• Remember the one where the trustee couldn't cash her $1 million-a-year paycheck and mind her own business? The Democrats finally had to do something about it because of all the bad press they were getting.

• How about the one where the state senator, a once-rising star for the Democrats, is convicted on drug charges and sent to jail. Before he's convicted, though, he runs up $21,000 in charges at casinos and strip joints on a charitable trust's credit card.

• Then there's the Van Cam program on O'ahu. Enough said.

• I loved the episode where the gubernatorial candidate leads the teachers' union to believe he is in favor of improving education in the public school system in return for an endorsement. He never tells them that improving education doesn't include teacher pay raises.

• The series where the state senator goes to jail for theft and tax convictions, followed by two City Council members, lacked variety. Too many characters going to jail. As for the City Council member who has his law license suspended for six months by the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel for a hit-and-run conviction, that could really have been a good episode had he then decided to run for, say, lieutenant governor.

To say that the Democrats are self-destructing is an understatement. These are symptoms of a party that's been in power too long, is out of touch with its constituents and isn't capable of meaningful change.

I have supported the Democrats in the past, but this time I'm voting for Linda Lingle for governor. To help her with the changes that are needed to improve our economic outlook, Dalton Tanonaka (lieutenant governor candidate) is the guy with fresh ideas and can revitalize Hawai'i's economy with his knowledge of the Asian Pacific markets.

Now for those of you who will vote for the Democrats because you're hooked on soap operas, here's a song you can sing while you're in the ballot booth. The tune is from Tennessee Ernie Ford's hit, "Sixteen Tons," and the words go like this:

"We vote Democrat, what do we get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
Saint Peter don't you call us 'cause we're so ashamed,
we put them in office so we'll take the blame."

Sing it in the key of F. It matches their performances for the past four years.

Moses Akana
'Aiea

Controversial 'sport' part of culture

Cockfighting is described as a "sport" and part of the culture. In some societies,bullfightingis part of the culture. The killing of whales and other endangered species is part of some cultures.In Elizabethan England, bear baiting was part of the culture. And let us not forgetthe cultural practices of human sacrificeand head-hunting.

Don McDaniel

Great trees now an 'endangered species'

"Zoo to lose 'magnificent specimen' of a tree," story on July 25: How befitting that this article appeared on the obituaries page.Yes, another great tree is about to bite the dust because of years of improper pruning.

A tragedy that is going on statewide that you can see as you drive around. Although I have lived in Hawai'i for over 14 years, I continue to be amazed and saddened at how trees are "attacked" over and over again by over-pruning by the state, city and county and residents.

The "great trees," the old growth trees that inspire, are now an endangered species. The City and County of Honolulu's plan of relocating and planting older trees that have been "lobotomized cut" and look like telephone poles with a bushel basket of leaves on the top is a prime example.

Don't you understand the basics? Those old mature "great" trees look that way because they have been left alone.

If a tree really needs a lot of pruning, it was obviously planted in the wrong place and too close to buildings or roads. Or poor planning allowed a building or road to be built much too close to the tree.

Bottom line, don't trim or prune unless one of the following: Wind damaged limbs or branches; or sick or diseased. Otherwise remove the tree.

To the Outdoor Circle, get with the program, stop the over-pruning trend now by educating the public and private sectors.

Norman Sullivan

Chained parking lot asking for trouble

We have lived in Hau'ula for 10 years and have enjoyed "Pounder's Beach" in Hau'ula, La'ie Beach Park. The state or city came and repaved the parking lot. We thought, "How wonderful."

But now the parking lot is chained and there is no parking on the shoulder of the road by the park. How inhumane. I wonder if these people so badly want to show others "who is the boss."

Well, I have no desire to fight them. I am handicapped but since "they" are stupid enough to open themselves for a lawsuit, I will get some of the people and lawyers involved in handicap access and road safety to start looking into this matter. The way I look at it, stupidity breeds stupidity. If they think a little, they would remember a beach access is a public access. We fought hard for it, we won and we don't want to start the fight again.

Zol Khalid
Hau'ula

Where did you find the money, mayor?

There have been a lot of questions regarding funding for the mayor's Brunch on the Beach, but Mayor Harris has stated that the city has enough money to fund this function.

Without a doubt it has provided local people, as well as tourists, a place to gather and enjoy the food and entertainment, but the concerns in regard to the budget to fund Harris' vision are still controversial to say the least.

I just wanted to know where the mayor found the monies to budget this project, because every time the Honolulu Police Department begins its bargaining process, the mayor repeatedly informs us that there are no funds in the budget for raises that would bring our department in parity with our Mainland counterparts.

