Posted on: Friday, June 7, 2002
Letters to the Editor
Hawai'i's Democrats rising to challenges
I want to commend The Honolulu Advertiser for its insightful and thoughtful coverage of the Hawai'i Democratic Convention, which was held earlier this month.
Like many life-long Democrats, I had begun to question where the party was headed. Over the past few years, the party seemed to lose its focus.
But at the convention, I witnessed a true reawakening of Hawai'i's Democratic Party. I saw firsthand the things that have always set Hawai'i's Democrats apart: fresh ideas and innovative thinking, a deep commitment to putting people first and the courage to do what's right on behalf of Hawai'i's people, especially the elderly, the poor, immigrants and others who need our help.
I believe 2002 will prove to be another watershed year and a historic victory for the people of Hawai'i. It will be remembered as the year when Hawai'i Democrats rose to the many challenges facing Hawai'i today and responded with the vision, leadership, heart and soul to create a better future for all of us.
John T. Komeiji
Let's hold Democrats accountable this year
This year I hope O'ahu voters do not forget the struggle they encountered against the Democrats and Department of Transportation Director Brian Minaai's arrogance to force the van cam issue.
We need to vote our conscience and to send a message to the Democrats that they work for us. They are not put into power to dream up new ideas of how to make money off the public or how to rip off the little man.
It's time for a long-overdue change in island politics.
Julia Ching
Let the voters decide who is best candidate
It is certainly regrettable that Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris withdrew his candidacy for governor, though everyone understands his reasons are good.
Soon will be the primary, when the voters of the state get to select the best candidate in their party. State Democratic leaders being upset that Harris is out of the race only shows that they want to pick "the best candidate" who can win the election. Party leaders picking a winner works against the primary process by taking the control from voters and also their interest in the primary election.
I encourage all the political parties to work on fielding all of their best candidates for the primary election. Let the voters decide. That is our duty.
Robert Crook
Rep. Mink demonstrated why we need change
Regarding the Democratic convention: I could hardly believe my eyes and ears when Patsy Mink appeared on several TV news clips literally screaming that the Democratic Party had a "right to rule" this state.
It is this kind of attitude on the part of the Democrats that has brought us to the sorry state we are in, and it will remain so as long as the party maintains its long, corrupt reign.
This is why change is necessary.
Peter Lee
This Republican was in Mayor Harris' camp
The hands-on management experience, vision and energy that Mayor Jeremy Harris has brought to City Hall are exactly what the state needed, and which sadly are now glaringly lacking in the campaigns of those still in the field.
As a Republican who always votes for the best candidate, regardless of party, I have been impressed with the mayor's willingness to listen to all sides and find the best solutions for all Hawai'i's people regardless of party labels and based upon a shared vision of our future.
Ken Stevens
More state regulation means more problems
More regulation to help our economy?
When Gov. Cayetano triumphantly penned into law the consumer relief bills at the end of May, that's exactly what he prescribed. By 2004, one law will require companies that provide healthcare to submit detailed rate schedules, and undoubtedly mountains of support, to the insurance commissioner for approval.
Another will require pharmacies participating in Medicaid to buy their drugs from a state-run warehouse. Finally, a bill will empower the state to set wholesale price caps on gasoline.
Sounds good, but think about this for a minute. The legislation allows the same guys who "oversaw" the van cam traffic ticket program to buy your medication and set your gasoline prices and health insurance rates. It creates an even greater incentive for the oil, pharmaceutical and insurance industries to meddle in local politics. Most significantly, it totally ignores the root causes of the high prices in the first place.
How about lobbying for an exemption to the Jones Act, or easing up on the overall regulation and double taxation that our state is so famous for? Oops, sorry, those are Republican sentiments that can't be acknowledged by our lawmakers in an election year.
Kevin Kaneshiro
Gov. Cayetano failed to support the HPD
Unbelievable. I just finished watching the news and heard a very disturbing statement made by Gov. Cayetano. He was commenting on the raid of an exotic dancer liquor establishment.
Several employees were arrested for prostitution by the Honolulu Police Department's Vice Division. The governor relayed that he thought the Police Department could better serve us by arresting drug dealers and other criminals instead of these people. To those who don't know, including the governor, the Vice Division specifically handles prostitution.
It's a sad day in the HPD when your governor doesn't support you for doing the job you were assigned to do — especially when you are doing it well.
Since you're not getting it from the governor, you'll get it from me: "Good job, guys."
At least your department supports you, as well as most other citizens out there.
Ron Taira
Congress must fight to protect Crusader
Why is the Defense Department in such a rush to dismantle a project that will greatly assist the U.S. in regaining decisive military capabilities for our soldiers? In a hasty, less-than-thoughtful decision, the Pentagon decided to terminate the Crusader advanced artillery system.
Amazingly, the Pentagon recommended termination even though it has not conducted a thorough study of the alternative. That is wrong. Army leaders have known for many years that several other countries around the world outgun the U.S. Army when it comes to cannon artillery. Congress must fight to keep building the Crusader. It is a success story the U.S. military needs.
