Swap tip credit with cut in taxes
Regarding Rev. Bob Nakata’s commentary ("Tip credit is just a subsidy to employers from their workers," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25): One more reason the tip credit should be eliminated is it is unfair to employers whose employees do not receive tips.
For example, if the tip credit is $1 and the minimum wage is $10, restaurant owners would be required to pay their employees only $9 per hour. However, employers in non-tipping businesses such as grocery stores, gas station, etc., would be required to pay the full $10 minimum wage. This is unfair.
If the Legislature wants to give employers relief from the increase in the minimum wage, it should do so for all employers.
For starters, a modest reduction in the general excise tax or the state income tax would benefit not only all employers but the general public as well.
Ben Cayetano
Hawaii Loa Ridge
Higher wages help cut welfare
The debate over the minimum wage is very revealing. We get to see the true colors of our politicians, those in the pockets of business versus those who support the best interest of their constituents.
I agree with the letter writer who called our state legislators hypocrites ("Minimum wage should be indexed," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25). They voted themselves pay raises during the Great Recession.
I don’t know what to call that, but it wouldn’t be nice.
Someone earning $7.25 an hour full time, 40 hours a week, makes about $14,000 a year.
This amount qualifies the employee for numerous federal and state benefits, food stamps, Medicaid, rent, utility subsidies, etc.
But if you raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour the employee would no longer be eligible for these benefits.
President Barack Obama is very clever.
Douglas Bennett
Kailua
Corporations control our food
The pervasive attitude among scientists and economists is that GMOs (genetically modified organ- isms) are essential to survival of the human race.
I disagree. I think it’s about the control and quality of the food supply.
It is the huge global corporations that develop, patent and control the use of seeds that are chemical-pesticide resistant.
It’s really about control of the food supply a food supply that is increasingly suspect, grown with chemicals that are "human-friendly," according to these corporations.
Corporate control of our food supply is happening without us even realizing it. Pure, fresh food is something we’ve taken for granted. What will we have in 10, 20, 50, 100 years?
Joel Peralto
Hilo, Hawaii
Expensive doors at UH-Hilo
Kokua Line reported about a University of Hawaii-Hilo building that was supposed to open in July ("Underground problem’ kept lanes shut last week," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25).
The building hasn’t opened yet because UH had to spend $227,817 to replace 23 doors. That’s $9,905 a door.
I have been making custom doors in Hawaii for 20 years. I would like to see those doors.
Wayne Kieselbach
Kieselbach Woodworks
Don’t give pass to racist rants
My colleague Leigh Wai Doo is way off base with his weak excusal of state Rep. Faye Hanohano’s despicable behavior ("Hano-hano’s voice belongs in the mix," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 25).
There is no excuse for repeated racist rants from a public official. If it were a Caucasian representative calling someone a "Jap" or other derogatory term, the consequences would and should be severe and immediate. Why the double standard?
Hawaiian culture should be protected, honored and preserved, but racism is neither an effective nor intelligent way to accomplish this noble objective.
Bill McCorriston
Manoa
Guests making hosts shut up
Non-Hawaiians have no idea of the pain and sorrow that Hawaiians feel.
Non-Hawaiians do not want angry Hawaiians. They want the Hawaiians only to continue to show aloha to them.The guest has taken control of the home. The guest will make sure to shut up the host.
Poor Hawaiians. At one time the Hawaiian language and the hula were banned in Hawaii. Things haven’t changed. So state Rep. Faye Hanohano needs to show more aloha?
Roland Dacoscos
Kalihi
