• Monsanto glad to share information • Raising taxes step in wrong direction • Education, not raise hike, the way to go
Monsanto glad to share information
A recent opinion piece included inaccurate statements about Monsanto, food labeling and seed patenting. In the spirit of dialogue, I’d like to share some information in hopes of contributing to constructive public discussion.
Monsanto Hawaii supports voluntary labeling of foods from genetically modified crops, as is already allowed under federal law. Mandatory labeling could significantly increase costs for consumers and taxpayers, and is not supported by numerous health and science experts.
Voluntary labeling, on the other hand, allows for consumer choice without the problems of a mandate. There are thousands of foods today already labeled as non-GMO.
Lastly, the commercial seed market is supplied by more than 1,000 separate companies. Farmers have literally thousands of choices on what to plant, including patented or non-patented seeds. Our customers choose to buy our seeds because of the benefits they offer, and like any other business that owns a patent, we, too, have a right to defend our patents. But it has never been, nor will it ever be, Monsanto’s policy to sue a farmer when trace amounts of our patented seeds were present in the farmer’s fields as the result of an accident or inadvertent means.
We recognize there are questions, and have recently launched a website to share more about who we are and what we do. You’ll also find educational third-party resources. Please visit www.MonsantoHawaii.com.
Dawn Bicoy
Community affairs manager, Monsanto Hawaii
Raising taxes step in wrong direction
I am strongly opposed to Bill 2514 that will increase our vehicle weight tax. There seems to be no end to increasing our taxes and for many struggling just to survive, the point of no return has already been crossed.
Our county auditor has done a great job with the six audits he and his staff have done, so before we even think about increasing taxes why haven’t we thoroughly delved into researching these audits and probably finding enough waste to eliminate any new taxes?
People are hurting now, so by exacerbating the problem with more and more fees and taxes what will they do? Bankruptcy or digging a deeper hole will be their only option.
As a few members of this council have pointed out, why don’t we look at areas of waste and excessive employment (duplicity) in our government before burdening our taxpayers with more debt?
Remember how we added a $6 fee for trash pickup and another $6 fee for transfer station use? And yet we did not show any elimination of fees from our property taxes for this same service, so are not the people being double charged for the same service? Thus, the beat goes on to tax and tax some more instead of eliminating waste.
In California and other municipalities on the Mainland, the license for a vehicle is lowered as the vehicle ages. I own a 1935 Ford Convertible that I have had for 65 years (my first car I bought when I was 17) and in California I paid a minimum fee of $9 to license it. Here on Kauai, the weight of this car and my 1989 Toyota truck causes the fee to remain static ( with a new increase facing us) so why don’t we look at a more equitable and cheaper way to tax our vehicles as they do?
Again, let us thoroughly examine the audits that cost us a lot of money but could reap a lot of benefits if we take their recommendations.
Glenn Mickens
Kapaa
Education, not raise hike, the way to go
In response to “minimum wage hikes advance,” (TGI, March 5) the only winner in a minimum wage increase is our government. When you take the thousands of people who must work two or more jobs in order to survive in Hawaii, or anywhere else for that matter, and increase their pay 50 cents, as what is proposed by Jan. 1, 2015, only the tax increase they will pay to the government coffer will be noticed. Do the math. There is no way the wage increase is going to help make life in Hawaii more affordable. Sen. Ron Kouchi says, “I think the job is to hopefully find the balance that pays a decent wage.” Lol. Our legislators should be embarrassed to think they are helping the people of Hawaii by negotiating an increase that amounts to nothing more than an aspirin for an amputee.
This whole joke should be a lesson to our children of why the education they receive is the most important thing they can achieve for their future. For those who have fallen through the cracks of the education system, there are trade schools and college courses to better your future. Anyone who thinks about dropping out of school better wake up and notice what your Legislators have planned for your future minimum wage.
Because of the direction this country is moving, by 2017 a $10.10 minimum wage job will be less affordable in Hawaii than the current $7.25 that’s paid today.
Steve Martin
Kapaa
