All Americans have free speech
The observations in your recent letter (Judith Rachap, TGI Forum, July 4) do not reflect the rights of all Americans to engage in free speech. More concerning is your attempt to create a protected class with special status. Your statement that, “It is imperative that the current trend of demonizing the news media be stopped” is an affront to free speech.
Where in the constitution is the media granted special status? Every American has the right to exercise their rights to speak. That includes the right to criticize the media even if you object to accusations made against the media. Imagine the wave of protest that would rightfully explode if someone proposed a restraint on the press from the exact same conduct about which you have complained.
What is next, a limit on politicians’ free speech? Do you stop a speech by Congresswoman Maxine Watters or by an entertainment elite ? How about a private citizen ?
The answer is that you, myself and all people must evaluate and accept or reject the information we are exposed to from all sources. You cannot solve a problem by limiting discussion.
Edward Cullen, Princeville
Governor, wake up regarding recreational marijuana
Gov. David Ige cites the federal government laws pertaining to legalizing recreational marijuana as his reason for not allowing its legalized use in our state. A continuing growing number of states as well as the entire country of Canada is or has already legalized its recreational use to those of adult age.
The issues that exist, affordable housing, traffic congestion, homelessness, and the new proposals of taking a 3 percent of our yearly property taxes for affordable housing will put a strain and burden on many people of our island and we all know good and well the 3 percent will need to be found somewhere else in order to balance the continuing expenses of our budget that is being planned.
The stupidity surrounding legalizing recreational marijuana is that now with dispensaries open anyone can get a medical marijuana card, sick or not. Now that the dispensaries are open tourists don’t need to smuggle their weed; they just get it at their friendly dispensary with their card. Just getting a card allows anyone of age to break Ige’s laws he speaks of.
Medical marijuana, as in many states, should not be taxed, because its use is as a prescribed medicine. On the other hand, legalized marijuana comes with a heavy tax that many legal states and now Canada will reap the benefits of millions of dollars to boost economies, kill the criminal element, and now have a solution without having to raise or ear mark taxes that pertain to the issues that we have here.
When will our government and governor finally wake up to the continuing nonsense of having to raise or hide tax increases for the monetary solutions to our issues.
Steve Martin, Kapaa
The First Amendment is poorly understood. The government cannot interfere with your right to free speech. But, an employer can as can a judge in a courtroom. And, so forth. What is ugly about the country today is lack of respect for opposing viewpoints.
Some of us remember many many years ago an older guy tried to get us to smoke marijuana at the beach at Lumahai. He even had a tattoo on his arm that said “pot”. He said pot was his nickname but that pot was also the cure for many problems, even back then.
Looking back today it seems his wisdom was beyond his years.
He told us that if you drink alcohol you get “high” and you drive 80 MPH, but if you smoke pot and get “high” you drive 8 MPH.
Well isn’t that the CURE for the Island’s Traffic Problem…?
At 8 MPH, people won’t even know there’s a traffic problem.
Mahalo,
Charlie
Wonderful letter Mr. Cullen! Perfectly presented and effectively communicated!
Right on, Steve Martin.
Write on.
Ride on.
It is disingenuous to turn a criticism of trump’s organized campaign to discredit those exposing him into an issue of free speech. The next step, logically, is “Free Speech for School Bullies.” You know this; but, you made a choice!
Five days after The Capital Gazette Newspaper shooting, trump refers to the media as “bad people” at his rally because he is a loathsome, vile excuse for a human being!
Scott Pruit resigned in order to spend more money with his family! It’s the media, not trump, that is draining the swamp!