Replace GET with a sales tax

Michael Rethman’s letter is misleading (“GET is best way to raise revenue,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 30).

The GET, or general excise tax, is collected on the gross receipts of every business in Hawaii. It is not a consumption tax.

Hawaii is the only state with a GET, which applies to the privilege of doing business here. It is a regressive tax and gets passed on to the cost of goods and services multiple times.

A more equitable solution would be to lower the GET by a half-percentage percent and add a 1 percent sales tax on consumable goods now and gradually reduce the GET and increase sales taxes in ensuing years.

Then businesses would have more left for growth and could decide what to buy and pay sales tax on consumption.

Ban fundraising on median strips

On several occasions, groups of young folks solicit donations on the median strip on Kamehameha Highway near Acacia Road in Pearl City with their fish nets or canisters. The median strip is narrow and vehicles in the center lane heading west are traveling fast. This presents a dangerous situation, should someone lose his or her balance.

This type of dangerous solicitation should be prohibited before someone experiences an injury or even a loss of life.

And I agree with Michel Grotstein’s thoughts that these young folks should “work” for their fundraiser (“True fundraisers give in return,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 30).

Education crisis might end well

It is often during the most trying of times that bold ideas are born. While most understand that economic changes beyond the control of the state Department of Education will likely again affect public schoolchildren in Hawaii, I urge those charged with the responsibility for education to think creatively and find solutions that go beyond cutting hours and closing schools.

Since the notorious furlough Fridays of 2009, an entire community has committed to help public schools. Instead of apathetic parents, rigid unions and restricted educators unwilling to embrace change, there is now a strong core of engaged parents, business leaders, teachers, forward-thinking union leaders and well-informed principals eager to take part in education reform.

We look to a new day, where the budget will not be balanced on the backs of our children and where transparency and accountability are the vehicles of change in public schools.

Kudos to BYUH are appreciated

Thanks so much for your recognition of the PacWest (“BYUH Seasiders do Hawaii proud,” Off the News, Star-Advertiser, March 29). Most Outstanding Player Jet Chang, Head Coach Ken Wagner and the rest of the Seasiders were the toast of Springfield, Mass., throughout the national championships, including gaining a contingent of fans from a local Massachusetts Polynesian restaurant, “Hu Ke Lau,” where the team ate its pre-tournament dinner before Elite 8 play began.

The positive publicity gained for the state, the PacWest and BYU-Hawaii on national television was tremendous. We proved once again that we always strive to reach the highest level of excellence, both on the court and in the classroom. Mahalo from all of our great schools in the PacWest.

Give student BOE rep a vote

Almost always, when speaking of ways to improve Hawaii, some reference is made to the importance of education and the belief that “the children are our future.”

Yet, if this is so, one must question the hesitation displayed within the Legislature to bestow the Board of Education student representative with voting rights. It is to these individuals that I ask: When does this future start? When are the students a valued part of the legislation process?

Out of all voices, the students’ voice is needed the most; they are the only ones who truly know first-hand what the daily life, desires and needs of today’s students are. The student voice belongs not only to 15 percent of Hawaii’s population, but also to the only people who are truly affected by each policy that the BOE passes.

The student member has been an integral part of BOE policy-making for 22 years and yet has not once been given the right to vote. The time for change is now.