First, balancing the budget is a breeze: All the Legislature needs to do is tax pet food at the same rate as tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

No one needs a dog, cat, bird or bunny any more than the next person needs a cigarette or a drink, yet we can all do with the substantial decrease in medical expenses as a result of pet attacks, diseases and damage to public and private property.

Second, the problem with state government workers is that no one wants to be responsible for the work they do, so they pad it, bury it or pass it off to someone else.

The first rule of economics is that the business of business is to create wealth, and the business of government is to distribute that wealth, so you are right on the money suggesting government needs to immediately stop trying to create wealth and privatize all such functions.

But if you expect to nail the shoe to the horse, you must first recognize that Mayor Harris has led the most corrupt City Council in Honolulu's history and now wants to repeat that performance as governor.

But the root of our dilemma is not the budget, nor worker performance, nor corrupt politicians; it is people who don't vote and people who do vote, but without knowing for a fact that their chosen candidate has the integrity to do what is best for Hawai'i nei.

Rico Leffanta

Whitney Anderson was wrong about GOP

Whitney T. Anderson's March 20 letter to the editor was wrong on two accounts:

• He wrongfully claimed that no Hawaiian leader, including him, was consulted to aid in the drafting of the 2000 Hawaii Republican Party platform on Native Hawaiian Issues.

To the contrary, Kevin Chong Kee, then platform committee sub-chairman for Native Hawaiian issues, wrote to Mr. Anderson for input and then met with him in his office. He was invited to attend the platform meetings but never responded.

The committee heard from various speakers on this issue, including Melody MacKenzie and, later, retired Justice Robert Klein and Jobe Yamaguchi, deputy director of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. It continues to seek input, and just recently heard a representative from OHA talk about the status of the Akaka Bill.

• He wrongfully claimed that the platform serves to "con" Hawaiians into supporting the GOP candidates. The 2000 platform states in pertinent part, "We believe that the resolution of issues facing Hawaiians are matters for Hawaiians to resolve. (Go to gophawaii.com for the complete text.) How that statement is a "con" is beyond logic.

Darwin L.D. Ching
2000-2002 Platform Committee chairman, Hawaii Republican Party

Public should finance political campaigns

Over the last week, there have been news articles in both papers, reports on television and legislation passed for campaign finance reform, both here in Hawai'i and in Washington, D.C. This is definitely a step in the right direction, because there is a big problem with campaign contributions influencing legislation, legislators, contracts, campaigns and more. Much more.

But, more than patching the tattered coat of the current system, we need a new coat, a new way to finance election campaigns. The good news is, such an alternative exists: public funding of campaigns.

It is so simple. Public funding cuts the connections between candidates and contributors. When we citizens pay the costs of campaigns with our tax dollars, the elected officials are obliged to no one but us, who voted and elected them. Public funding is working excellently in Maine and Arizona. Massachusetts and Vermont are ready to start; other states are working on legislation.

The most common concern about public funding is the use of tax money. And no one wants higher taxes. Actually, we are already paying a very high price for campaigns through increased prices, sweetheart legislation and special deals arranged as payback for every cent contributed.

Beyond the higher prices that affect everyone, there is the sorrowful and dangerous cost democracy suffers when fewer and fewer people vote, especially our younger generation.

Public funding of campaigns is a really big change. It will only come when we citizens demand it, and demand it we must.

Laure Dillon
President, Hawai'i Clean Elections

Kapolei Parkway must be completed

It's no secret to anyone who lives out in 'Ewa that the current roadways cannot accommodate the amount of traffic that crawls in and out of there daily. Developers continue to build new residences in 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach every day, and the traffic problems continue to grow.

Gentry is requesting some rezoning so it can build an additional 1,865 housing units in 'Ewa (these are in addition to new subdivisions already under development). Eventually, Gentry will build "its section" of the planned Kapolei Parkway. It sounds as if that promised "section" will not complete the Kapolei Parkway. The city and other developers would still have to complete their sections.

So, the additional houses will be built, the Kapolei Parkway will not be complete and the traffic problem will continue to fester.

Here's a novel idea: How about finishing the Kapolei Parkway and completing any proposed traffic flow improvements before the additional homes are built?

D. Cannella

Three-year sentence for Sia wasn't enough

I have been glad to see the reaction to June Jones' support of (now) convicted thief Sukamto Sia.But I think two things are missing:

• I realize that Judge David Ezra is constrained by federal sentencing guidelines, but I will never get used to bank robbers drawing 20-year sentences while the Sias of the world, who have devastated retirees and effectively committed financial homicide, get three years. In the economy that governs the value of life for most of the world, Sia has stolen many lives.

• Teaching at a university is an incredible honor.We give that privilege to people who have struggled for years to develop expertise, usually at low salaries, and who have maintained personal integrity in the support of truth. That June Jones would suggest that a larcenous individual such as Sia has any business teaching at Jones' own university suggests how far Jones is out of touch with academic principles.

