Military Spending

Off the war path (June 12, 2018)

In response to “How Tulsi Gabbard’s Fight Against War Is Affecting Hawaii“:

I say how about a Rand Paul/Tulsi Gabbard 2020 presidential ticket. I’d vote for them. There are far too few willing to take a stand against the endless war and surveillance state that we have become as a nation. — Drew Brumbaugh, Kauai The lessons of war (June 11, 2018) 60-1! Wow, it kinda reminds me of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution (88-2).

At least the Gulf of Tonkin resolution contained a sunset provision that allowed Congress to eventually step in and override the President’s actions. The Iraq War resolution contained no such provision. The amendment that Tulsi sponsored would have given Congress the ability to prevent the defense department from waging an Iran war on their own.

History does have a way of repeating itself. But you’d think we would have learned our lessons in both Vietnam and Iraq.

— David Rosen, Kailua

Mental Health Crisis

Don’t give up on the mentally ill (June 12, 2018)

Strongly disagree with Dr. Kozak’s position to bring back mental hospitals. (“Health Beat: Bring Back The Mental Hospitals”). In fact I found it shocking to read that a health practitioner, a medical doctor no less, in this day and age would express such a thought.

Today’s medical practitioner has a duty to treat the body and mind in the least restrictive way possible. For example: Schizophrenia is a disease of the mind; diabetes is a disease of the body, but many diabetics are also diagnosed with depression. People who have either diagnosis are usually not great at managing their disease, cost the health care system loads of money, and may or may not end up with complications that could require medical attention or hospitalization.

So shall we gather up all the diabetics and put them in a diabetic asylum? Of course not, no more than we should gather up the folks diagnosed with a mind disease such as schizophrenia. Diabetics and the mentally diagnosed need close supervision by highly trained case managers. They need to live in the community like everybody else.

Mental hospitals are not the answer. And they are not in the best interest of a person diagnosed with a disease of the body or of the mind.

— Nancy Manali-Leonardo, RN, BEd, Waikiki

Recreational Marijuana

Cannabis economy could save Hawaii County (June 8, 2018)

According to Mayor Kim’s testimony to the Legislature a few months ago, Hawaii County was in a “crisis” condition due to poverty and homelessness (and poor government planning) before the lava emergency. Now it’s exponentially worse. Share and I propose a safe and natural solution — emergency executive orders (or another effective remedy) to allow a legal cannabis industry to start here immediately.

We the people of Hawaii County voted for growing 24 cannabis plants per property (a misdemeanor) on Election Day 2008 as the lowest law enforcement priority. It’s time to make that fully legal now.

Let’s repeal “marijuana” prohibition as an emergency measure and let freedom ring for a change. Uruguay has legalized. Many U.S. states have legalized. Canada goes legal in a few weeks. There is nothing to wait for any longer and lots to gain by moving forward today. The “Reefer Madness” policies we’ve unnecessarily suffered under for decades need to be gone forever. It was always a false and destructive narrative that did much more harm than good.

In 120 days we could have a safe, natural and sustainable cannabis harvest to celebrate here. It would greatly increase the health, wealth and happiness of Hawaii County citizens and attract lots of visitors, too. Imagine.

— Roger and Share Christie, Hilo