Letters to the Editor
The time has come: Legalize gambling
It is time gambling was legalized in our ailing state. Thousands of responsible, honest Hawai'i residents take regular trips to Las Vegas to enjoy taking their chance at the gambling wheel.
If a casino were built at Ko Olina, the tourist industry would get a much-needed shot in the arm and many would choose to stay in Hawai'i for their entertainment.
Most of the politicians opposed to this are opposed because they were elected in a non-gambling state and they fear deviation from the status quo.
The only real danger of legalized gambling is that some citizens would fall into a debt of addiction. Such people are in the small minority and could be properly taken into account by counseling. The benefits of legalized gambling greatly outweigh the costs to our society, and the missionary mentality of our politicos must adjust to ease our economic stress.
Stuart N. Taba
Master plan requested for state parks system
Your recent article about the serious disrepair of our state parks brought to my attention concerns that were raised during the 2001 legislative session.
During that session, I was the chairman of the Senate's Economic Development and Technology Committee. This committee had the foresight to pass Senate Resolution 41, SD 1, requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create a comprehensive master plan for all of the state's parks that would address repair and maintenance, ecological and environmental protection, historic and natural park preservation, as well as recognizing the economic value of our state parks system as tourist attractions.
The DLNR was asked to submit the comprehensive master plan to the Legislature 20 days prior to convening of the 2002 legislative session, but to date no plan has been submitted. This master plan would have provided valuable information to the Legislature and could have been used to determine funding priorities for our state parks system.
It is unfortunate that our current state administration does not recognize the importance and value of creating comprehensive master plans for its departments to be used as tools to address the current and future needs of our state. We seem to always wait until the bridge has collapsed instead of recognizing that something needs to be done before it does.
Sen. Rod Tam
It's more important to hire best talent
A recent letter asks why "outsiders" are being hired for some of the "best jobs" at the University of Hawai'i. The answer is simple: The so-called outsiders apparently are the ones with the necessary talent for these particular jobs.
Recently, in another letter by a legislator, mention was made that the president of UH was bringing in individuals from the Mainland. Again, the leader looks for talent, especially proven talent.
Many individuals locally are at a disadvantage for some of the "best jobs." For example, coaches and athletic directors on the Mainland have paid their dues before being selected for the "big jobs." They have had experiences at several high schools, junior colleges and Division II schools before being considered for big jobs at the Division 1 level.
That is the answer: A leader or employer looks for the best talent available.
Does any university on the Mainland look only to local people from its respective state? So, it is not a question of "confidence in our own people," it is simply finding the best talent available from wherever that talent may be, and that is developed only by diversified experiences at all levels. Hiring only local talent is insufficient to keep up with the world in today's economy.
Howard S. Okada
Ed Case's approach to education is better
Regarding the Aug. 11 article about the Democratic candidates' education proposals: To say that these "break little new ground" does not do justice to Ed Case's proposals that would actually restructure the state's education system from top to bottom.
Andy Anderson would throw more money, gambling money, at a broken system, while Mazie Hirono's approach would be a "comprehensive audit" of the same system, as if we didn't already know that it is dysfunctional.
Note, too, that neither Anderson nor Hirono cares to address the lumbering procurement bureaucracy.
Case's approach, to decentralize the system into local districts and bring accountability closer to the schools, is what parents, teachers and administrators are screaming for. Local control works. It may not be completely new ground, but it is proven ground and should have been done long ago.
Jim Barry
Claim that church allows gays is wrong
In an Aug. 7 letter, Robert Thurston wrote, "Look at the Catholic Church and the mess they are in for allowing gay preachers to be in the positions of influence."
The Catholic Church does not allow gay clergy. This is an easy fact to verify.
I think publishing blatantly incorrect information gives it a validity it does not deserve. It is provocative and might cause a flurry of letter-writing activity, but I question the judgment of whoever OK'd this letter for print. Having a differing opinion is one thing, but to put forth logic based on a factual wrong is irresponsible.
Alan Batson
Gays, atheists should form their own group
I feel compelled to write in support of the fine organization called the Boy Scouts of America, which gives guidance to youngsters, helping them to develop into discriminating, wholesome adults.
My question to letter writer Jim Bill would be, "Why would an atheist even want to become a member of the Boy Scouts when the Boy Scout oath is diametrically opposed to how they themselves believe?" I can see why a homosexual would like to be a scoutmaster, but in this respect, I praise the Boy Scouts for being discriminating and protective of their young members.