The Crusader will help protect U.S. soldiers. That is what the Army says — and it is right. When asked about the Crusader in a recent Senate hearing, Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki bluntly said his "best military judgment" still held that the Crusader program should continue. It would have been useful, he said, to suppress mortar fire that led to eight casualties among U.S. troops in Afghanistan in March.
We need the Crusader to regain decisive military capabilities for our men and women in combat and to meet the crucial war-fighting requirements for the joint force commanders of tomorrow.
The sudden rush to cancel this program, a full year before the Army completes an analysis of the program and possible alternatives to it, will be a grave injustice to the foot soldiers and Marines we send into combat. Additionally, the costs of terminating the program early will be a waste of precious taxpayer dollars.
Brett Ryan
Confidence was lost in tunnel controversy
An open letter to Gov. Ben Cayetano:
I am writing this letter to you because I learned that you have changed the name of the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel to the John A. Burns Tunnel. I am appalled that you made this change for no valid reason, and I humbly request that you restore the name of the tunnel to the original honoree, Mr. Tetsuo Harano.
Ben, I was a strong supporter of you as governor, but this incident has made me lose confidence in you. I believe the Honorable Gov. John A. Burns must have turned over in his grave by your most inappropriate action.
I ask all those who agree with me to write to you or sign the petition being circulated.
Kongo Kimura
What is dollar value on destroyed species?
In your June 3 editorial, "Habitat debate beset by speculative fear," you write: "By law, Fish and Wildlife has the right to exclude areas where the economic and social costs to society outweigh the benefits to the species."
How is this cost vs. benefit ratio determined? In the past few decades, we — the walking, talking primates — have spent billions, nay trillions, of dollars on healthcare costs, medical research, organ transplants, pharmaceutical research and infectious disease eradication in an attempt to save every single member of our species. I am curious — what is the dollar value for a species whose destruction is socially or economically inconvenient?
Does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate an auction on eBay to determine how much "civil"-ization is prepared to pay to preserve the mosquito ... the slug ... any furry mammal?
Can we explain to future generations how we benefited from species extermination? Or will we stutter and stammer as we point to yet another crumbling housing development?
Dennis K. Biby
Singapore's goals applicable in Hawai'i
For months we've heard various local officials attempt to redefine the future of Hawai'i's economy. The over-reliance on tourism and its propensity for significant fluctuations have spurred increased interest in developing other sectors of the economy so that the state is not devastated by any single sector's downturn.
Jerry Burris' report of Singapore's "soul-searching" contains some goals that the state of Hawai'i ought to mimic. While there are many differences, the resource constraints of both islands require diversified — and creative — ways to succeed. The "knowledge economy" that Singapore is attempting to develop should be replicated here.
Last year's teacher strikes were a blow to Hawai'i's academic reputation, and continued mediocre support of the state's university is counterproductive for economic diversification. As Singapore must rely on its people, so too must Hawai'i. By improving state education, particularly at the post-secondary level, Hawai'i will be on the path to greater economic stability by producing more innovative and capable citizens.
Tourism and defense will likely remain the driving forces of the state's economy in the foreseeable future; however, the state can find a long-term solution to its weak education system and lopsided economy by investing heavily in academics now.
Richard Marshall
Customer service? Not from our city
A good business person, seeking ways to better serve his customers by catering to their wants and needs, carefully watches, listens and experiments until he begins to achieve what he wants — a satisfied customer. If he doesn't, he fails financially.
Contrast the above with the city Department of Transportation Services. Its customers should be the people who use our roadways and TheBus. It is quite apparent that city Transportation Director Cheryl Soon is anything but focused on satisfying those customers.
Let's see, now, our roads are congested only about four hours each day, leaving 20 hours to work with in spreading out the traffic and alleviating the major congestion that produces unhappy customers. And what does the city Transportation Department do? It creates a brand-new automobile blockage between the Honolulu business district and Waikiki called the BRT.
It is purported to be an effective "people mover." But Cheryl Soon is quoted as saying, "Nowadays, nobody just goes to work. ... We have a lot of trip-joining. That means combining taking children to school, shopping and other errands with the commute to work."
Soon wants an expensive BRT people mover that will not accommodate trip-joining and places in a location that does not satisfy the Central or Leeward demand for more distributed highway or street use. In fact, the so-called solution actually aggravates the problem for those who live in the suburbs and work in Waikiki.
Cost to taxpayers? A cool billion, before cost overruns.
Richard O. Rowland
Makes you scratch your head and wonder
The Kapolei Library needs $800,000 in state funds to stock it with books. The city's vision project is spending $800,000 for an unnecessary medial strip on Hunakai Street near Kahala Mall just to make things pretty and hopefully slow traffic on a section of street that handles only a moderate number of cars.
Where the sam hill are our priorities, anyway? I would much rather see the books in Kapolei.
Joel Kennedy
Hilo
Honolulu Police Department, SSD
Kane'ohe
President
Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i
Kahala
