Taxes
Taxes
Why ask for
another tax bill?
I would have thought people of Hawaii would be tired paying some of the highest taxes in America yet I find a letter in WHT actually asking for another Bill (SB-2226) to be passed that would tax us for trying to save a few bucks.
Does “Joy” actually know what our effective tax rate is in Hawaii? Is she just thinking the 4-plus percent is such a low tax we need to raise it? Does she realize what we are actually paying in taxes here? Doesn’t she realize we pay taxes on everything we do or have done in and around our homes. This gives us an effective tax rate of more than 15 percent. And, speaking only for myself here, many of us just shop the Internet for things we can’t find here. We pay enough taxes “for living in Paradise” and don’t need to have more added to us. I do most of my shopping at local businesses but might be skipping one of them in the near future.
Frank Dickinson
Kailua-Kona
Social security response
Halling’s letter
did not make sense
Beverly Halling (April 22 letter) identified herself as “a former legislator from South Dakota.” After struggling through her rambling letter on Social Security filing (or renewing a driver’s license?) I had to wonder if South Dakota requires their legislators to be literate?
Ms. Halling — apparently without an appointment — arrived at a spot in Kailua-Kona where the Social Security staff take applicants. She did not seem to be aware of the kind of documents she needed and without talking to any officical made her own conclusions about what she would need.
As her story progressed several people (again not officials) were handing out “forms” on the sidewalk where there was a line up. Next she speculates on whether she is in need of a driver’s license, a marriage certificate or perhaps a passport (and the “new ones will have a chip in them”). The only thing left out of Ms. Halling’s story is a demand for Obama’s birth certificate.
When I filed for my Social Security I made an appointment — went to the office and knew beforehand what I was to have with me — was served by a very nice lady and started receiving my checks right on time.
West Hawaii Today should not have printed this right wing (anti-Social Security or government employees?) rant from someone who no doubt sees black helecopters flying low over Kailua-Kona.
I hope a WHT reporter will “fly” this by the Social Security folks for a comment.
Bill Johnston
Kona