Dire need
for access
I was glad to read in the newspaper (Tribune-Herald, Jan. 16) that our government representatives are discussing the importance of timely access to homes, properties and the Pohoiki boat ramp made inaccessible by the recent lava flow.
I want to specifically mention urgency of access to farm lands cut off by the lava flow. A friend of mine recently told me that their family cannot access their papaya farm, and that even though they have continued paying their farm insurance after having lost their papaya crop, their insurance company is not paying for their loss.
The insurer’s reason: They cannot access the property to see for themselves what has happened.
My friend has suggested they use a helicopter, but the insurance company does not want to spend the money. They said, “Just wait.”
These farmers are in dire circumstances, as are many in our community. If future insurance issues are not dealt with soon, people will not be able to sell their properties, and their mortgages, which require insurance, will be in default.
I truly hope our county government can commit to our future. After all, life goes on.
Andrea Rosanoff
Pahoa
‘Best outcomes’
Nothing will straighten out in Washington until the politicians in Congress stop constantly running for office and start doing what the third branch of government is supposed to do: legislate. Same goes for the president, who seems to do nothing except for self-serving political reasons.
Election 2020, here we come!
The best way to stop government shutdowns is to legislate automatic continuation of government funding, at funding levels in existence for the expiring fiscal year, until a new budget is authorized. Further, specific bills should not become a potpourri of pork or other nonapplicable matters, with undiscussed add-ons at the last minute.
Propose a bill on immigration and border security. Debate it. Amend it. Work until it can pass muster. Vote on it, and send it to the president for signature.
Congressional voting should not be stopped or postponed purely for political reasons, and not withheld just because it might not get that White House approval.
If he doesn’t sign or disapproves, vote to override his veto. If it can’t be overridden, it dies. Then try again. But don’t bog the legislation down with nonapplicable issues that usually cause the delay or disagreements, rather than the basic purpose: holding totally unrelated situations like shutdowns to ransom.
Of course, none of this pragmatic discipline will occur as long as one party, by the slimmest of majority on either side, pretends that they, and they alone, speak for all the American people.
It’s OK for them to set the agenda, but legislation needs to be a more participatory process — with inputs from all segments of our society — to get the best outcomes for all of us.
Neal Herbert
Hilo
Let’s vote on wall
About the border wall thing: I have an idea. Why not let “we the people” vote on it?
Aren’t the people the supposed government of this nation? With all the money President Trump saved from government workers’ wages, let’s print some ballots and let the people of this country decide if we want the wall or not.
Think about it.
Thomas Lee Gehweiler
Hakalau
