• Why do golfers pay ‘user fee?’ • The ‘Girl Effect’ changing the world • Dairy farm too close to Hyatt • Beware of scam calls claiming IRS • People of Hawaii are not eco-terrorists Why do golfers pay ‘user
• Why do golfers pay ‘user fee?’ • The ‘Girl Effect’ changing the world • Dairy farm too close to Hyatt • Beware of scam calls claiming IRS • People of Hawaii are not eco-terrorists
Why do golfers pay ‘user fee?’
I read the article about the possible adjustment of green fees at Wailua municipal golf course. I would like to know why golfers who pay property taxes get hit with a “user fee” while tennis court users do not.
How much do the baseball/softball leagues pay for their use? Will county parks be gated so a fee booth can be set up to collect daily fees? Is there somewhere in the bylaws that mention any fees besides for golfers that others pay? Just want to see some information.
Masaru Shirai, Lihue
The ‘Girl Effect’ changing the world
Mr. Lima writes a very pessimistic letter about the future, but correctly notes that all agriculture is hugely destructive to the environment regardless of whether it is “organic” or “GMO.”
Mr. Lima’s point is that agriculture driven by overpopulation will end us. Fortunately, there is real cause for hope. Girls who learn to read tend to choose to have fewer children, and the children they have tend to be healthier and to survive to become productive adults. This is because mothers who can read food labels, medication labels and signs that indicate the well is contaminated tend to have children who survive and who are healthier, smarter and more resilient.
Not only that, but mothers who read teach their children, both male and female, to read. The children grow up to be reading adults who make better informed decisions, more money at better jobs to support their smaller, thriving families.
This is called the “Girl Effect” and it is already changing the world’s demographics to a more sustainable pattern. If you are wondering where to put a part of your big, fat tax refund, consider donating to this worthy cause. Much better than whining bitterly about the end of humanity.
Kurt Rutter, Kapaa
Dairy farm too close to Hyatt
The location of the proposed dairy farm is too close to your most important source of revenue and jobs.
I have been coming to the Grand Hyatt every year since it opened, except for 1992 when Iniki struck. If there is a dairy farm just 2.5 miles away, I won’t be coming to Kauai. I can just drive 10 miles to visit the nearest dairy farm in Michigan and enjoy the fresh aroma of manure and take pictures of the beautiful cows and save a lot of money.
If you are bent on destroying your tourist trade, you could just try a pilot program with 100 cows and see what happens in the way of smell and ground water contamination. Better yet, tell Mr. eBay that he has to live on the farm with his cows and see if he likes the smell of the manure. Maybe he will think it smells like money.
I hope the residents of this beautiful island get engaged in the debate and make sure their island doesn’t become a place people used to come to for a nice vacation.
Gerry Bissi, Novi, Michigan
Beware of scam calls claiming IRS
Early Saturday morning around 6 a.m., I got a call from 1 (585) 633-1814, Rochester, N.Y. When I did not answer the call, the person with a heavy (India) accent left a message on my answering machine saying that he was John Black from the Internal Revenue Service and he was calling to advise me of a deficiency in my tax return.
He said that I should call back as soon as I got his message if I did not want legal litigation to take place as this was an extremely sensitive situation. As I thought it was highly unusual for the Internal Revenue Service to conduct business by telephone, especially on a Saturday, I went on the internet and keyed in this telephone number.
Just as I suspected, this was a scam call. A whole listing of responses from people all over the United States have noted this scam on the internet. Hopefully, this short message in The Garden Island will make others aware of this scam.
Stephen Fujii, Lihue
People of Hawaii are not eco-terrorists
Clearly, the lawyer for DOW, Syngenta and DuPont meant to say our clients are eco-terrorists and these are their demands.
1. DOW, Syngenta and DuPont want to spray experimental pesticides right up to schools and hospitals.
2. DOW, Syngenta and DuPont want to keep what and when they spray experimental pesticides a secret so that no scientists can connect these poisons blowing around in the trades with illnesses and disease.
3. DOW, Syngenta and DuPont oppose labeling of GMOs because they don’t believe people have the right to know what they are eating just like they don’t have a right to clean water or clean air.
4. DOW, Syngenta and DuPont are more concerned with profit then with the people or environment of Hawaii.
It would be crazy to call the people of Hawaii eco-terrorists. Aina rules here.
Julian Miller, Princeville
