Letters to the Editor

Riders without helmets aren't worth protecting

Ann Williamson's July 8 letter proposing a law requiring motorcyclists to carry organ donor cards is a wonderful idea.

We should go further and allow insurance companies to require helmet use and exclude coverage for injuries to their policyholders who are hurt while riding without a helmet. Why should the more responsible policyholders' rates increase? This should satisfy those who wish to retain the freedom to be unhelmeted, yet think they only affect themselves.

Of course, to ride a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, skateboard, etc., without a helmet shows simply that the contents of the rider's brain are not worth the price of a helmet. Natural selection at work?

Mark McCullough

Improvements needed on Fort Weaver Road

I am so saddened to learn that the 16-year-old girl who was hit by a car on Fort Weaver Road has died.

Usually, my family passes through Fort Weaver Road from before dawn and we return home after dusk. I know how dangerous that crosswalk is, especially during the dark hours. But even in bright daylight, I have seen motorists totally ignore pedestrians waiting to cross there.

I really want to see improvements made. The bright chartreuse signs do nothing to stop motorists when pedestrians are present. What we need is either to move the crosswalk by a few feet so motorists can see it before they make it over the hill, or we need to install a traffic light that can be activated by a pedestrian.

I know most 'Ewa residents would balk at yet another light on Fort Weaver — but too bad. If it were their daughter whom they lost, maybe they'd be demanding action.

In the meantime, 'Ewa motorists, please use caution when you approach that hill so we don't have to lose another precious young life again.

Stephanie Kiyosaki
'Ewa Beach

Opponent sees DeSoto as just a carpetbagger

Career politicians who only want a job upset me.

When searching for a home, I looked everywhere, and I fell in love with Kapolei. The area is sunny, the neighborhoods are nicely designed, and my neighbors are friendly. I have an investment in Kapolei. I plan to live here the rest of my life.

Career politician John Desoto is renting a place in Kapolei only to get a job as our senator. This upsets me. He has no investment here. How can he say he cares enough to represent the people of District 19 when he doesn't care enough to represent the people of his own district? He found a loophole to get himself a job, and he's taking it.

Our forefathers intended the people of a district to be represented by a person of that district. That is why we have districts. I am what they had in mind: an ordinary working man who cares enough about my neighbors and neighborhood to run for public office. I am not a career politician.

This year, our Legislature raised taxes and raided every special fund just to balance this year's budget. What are they going to do next year?

I can't be the only one who noticed this, and I can't be the only one upset about this. I may be the only one who can stop them, but even if I fail, my intentions are pure, and at least I tried.

Gerald K. Nakata
Candidate for Senate, District 19
Kapolei

How do you return empty beer bottles?

This bottle bill appears to be a "Catch 22." If I don't recycle, the state gets to keep the extra money I spent. If I do put a sack of empty beer cans in my car to take for recycling, I am subject to arrest for violating the open-container law.

If I get stopped by the police and tell them I am taking the cans for recycling, I get told "Yeah, well, tell it to the judge."

Was this done on purpose so the state gets to keep the extra money?

Ross Kuhnle
Pahoa

Lingle, Tanonaka make ideal ticket

I read your recent articles about the lack of jobs for university graduates and general voter apathy. I believe these two subjects are interconnected in the way the state of Hawai'i is currently run, and both are problems that can be fixed.

What Hawai'i needs is a strategy to create good jobs by attracting new businesses to the Islands, and not just remedy the current high unemployment rate by opening up low-paying, minimum-wage service positions. With many people having little luck finding good jobs, it's no small wonder that people have a general apathy toward government as a whole.

It's time for a positive change. I encourage voters to register and make the shift to the Republican ticket. Linda Lingle for governor and Dalton Tanonaka for lieutenant governor make the best team to lead Hawai'i. They'll create new ways to clean up government and promote Hawai'i overseas and seek new industries.

Their goal is to make a better life for everyone in the state, not just on O'ahu.

Rory Spire