Let me get this straight, $10,000 a week for a brunch on the beach and $0.00 for public safety? Thank you Mayor Harris for your wonderful vision.

Stanley Garcia

Teen never alone during fatal car accident

On July 9, 16-year old Marilene Rongcal Bacani, on her way to do volunteer work at Campbell High School with disabled children, lost her life after a car hit her while she was in a crosswalk on Fort Weaver Road.

It was very comforting to know that at the time of Marilene's struggle, many people came to her rescue and that she was never alone.

We, the family of Marilene, would like to thank all our relatives and friends, and so many people we did not even know, for the many cards, flowers and kind messages.

Our special thanks to the witnesses, to the employees of Child & Family Service Center and to everyone who tended to her at the time of the accident. We are also grateful to the emergency crew and doctors and staff of the St. Francis Hospital and The Queen's Medical Center.

We also want to acknowledge the members of the media who abided by our request of privacy in our time of mourning.

To one and all, our deepest appreciation and thank you.

Rongcal-Bacani Family

Bottom fishermen mistakenly targeted

On July 21 you printed a letter I wrote about a hook that was removed from a monk seal. The blame was put on the longline fishermen. I pointed out that the longline fishermen don't use those hooks but the bottom fishermen do. I did this because I have fished both fisheries.

Then Kurt Kawamoto called me and pointed out that the hook was in fact from a shore caster who uses a "slide bait technique" (they also use this style hook).He also made a point of telling me that I had unjustly "pointed the finger" at bottom fishermen.

He then faxed me a picture of the hook, its short line, spin swivel and its connection to a main line.He pointed out that this is a typical configuration of a shore caster using a slide bait.

I agree with him and would like to shift the potential anger of the bottom fishermen towards my comment to those who use the slide bait technique.

Fritz M. Amtsberg

Hawaiians fighting for their lives, nation

Over 100 years ago, the Hawaiian nation was crippled by inaction. How many of us have scrutinized this historical event and imagined, in crystalline rage, our own actions had we been there at that pivotal moment in time when one bullet, one arrest would have changed our circumstances.

When Rice, Burgess, Arakaki and their fellow reincarnations took their place on the legal stage, they reeked of Thurston, Stevens and Smith. When Kamehameha Schools trustees betrayed our confidence, they were the same as the Cabinet that led Lili'uokalani to the slaughter.

The stench of rotting truth buried by a mountain of distractions and political rhetoric has risen so high, spread so wide that even those who never before felt their hand coil into a fist were compelled to revolt. It is the same idea — the same goal — stimulating a ravenous grab for our money, power and identity.

Will we once again be lured to a happy ending only to be ambushed one long yard from victory?

No. We must act now and act like the Hawaiian nation we know we are and not like the minority they want us to be. Silence is compliance.

The "public perception" will be that we believe in truth and justice for our people and will not take any more abuse from impotent legal teams, "color-blind" racist groups or empty-headed hyper-patriotic ideologies.

The time for ho'oponopono has long passed. Don't let minute issues cloud the battlefield; we are fighting for our lives, our nation and our children.

Tracie K. Cummings
Mililani

Warning signs there for those who look

I am writing in regard to the article blaming the lack of warning signs at the Halona Blowhole for that young man's death.

I do not want to sound harsh or uncaring about the boy's death. It was tragic. He didn't deserve to die. And I send my prayers to his family.

But I grew up on the Windward side of O'ahu. I can tell you there are warning signs at the blowhole. And what about the fence? Is there not a padlocked chain-link fence? The message is clear: Do not go out to the blowhole.

Amelia Woods
Kailua

Transferring students unfair to overachievers

The new "No Child Left Behind" policies being implemented in our state are slightly troubling to me.Indeed, Hawai'i's public schools are failing, but allowing for students to transfer out of failing schools is not the solution.

By transferring underachieving students, the state neglects one of its most valuable resources: the overachievers.

While the current provisions of the NCLB program would allow failing students to transfer out of failing schools and provide funding in the fourth year for tutoring, the students within the failing schools who want to achieve more and learn more will be intellectually stunted, a problem that is not as easily remedied.

Obviously, allowing overachievers and underachievers to transfer out of failing schools would leave them empty. To the politicians: Allowing failing students to leave failing schools is not a solution to our problem.

To solve our education problem, measures must be taken to ensure that each student may live up to his or her full potential.

If this means a complete overhaul of our education system, so be it. It is not fair to deprive those students who are eager to learn of that opportunity, regardless of how well they achieve in school.

Adam K. Maruyama
Student