Instead of spending your time attacking and trying to tear down a good, wholesome organization such as the Boy Scouts, just start a new organization called "Atheist and Homosexual Scouts of America," or something similar. With all of those legions of people out there who you say would welcome such an organization, there is no doubt it should do quite well.
John Bishop
Kane'ohe
School crossing guards should get better pay
The solution is so simple: If you want more school crossing guards, you have to raise their pay.
We love children and want to keep them safe. But the very few people who have those specific two hours available are not going to want to get ready, drive, find parking and work under sometimes extremely stressful conditions for just $20 a day.
Not only would the school crossing guards have to worry about their own safety, but what if one or several children get hurt and blame the crossing guard. They could lose everything they have in a lawsuit and also feel the guilt of causing a child to get hurt or killed.
Raise the pay to $60 a day, and you may have some applicants. You always have to look at the risk versus the reward.
Colin Kau
Jail contract bid points up problem
Sometimes it's a real toss-up as to which is worse: the government's arrogance or its stupidity.
The Aug. 11 Advertiser reports that the state may enter into a $130 million contract to build a new jail. Only one contractor bid on the job. Better yet, the customer (that's us) can't know the details or even what the product looks like until after the contract is signed.
What makes this even more remarkable is that just recently, Sen. Dan Inouye was whining that the Democrats' scandals are preventing them from getting their message out.
Well, Senator, look around. The Democrats' real problem is that your message is out there. We all get it — loud and clear.
Robert R. Kessler
Violence no answer to Mideast problems
No to war and killing in Iraq. If the United States with Israel establishes a global law of pre-emptive aggression, we will find ourselves forever the principal target of its application.
Yes to peace-building processes of problem-solving based on mutual recognition of grievances and needs. The goal is mutual respect and reconciliation. The means are unceasing readiness to engage in seeking to satisfy needs without threat or use of killing force.
Nonviolent resources for this exist in the United States, Iraq, Israel, Palestine and elsewhere. The supreme task of leadership is to evoke and engage them. A practical example is the well-crafted bill to create a Cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace (H.R. 2459).
As Gen. Douglas MacArthur foresightedly warned in a speech to the American Legion, the abolition of war is "no longer an ethical question" but a matter of "scientific realism" for survival and advancement of civilization. He warned, "We must break out of the straitjacket of the past."
Glenn D. Paige
Center for Global Nonviolence
New resident housing is needed in Waikiki
Maybe something that would benefit Waikiki is to look at getting buildings up on the vacant lots between Kuhio and the Ala Wai. Those were resident housing units before they were closed and bulldozed.
People living in Waikiki would then take their business to Waikiki stores, choosing to stay nearby rather than being inconvenienced traveling out of Waikiki.
I lived in Waikiki for several years growing up, and we almost never left Waikiki to do our shopping, except maybe to Sears for kids clothes for school.
The city should push developers to build residential units instead of hotels (for which there has been the moratorium all these years) to get more people into Waikiki who would spend the money to keep the businesses afloat.
Bob Gillchrest
Democratic Party is not anti-business
I would like to take this opportunity to debunk — once and for all — the outdated image of the Democratic Party as being anti-business, anti-growth and addicted to excessive government intervention. It couldn't be further from the truth.
Hawai'i's Democrats want to protect our clean environment, Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit that make our island home unique, while, at the same time, attracting the right type of diversified businesses that will add to our island home, not detract from it. Perhaps most important, however, Democrats want to build a bright future for Hawai'i where everyone — not just a lucky few — shares in the prosperity.
I am frankly fed up with President Bush and the activities that surround his administration and the Republican Party. The Republican agenda promotes everything I — and I believe a lot of other young people in Hawai'i — strongly oppose: accumulating wealth through privilege rather than performance; avoiding competition through cooked books and deceptive reports; and using equity markets not to raise capital for productive ventures, but to run up private fortunes while running out on investors and workers.
I have watched with dismay while the Bush administration acts as boardroom valets for corporate leaders seeking special privileges instead of neutral arbiters of a fair and open marketplace in which government has an independent and active role in making economic growth possible.
Can we expect the same here from the local Republican machine? Linda Lingle has received nearly half a million dollars from out-of-state contributors, and large donations from dozens of Republican-backed organizations, all of whom have questionable motives for Hawai'i. As a Bush Republican, Lingle stands for special privileges for her big-business buddies and opportunities — but only for some.
I'm proud to be counted among the growing number of young Hawai'i Democrats who believe, as Thomas Jefferson did, in "equal opportunity for all — special privileges for none."
Christopher S. Ovitt
Executive director, Democratic Party of Hawai'i
