New Year’s Eve will finally be enjoyable

In years past, by the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, Kaneohe has been a virtual war zone from Halloween on, what with early revelers who can’t wait for the festivities to start.

In the past it’s been everything from firecrackers at all hours to homemade bombs shaking the entire neighborhood and sending my normally fearless pitbull mix dog running for cover and cowering and shaking for hours.

What a difference so far this year. I’ve heard exactly two bursts of firecrackers and no bombs since Thanksgiving.

I know there are people whining about the fireworks ban, but for those of us who feel like virtual prisoners in our own homes on New Year’s Eve, it’s a blessing.

Maybe this year I’ll be able to go out and at least enjoy the evening out without having to worry about a rocket landing on my roof or my dog dying of a heart attack while I’m gone.

Michel Grotstein
Kaneohe

News item worthy of Garrison Keillor

Kudos to the editors at the Star-Advertiser for their excellent combination of stories on Tuesday.

I always start by heading for the comics, so Garrison Keillor was first on my menu as I went for the Today section ("Hawaii Calls," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 27). This was not news to me, as I had bought tickets on the first day they were available. But it was nice to read the interesting story, although it did end abruptly in mid-sentence.

Imagine my surprise when I turned to Nation & World. Item 10 ("Nativity goat flees before service") could have been written by Garrison Keillor himself. Well done!

Edward Gaffney
Ewa Beach

Wealthy already pay the most taxes

Thomas Dye adds to the litany of suggestions to fix all of America’s ills by "progressive" taxation to correct the imbalance of wealth distribution in America ("Progressive taxes needed to fix ills," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 27).

Never mind that the top 10 percent already pay 70 percent of federal income taxes. Never mind that almost 50 percent of Americans pay nothing. Their answer is clear. Raise taxes on the prosperous and successful. This idea is most clearly stated as follows: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

That, of course, describes the beliefs of Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto. Please remember where that led those countries that adopted it.

Richard J. Saas
Kahala

Kudos to mayor for fixing road flooding

Congratulations to Mayor Peter Carlisle and his engineers for accomplishing something no other previous administration has been able to do: control the flooding of Kamehameha Highway in Waikane.

One does not know the major inconvenience it was to hundreds of commuters who would either have to wait for hours for the flooding to subside or go all the way around the island to get home or to work.

In the past, when I called previous administrations, I was told nothing could be done because the highway is below sea level.

I know I am speaking for hundreds of commuters from Kaaawa, Kahana, Punaluu, Hauula, Laie and Kahuku: Thank you and congratulations, Mayor Carlisle and your engineers.

Angela Won
Kaneohe

U.S. piling up debt for next generation

The United States is now more than 200 years old, but in the last 11 years, we have managed to triple our national debt.

Americans born today will inherit a massive debt that they will be unable to repay. Just the interest on that debt will cripple their economic power.

What parents want to burden their children with massive debts? Well, our generation is doing just that. Our generation will be called the most greedy and selfish in the history of this country. We should apologize for not being able to reduce our obscene spending and leaving behind such a mess for future generations to clean up.

Warren Fukushima
Pearl City

Tattoos have rich cultural heritage

I am both appalled and offended by the remarks of Lynn Bailey of Carmel, Calif. ("Tattoos hurt your employment chances," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 25).

How dare you call me and my island family "low-class," "generally insecure," and "look ugly."

She fails to recognize the rich traditional and cultural heritage of a Polynesian tattoo (tatau). I am a very educated and confident female, college professor and health care professional, who is very proud to wear my Samoan family band tattoo on my left ankle. Just stay in California next year.

Dr. Hobie Etta (Thomas) Feagai
Kaneohe

Democrats putting train over hospitals

President Barack Obama, Sen. Daniel Inouye: Where are you?

I can’t believe that our president, our legislators at home and in Washington, our governor and our mayor can sit back and do nothing to save two medical centers serving our people with 1,000 employees and approximately 300 ill patients from closure.

What is our Hawaii coming to? Are we going to let these politicians dictate to us that building a rail to relieve traffic congestion for a few residents is more important than saving the hospitals? Don’t take lack of money as an answer because that’s an outright lie. Are we going to stand by and let these Democrats rule us as dictators? Living in Hawaii is already the closest thing to living in a communist commune. Do you want to make that a reality?

Alexander Atienza
Honolulu