Today's Opinions

By Ken Burger
Big Island

    There was a time when we were certain that asbestos was safe. We knew confidently that it was a great resource for insulation: cheap, easy to use and effective.  That was then. Now we know better, because science teaches us truthfully of the dangers that asbestos presents to anyone who inhales the particles.  Who of us has not seen the ads for “mesothelioma?”

Each year the House of Representatives is responsible for producing a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This week, House Republicans introduced our budget plan, The Path to Prosperity. The House plan is a responsible step in the right direction and tackles our spending problem head-on.

A vision for
success or
mediocrity?
 
    I was stunned as I read Annie Pollard’s reference to teachers asking for a raise as “crybabies.”
    I assumed that she was stressed by the difficult decisions faced in regard to funding schools and county commitments. Further, removed from the heat of the moment she would surely apologize and move on to try to balance the needs of teachers to have a reasonable salary with the ability of the community to meet that need.