Harry and taxes

[jrw]

I see in todays paper Harry wants to turn the new get tax raise to be use for everything just not mass transit and roads what new Harry loves taxes.

jrw

[Guest]

I'm impressed they raised them by so little. I am sure kalakoa can tell us all how things should be done for free, but from my experience that isn't how the world works. And yes, I agree, collectively taxes and fees are high, but then I see what it takes for me and mine to purchase and do things here in the islands and have to consider the same high costs are being borne by government. So I write it off as the cost of living in paradise.

Sheesh, one could move to a state that thinks government providing services is socialism so they don't. Your taxes will be low, but so will your services. Make your choices, but realize you are choosing to bitch, where you really don't need to. You could be grateful instead, if you wanted to.

[jrw]

I have no problem paying taxes but when the moneyis promise for something then when you want to take it to fund something else that is not right.

jrw

[Chunkster]

"You could be grateful instead, if you wanted to." - hokuili

Oh, so we should be thankful for the following:

1. A county transit system where most of the buses are broken down, the leased private buses are late most of the time, and the person formerly in charge who let things get to that state still has a high paying job in the transit department. Oh, and they want to buy a piece for property for a "hub" from the uncle of a sitting council woman.

2. A mayor who coddles lawbreakers and spends millions in county funds to do so. And just to add insult to injury, he's helping them relocate their illegal settlement with more county resources. Then the county council refuses to agree to accept aid from the state for the costs on the Mauna because it might imply that they don't support the protestors.

3. Police who selectively enforce the law. (Even the good cops are hamstrung by arcane work rules and a top heavy administrative structure.)

4. A building permitting and inspecting operation that is ridiculously slow and prone to documented vindictive behavior against some individuals.

5. Judges and prosecutors who think locking up criminals is a bad idea.

I could go on, but that's a start.

[Guest]

Hey, Chunkster, have you ever considered running for mayor? The council?

[Chunkster]

I am politically active and frequently write to my council member and the mayor in a vain attempt to change things. I support and campaign for candidates who inevitably get sucked into the system and disappoint both me and sometimes themselves. I have chosen not to follow them into the cesspit that is the local government, despite being asked on one occasion to run for office. I have even donated money to initiate class action lawsuits that never went anywhere, thinking that might succeed where political action failed.

What have you done to improve things, hokuili, other than suggest others stop complaining? You don't seem to have anything to say about the five issues I mentioned above.

[randomq]

It's possible to be thankful for what we have *and* want to improve it...