve better Let science dictate, not money On Nov. 21, TGI published a letter from a Canadian engineer named Tom Harris which disputes the evidence behind climate change.
• Let science dictate, not money • The real cliff • Teachers deserve better
Let science dictate, not money
On Nov. 21, TGI published a letter from a Canadian engineer named Tom Harris which disputes the evidence behind climate change. He claims that the Earth may actually be cooling and that “extreme weather events are not affected by our emissions of greenhouse gasses.”
I found it curious that a Canadian engineer would be writing a letter to The Garden Island, so I did a bit of research.
1) Tom Harris began his career as a lobbyist for the fossil fuel industry.
2) Tom Harris is a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute. This institute exists to undermine the science behind climate change and is funded in part by the notorious Koch brothers. Their most recent advertising campaign was a spree of billboards comparing those who believe in climate change to terrorists.
3) The panel that he cites in his letter (NIPCC) consists of 23 citizens who are paid $300,000 a year by the Heartland institute.
I don’t mean to personally discredit Mr. Harris, because I’m sure he believes what he says. He is likely just as sincere and passionate about the continued use of fossil fuels as I am about preserving the natural wonders of Kaua‘i.
However, the difference between us is that he gets paid for his passion. Fossil fuel companies pay him and every outspoken climate change denier in the world to speak up. Their job is to muddy the discussion just enough so that our society will continue with the status quo. So that the people who write his paycheck can continue to run the most profitable companies in the history of the world.
There have been 13,950 peer reviewed articles on climate change published since 1991. Of those, only 24 reject the evidence behind anthropogenic climate change. Other than the theory of gravity, there are not many theories out there with that type of overwhelming consensus.
By listening to men such as Mr. Harris, we are letting the future of our planet be dictated not by science, but by money.
Luke Evslin
Kapahi
The real cliff
Our nation is addicted to deficits, like a severe alcoholic. The federal deficit just in the month of October was $120 billion. On a per capita basis, that’s $2,700 of new debt for my family, just in one month.
When I first heard the term “fiscal cliff,” I thought that the “cliff” is when we run out of rope to hang ourselves, and our dollar collapses. Using the alcoholic analogy, I thought the “cliff” is when our liver fails.
I was surprised to find out that the “cliff” is actually referring to automatic spending cuts and automatic tax increases that will reduce the deficit.
This so-called “cliff” is when the hard liquor of deficits will no longer be available for Washington, D.C., to guzzle. This is clearly the language of an addict.
Obama is pressing to raise taxes on the wealthy. But he need not worry about that, it will happen automatically next month.
Everyone knows that raising taxes on the wealthy will not balance the budget. The deficit is far too big for that.
On the other hand, a strong case can be made that raising taxes on the wealthy will destroy so many jobs that there will be no benefit for the deficit at all. California has much higher taxes than Texas, yet its deficits are out of control, while Texas has a balanced budget. High tax rates destroy jobs, which causes high deficits. California’s unemployment rate is 10.2 percent versus 6.8 percent in Texas.
The only way to avoid a financial collapse is for Washington, D.C., to cut spending. Obama seems to be trying to avoid that and either take us all over a real cliff of financial collapse, or let the automatic spending cuts happen and blame it on the Republican House.
Mark Beeksma
Koloa
Teachers deserve better
It saddens me to see teachers holding signs to gain public awareness on the plight of our educational system.
Our political leaders need to understand that rhetoric of making education a priority only during election years are wearing thin. I think the past two governors experienced that in the last election.
The educational hierarchy will always face a major challenge in providing good educators for our children due to the high cost of living in paradise. New teachers get overwhelmed with high rents and cost of living. Most depart after a short tenure. It is no secret that most of our residents hold second jobs and teachers are not the exception.
Teaching in a public school in not an easy task, especially for the educator from the Mainland. The unique cultural experience can be daunting. Disruptive students ruin the educational process for all and factor that with weak administrative leadership — it is not rocket science why many are gravitating to private and charter schools.
Our political leadership need to be bold and innovative and eliminate nepotism and favoritism.
How long do our teachers and students need to sell sweetbread to experience what clubs and athletics provide?
Thank heavens for our business leaders and volunteers who donate time and funding to our schools.
What does our leaders want for our students? Prepare them for service jobs or be the employer? Remember, you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys.
Yours for better education,
Jim Kitamura
Lihu‘e
