‘Our choice’
In response to Mr. Carl Oguss’ letter of June 10, I would like to share another view regarding legalization of gambling and prostitution and cannabis, as well.
Let’s start with cannabis. The majority of Americans want legal cannabis and have been saying so for years. Government has not wanted to hear this or comply.
As for gambling, regulated gambling is not a bad thing, as most of us are not gambling addicts, and gambling is something almost everyone does sometimes, legal or not.
Prostitution is not called the oldest profession for nothing and will always be around. Legalized and regulated, it would be much safer for everyone involved.
All of these changes would bring a great deal of tax money into state coffers and tax industries that are not paying any tax now. I personally do not have a vested interest, but it is not the government’s job to legislate morality.
If you are an adult and law-abiding tax payer, you have the right to expect government to respect the will of the people and not treat us like children.
We and drink and smoke — bad for us, but our choice. Where adults are consenting and no one is injured, your life is your business!
Laura Buck
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Sewer boondoggle
In passing this year’s capital improvement projects budget as presented by Mayor Mitch Roth, the Hawaii County Council will be funding yet another $7,603,000 this year for more planning and designing of the Naalehu sewer project boondoggle.
Since our current County Council has not requested a legislative audit of where the millions of dollars in Naalehu sewer planning and designing money has gone for the past 14 years, inquiring county taxpayers like me are now asking if the County Council is going to allow another year and millions more to be spent on the same Naalehu project contractors who will probably produce the same lack of results?
Sandra Demoruelle
Naalehu