Letters to the Editor - Hawaii Editorials

Gene A. Albano - great, you pick up the tab for the budget shortfall..I am sure you don't mind YOUR taxes going through the roof so things can stay as they are...

Lingle is right to veto the granola-eating, crystal-worshipping, wind-chime playing, plastic spirit-catcher displaying, hana butta nose flute playing, "Naturopathic Doctors" bill.

I met a few of these "Naturopathic Doctors" and in my humble opinion we are basically talking about Hare Krishna types kicked out of that religious order, lived on carrots and celery and wild oats for a few years while going to a "hippy school" where the head Guru gave them all a "ND" degree.

Often these folks look anemic and makes you wonder out loud "Why would I want to listen to this persons advice, when they looked like they could of just gotten off the boat from Bangladesh or some other food famine place?"

The bottom line is these folks are trying to pass themselves off as Medical Doctors, when their cure for cancer could be "take two pieces of this tree bark and call me in the morning."

Right on, Governor Lingle, you may be not so bright in supporting the Akaka bill that is going to hurt the REAL native Hawaiians, BUT, you are correct to VETO this ND BS bill.

Sarah Weak ND wrote:

Lingle is right to veto the granola-eating, crystal-worshipping, wind-chime playing, plastic spirit-catcher displaying, hana butta nose flute playing, "Naturopathic Doctors" bill.
I met a few of these "Naturopathic Doctors" and in my humble opinion we are basically talking about Hare Krishna types kicked out of that religious order, lived on carrots and celery and wild oats for a few years while going to a "hippy school" where the head Guru gave them all a "ND" degree.
Often these folks look anemic and makes you wonder out loud "Why would I want to listen to this persons advice, when they looked like they could of just gotten off the boat from Bangladesh or some other food famine place?"
The bottom line is these folks are trying to pass themselves off as Medical Doctors, when their cure for cancer could be "take two pieces of this tree bark and call me in the morning."
Right on, Governor Lingle, you may be not so bright in supporting the Akaka bill that is going to hurt the REAL native Hawaiians, BUT, you are correct to VETO this ND BS bill.

I agree, they are trying to pass themselves off as doctors. They go to school for just 4 years at most (unlike a REAL doctor who between school and an intership will spend at least a decade).

Might as well see a herbologist or just ask your next door neighbor what they take for whatever ails you.

HI unions are mistakenly led by their inept bosses into thinking it is ok to continually demand more and more benefits from the taxpayers. Wrong answer as the UAW was well aware but continued to lead their workers and GM/Chrysler off the financial cliff. Health care and retirement will require worker contributions to stay solvent. Public taxpayers will no longer support their "Dole." And yes, their may be times when pay sacrifices must be made, exactly like all non-union workers are doing. For union bosses to preach they are "exempt" from the economic crisis is just an example of how incompetent they are, totally out of touch with reality, sitting back fat with their non-working paycheck. Time to fire these buffons and find some competent new blood to provide true leadership. Sad to say this will never happen, the unions will continue to sprial down into the mud. Ahhh, just another day in the little third world of Hawaii Nei.

Commenting on the letter from Theodore Taba.
It's not likely the legislature will raise taxes, especially when they have to stand for reelection next year. That means the governor doesn't have the money to pay the workers. Since Judge Sakamoto has ruled out furloughs, the governors options have been narrowed to layoffs.
Besides, I don't care how iron clad you make a temporary increase, once it starts, the legislature will become so enamoured with it, they won't give it up and will find a multitude of reasons to make it permanent.

Gene Albano: You have no idea what the word "unjust" means. And it's obvious you have no idea about how economics work.

Theodore Taba: Another one who doesn't understand economics. Your suggestions either minimizes the impact to state workers and increases the burden on the rest of the people of Hawaii for no other reason than to keep you and others employed with full benefits.

Try living in the real world with the rest of us.

John Kawamoto: Couldn't agree more. The problem is these people are put in a position of responsibility, but have no creative juices when it comes to problem solving. It always comes down to more money for them.

Dr. Strong,
I know very little about naturopathic medicine so I went to both wikipedia and the AANMC website. I encourage everyone else to do so too. Off of the AANMC website, I read this:

Q: What is naturopathy and naturopathic medicine?
A: Naturopathy is a traditional approach to health that is holistic, meaning that it encompasses the whole being. It is based on natural and preventative care. Naturopathic medicine combines many methodologies, such as acupuncture, massage, chiropractic adjustment, homeopathy and herbal cures, along with sensible concepts such as good nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques. Some refer to it as “alternative care”, which is ironic, since naturopathy and naturopathic medicine are rooted in many age-old remedies that predate what’s known as “modern medicine”. A core concept is one of “doing no harm”, and complementing any necessary treatment.

