Your Views for August 29

‘Disgusted’

So, in the blessed name of democracy, President Trump is “repurposing assets,” including grenade launchers (!), bullet-proof vests, riot gear, firearms and plenty of ammunition, for law enforcement to make sure they can stomp on us real good. (I respect good officers … unfortunately, some of them tend to get carried away.)

All in the blessed name of helping “protect public safety and reduce crime.” What a crock.

Make America Gr(Eat It) Again.

Don’t forget to get arrested next time you’re exercising your right to free speech.

I’m disgusted.

Wayne Knapstad

Volcano

No say, no pay

Again, we are being taxed for something we do not use. The increase in the TAT tax that would finish Honolulu’s rail system is an outright slam to taxpayers on the outer islands who:

• had no vote on the rail system;

• had no say in the size of the project;

• had no say in the management of the project or the cost controls.

If it is finished and we travel to Oahu to use it, we will have to pay to ride, so it’s double taxation.

Since Honolulu wants it finished, they should pay for it.

As stated in the Tribune-Herald, the outer islands contribute about 50 percent of the TAT collected. It is simple math, then, that if 1 percent from all is needed to finish the system, then a 2 percent increase from Honolulu alone should do the trick! Then, the tourists on Oahu would pay, and any loss of business revenues from the taxing of tourists would be confined to the area in which the system serves.

Also in the deal is that the outer islands would receive a greater portion of the TAT in the future. So we are bribing the islands to vote for it, or they will not get an increase in funds.

Any of our representatives who vote for this will be remembered at the next election.

James Lehner

Pahoa