Accountability is key to getting things done
In response to the opinion from Barry Dittler’s opinion in the TGI (Aug. 7, 2018), titled “Candidates need to offer specific solutions.”
I would agree with the statements made. I would add that better accountability needs to be made to ALL projects funded by the County of Kauai and the state of Hawaii.
Why are contractors used to do the work of road crews when the county has a road crew? If the state needs to hire a road crew, why can’t the county road crew do the work for the state at cost?
Why are contractors used for engineering when the county has a team of engineers? Why are almost all projects sub-contracted out, and at what cost? Subcontracting should only be done when a contractor can do it cheaper than the county, or the county resources are tied up with too many projects.
What accountability is done on all subcontracts, and are they done at a fair price (simple bidding seems irrelevant when every subcontractor bids sky rocket high prices)?
Every week there is another example of local, federal and other state government spending that makes one scratch their head. From the $1 million Black Pot Beach bathrooms, air conditioning in classrooms ($84,000/classroom!), to the recent article where New York paid $15,000 per “I love NY” sign!
In my opinion, if the government spent the money like it was their own, there would be more accountability. Probably so much so that the county could afford to do almost all the projects that are currently on the table (widening roads, synchronizing lights, repaving, adding intersections, adding bike lanes, increasing the bus usage, etc).
Daniel Tuers, Kapaa
Pope pointing people the wrong way
In spite of the papacy pretending to speak “ex cathedra” as the very presence of Christ on Earth, it is easy to tell that Pope Francis is not a man of the Word.
The Word of God (Bible) is very clear that a murderer, when confirmed by two or three witnesses, should be put to death. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is the justice system that the law requires. The 10 Commandments and the Torah are origination of all civil and moral laws in the civilized world.
It is clear that Pope Francis appears to be a lamb … but speaks with forked tongue.
Jesus appeared in order to be the sacrificial lamb that would take away our sins, yet he acknowledges clearly that not one “jot or tittle” would disappear from the law for people who rejected his offer of grace, forgiveness and mercy, and they will stand accountable to God’s justice and judgment for every single infraction.
That’s a frightening prospect!
Just think for yourself about everything that you’ve ever thought, said or done being put into a movie and projected on the screen for your parents, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Would you want them to see everything that you’ve ever thought, said or done?
No sane person would.
I would recommend that anyone with a real spiritual interest should turn away from the teachings of this false prophet pope and truly follow Jesus, for only he can save your soul.
God doesn’t want you to be religious. He wants you to have a relationship with him by having your sins forgiven and erased by the blood of Jesus.
Run away from religion and its false teachings.
God does not live in temples or buildings made by the hands of men. He wants to live inside of you and have you be the temple of his Holy Spirit. Open your heart to the God who loves you so much he sacrificed his Son so that you could be with him forever.
God would rather die for you than to live without you for eternity.
Gregg Townsley, Lihue
“Run away from religion and its false teachings”- I couldn’t agree more.
Oh god! Pun intended.
Please just take a moment and imagine that “God” had sacrificed his only begotten daughter.
Mr Tuers, contractors are used to deflect political heat away from politicians. Mr Townsley, religion is contrived by humans and is used to exert power and control over people, and frequently, women.
Daniel Tuers: “In my opinion, if the government spent the money like it was their own, there would be more accountability.”
Dream on Daniel. The reason that government is so inefficient and wasteful is precisely because the politicians and bureaucrats are spending OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY, not their own. There have never been nor will there ever be people in government that act as if they are spending their own money. Without the probability of incurring a loss from bad spending decisions there will be no accountability…ever.
RG DeSoto
And if government could just be shrunk there would be more money for DeSoto. Yeah! MORE MORE MORE money for DeSoto. DeSoto doesn’t have enough. He must have MORE. Let’s all work to let
DeSoto have MORE!
Just saying…what an absolutely brilliant, rational and compelling response. You must be a genius to have come up with that!
Of course, who wouldn’t want to keep more of what they have EARNED through hard work? Oh yeah, only those, perhaps like you, who sit there with hands out looking to be subsidized for doing nothing.
RG DeSoto
Most Aloha State residents write in about cutting the enormous F-35 costs or the Honolulu rail project and then continue on to suggest doing more for children, or disabled, or veterans. Even the somewhat selfish who want better roads for themselves suggest something that also benefits the many. Then there’s the aging, white, male conservative. He never makes any such suggestions at all. He wants it all for himself (his family gets more of that conservative tough love!) and for his tiny fingered hands to pick through!