Letters 5-1-2012

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Noise complaint

Noise complaint

Loud bikes annoying

I’m as confused as I am annoyed. If it’s illegal to modify or otherwise alter your motorcycle to increase the sound volume of the engine, then why, especially in a tourist-driven locale like Hawaii, is this so blatantly ignored by the police? Last I heard, it was a pretty clear violation of noise pollution laws to ride a modified cycle up and down public streets.

And the whole tired “loud pipes save lives” argument these riders always make? Total bunk. If these bikers cared that much, you’d see them sporting safety options such as helmets and day-glo outerwear to go with those ear-splitting, nerve-jangling, sleep-disturbing pipes.

I’m a recreational pilot and my pilot’s organization, as well as my friends in the flying community, both believe in and adhere to noise sensitivity guidelines at each airport we fly from. We do this to be considerate of our ground-bound neighbors and so our actions don’t give our group a black-eye. Complaints are taken seriously and violators held accountable.

It would be nice if local motorcyclists cared as much about how their own membership is perceived.

Chris Talbot-Jones

Kailua-Kona

Civil servants

A complaint registered I feel compelled to write about my disappointment, frustration and anger about our civil servants, the president included, who have made themselves our masters. According to our Constitution, they are servants to the American citizens; but what is happening?

Campaign trips by Mr. Obama on Air Force One.

Lavish parties (enter-tainment by clowns) by the General Services Administration.

Senator Dodd and Congressman Frank forcing banks to grant risky mortgages to people of their electorate who normally would not qualify, threatening the banks with IRS audits.

Because of that, I lost half the value of my condo at Waikoloa Beach.

Secret Service personnel engaging prostitutes on official trips in Venezuela and El Salvador.

Vacation trips in separate government airplanes by Mrs. Obama and her entourage to Spain, Hawaii, etc.

An arrogant EPA, as per the Wall Street Journal article of April 27, where Mr. Armendariz, EPA regional chief for Texas, Oklahoma and three other states, says their philosophy of enforcement is that of “Roman conquerors find the first five guys they saw and they’d crucify them and their town was really easy to manage for the next few years.”

All the expenses are paid for by the American taxpayer and I am one of them.

This largess and arrogance of our federal government must be cut down and the departments and individuals must be held accountable.

The next election gives us the opportunity to clean house and I cannot wait much longer to register my vote.

Will Duske Kailua-Kona