Let’s pardon all turkeys
Next week, President Donald Trump will take a break from brooding over his election loss to pardon two turkeys. Every one of us has that same awesome power to pardon an innocent, sentient bird by choosing a plant-based roast for our Thanksgiving dinner.
The 222 million turkeys killed in the U.S. this year are raised in crowded sheds filled with toxic fumes. Their beaks and toes are clipped to prevent stress-induced aggression. At the tender age of 16 weeks, workers cut their throats and dump them into boiling water to remove their feathers.
Consumers pay a heavy price too. Turkey flesh is laced with cholesterol and saturated fats that elevate risk of chronic killer diseases. Prolonged cooking is required to destroy deadly pathogens lurking inside.
Now, for the good news. With growing popularity of Tofurky and other plant-based holiday roasts, U.S. turkey production has dropped a whopping 25% from its 1995 high of 293 million.
This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for our good fortune, health, and happiness with a cruelty-free plant-based holiday roast available in convenient sizes. An internet search on “vegetarian Thanksgiving” offers more options and recipes than we could possibly use.
Hal Takano
Kailua-Kona
We didn’t have a voice
This letter is to inform the Republicans of West Hawaii that our votes don’t count. Hawaii’s Electoral College votes went to Joe Biden before a single vote was counted — 6 minutes after polling stations closed. People were still standing in line. This is wrong. They gave us a sticker saying “I voted.” What a joke. Why do we bother?
We didn’t have a voice — if you’re a Republican. I hope censorship doesn’t refuse to print this information.
Shawn Daggett
Kailua-Kona
What is voter fraud?
What is voter fraud? The election officials say there is no voter fraud. However, I consider this voter fraud: “Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that prohibits counties from rejecting mail-in ballots in which the voter’s signature doesn’t match their voter registration.” This quote is from Newsweek on Oct. 23.
Michel Wilson
Captain Cook
Still pending review
with no response
I’m writing this out of frustration with the unemployment office in this state. I’ve been stuck in “pending review” status since early August. I’ve written our congress person, as well as the senators, to ask for help. That (as I expected) was a waste of time. I was referred to the UI “Call Center,” which apparently is either not manned, or runs on a rotary phone down in the dusty basement because I can never actually get to a person. I’m sure lots of other people are in the same situation, which begs the bigger question: why?
Harry Taylor
Hawi
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321, via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