William Haning

State needs to look into use of motor scooters

The use of motor scooters has suddenly become a major concern within our community and is getting to the point where there should be a resolution. I am a resident of Salt Lake, and the use of motor scooters has really become an issue here.

Ever since these scooters came out, every kid has wanted to get one. They have suddenly taken the place of the more conventional activities such as skateboarding, Rollerblading and going to the park. Every day the kids in my neighborhood meet and ride their scooters.

Aliamanu Street has suddenly become another raceway park with the loud noise and the speeding.

The laws are too lenient toward the use of these scooters. I hope the Department of Transportation will look into the factors concerning them because, like any other moving vehicle, they have an engine and there are possibilities that anyone can get hurt.

Elvin Jamandre
Salt Lake

Letter writer wrong on resign-to-run law

Ken Armstrong is an old friend, and I was surprised by the bitter tone of his March 18 letter about Mayor Harris suspending his race for governor. Perhaps the cold Oregon winters have removed the aloha from his heart, since he seems to have lost touch with the Islands and with reality.

Ken's wrong that the state Constitution is "very clear" on resign-to-run; ConCon delegate and now-state Rep. Helene Hale has testified that it was deliberately left vague. And surely we all know that the amendment was designed for one purpose only: to keep the mayor of Honolulu (for a long time Frank Fasi) from making an effective race for governor without first resigning from office.

In fact, the terms of office for mayor and governor were originally staggered just to keep the incumbent governor (whoever that might be) safe from a challenge from Honolulu Hale, where the second-most-powerful elected official in the state operates. No wonder the job has been easily passed from governor to lieutenant governor every year since 1974 when it became vacant.

As far as Armstrong's bizarre assertion that the state would be better off without Jeremy Harris, I just have to ask if he visited Chinatown, downtown, Kapolei or Waikiki before he moved up to the Mainland. These are just a few of the areas where the mayor's impact has been felt by residents, workers and visitors, but every town on our island has benefited from the mayor's empowering of local community vision teams and the improvements they have wrought with his support.

Nick Houtman

Amazing guidebooks snubbed in article

I just read the March 24 Travel section and cannot believe that your two travel writers never even mentioned the amazing guidebooks by longtime Kaua'i residents Andrew Doughty and Harriet Friedman, Wizard Publications.

Their latest and fourth edition for Kaua'i came out last fall with beautiful color aerial pictures of most of our beaches. Had the travel writers spoken to the people who book visitors to these lovely Islands, the travel agents, they surely would have heard how easy these wonderful guidebooks make it for us.

In fact, if a client doesn't have the Kaua'i book, I suggest he immediately go pick one up. Visitors always tell me just how right-on this choice is.

Most important, the incredible maps (with mile markers on all main roadways) could even save the visitors' lives if they pay attention to the "blue dotted lines" shown. We lost approximately 10 lives to the ocean last year; the lines delineate the reef systems for safer swimming and snorkeling.

Andy and Harriet now have comprehensive books on all the Neighbor Islands. Go check them out at a bookstore. They're best sellers and make excellent gifts — less pricey than most of the ones your writers mentioned.

Liz Hey
Bed & Breakfast Kaua'i

New P.E. movement is worth investigating

As a mental health counselor, I am often at local schools. Recently, I was at a school observing. At some point, it became time for physical education. During P.E., the children played softball.

I noticed that most of the children were not really getting any exercise. They were either standing around the field waiting for a ball to come their way or sitting in a line-up awaiting their turn at bat.

During the almost one hour of physical education, any one child probably got no more than 10 minutes of actual physical activity. Most actually got less.

I am writing this letter because I believe physical activity is not only important for physical health, it is also intimately connected to mental health. Considering the growing number of overweight children and the increasing number of mental health problems, an improved physical education curriculum can be very helpful.

For those parents and educators concerned about the physical education of their children, I encourage you to log on to the Internet, go to any of the larger search engines and type in "The New P.E." Here is a program that makes sense and can have a wonderfully positive influence on our children. The New P.E. movement is gaining national recognition.

It is worth serious consideration by the Hawai'i Department of Education.

Kenneth Fields, M.A.
Child and Family Service, Kahului, Maui

'New math' doesn't work on old problem

I've often wondered how the Hawai'i Tourism Authority justified its substantial annual budget out of taxpayers' funds. Now your March 18 story reveals all: The $7.3 million spent on sporting events is only 8 percent of HTA's annual budget of $61 million.

Perhaps the Legislature could adopt your mathematical calculations to balance the remainder of the state's budget shortfall.

Jack C. Morse

BYU's complaints are just sour grapes

So now BYU complains that the Aloha Stadium turf caused injuries to 18 of its football players in its 72-45 loss to UH on Dec. 8. It demands the turf be replaced before it plays here again.

What utter nonsense! They got their butts kicked by a superior team that ran rings around them, and the turf had nothing to do with it.

I presume when you lose so badly, you tend to make lame excuses, other than your team's ineptness and dismal performance. Sour grapes, eh!