I don't see anything about "pharmaceuticals and minor surgery."

JKai wrote:

I don't see anything about "pharmaceuticals and minor surgery."

Aspirin (which is actually willow tree bark extract) and toe nail clipping...and there you are.

The better question would be how many health insurance plans will pay to see on off these "doctors"?

Gene Albano is wrong. Had the furlough plan gone through, the governor and her cabinet would have taken pay cuts equivalent to what all other state employees would have been subject to. They would have taken the 5% pay cut plus made up the balance in furlough days.

Gene Albano is a former State Representative. Wonder why he supports the poor underpaid State workers, tax increases, and raiding special funds?

Island Boi wrote:

HI unions are mistakenly led by their inept bosses into thinking it is ok to continually demand more and more benefits from the taxpayers. Wrong answer as the UAW was well aware but continued to lead their workers and GM/Chrysler off the financial cliff. Health care and retirement will require worker contributions to stay solvent. Public taxpayers will no longer support their "Dole." And yes, their may be times when pay sacrifices must be made, exactly like all non-union workers are doing. For union bosses to preach they are "exempt" from the economic crisis is just an example of how incompetent they are, totally out of touch with reality, sitting back fat with their non-working paycheck. Time to fire these buffons and find some competent new blood to provide true leadership. Sad to say this will never happen, the unions will continue to sprial down into the mud. Ahhh, just another day in the little third world of Hawaii Nei.

Agree with extremely poor leadership. Rally last Tuesday, spending money for buses and t-shirts, but auwe, no formal plan for the membership helping with the state deficit. All their energies for a big shibai and loud noise rally instead of putting their high-paying leadership heads together and coming out with a plan to bring to the table. How much longer can the community and government workers wait for "talk story" while the state finances continue to sink. The union leaders knew about this global financial downturn since last fall.

Hawaii 96782 wrote:

Gene Albano is a former State Representative. Wonder why he supports the poor underpaid State workers, tax increases, and raiding special funds?

Maybe he needs a job and will be running for office again. Does he qualify legally?

Lets sit around with Toguchi and twiddle our thumbs.

Get REAL Mr Taba !

Unions don't negotiate ! They INTIMIDATE,COERCE,THREATEN !

They are nothing more than DOMESTIC TERRORISTS !

Lib Loons wrote:

Get REAL Mr Taba !
Unions don't negotiate ! They INTIMIDATE,COERCE,THREATEN !
They are nothing more than DOMESTIC TERRORISTS !

Totally agree on this. Look what happened when we NEGOTIATED with the HSTA for teacher drug testing as part of the deal for raises. The result: the unions lied, cheated and are now stealing!

the docs are leaving Hawaii

willie wrote:

<quoted text>
Aspirin (which is actually willow tree bark extract) and toe nail clipping...and there you are.
The better question would be how many health insurance plans will pay to see on off these "doctors"?

Actually willow tree bark is exactly that. When you "cook" it and the resulting "compound" is derived...you have a Pharma-medicine. Kaiser in California now employs and pays for some holistic medicine. I use both types of medicine depending on the condition. Anything mechanical..broken arm, etc. i go to the regular doctor...Most other internal stuff i go to either, depending. Neither of these professions have a "lock" on curing any diseases. Oh yeah, they will "treat" them but only some actually get cured..big difference.

Marie Laderta is the state's chief negotiator and she's also the state director of personnel at DHRD. The budget shortfall can very easily be resolved by simply stopping the wasteful SHORTAGE pay that is payed to all engineering positions statewide. In addition to what their base pay salary is, all engineering positions in all state departments, statewide currently receive well over $1,000.00 extra each month in their paychecks. This has been going on forever, and the reason for this is due to shortages in filling their vacant engineering positions. In this economy of layoffs and unemployment, how can this continue to be allowed. Shortages is supposed to be temporary, but now it seems like the engineers are untouchable. This govenment waste needs to be stopped immediately. Either Marie Laderta is totally unaware of these wasteful shortage pay or she's just protecting this class of people who call themselves engineers. If Lingle is freezing hiring and yet they are paying engineers' over $1,000.00 extra dollars each month for shortage, is this business as usual? There's many other positions that are receiving shortage pay, but not as much as the engineers. The public really don't know how ridiculous government can be. Before furloughs are implemented, shortage pay must be stopped. Period.