Letters to the Editor
There are reasons for Democratic rule
The Democrats did not create the one-party rule system as the Republican Party claims. The majority of the voters voted for the best people who would represent them in the government.
As far as improving the economy, the Republican Congress killed a bill that would have saved the pineapple and sugar industries. Sen. Daniel Inouye deserves much praise for his efforts in making sure that our military bases and jobs don't close. The poor economy in Hawai'i is the result of the lack of confidence that Wall Street markets have for the current administration. As a result, investors are losing money and getting frustrated at the economy.
Linda Lingle and the Republicans should reread their history regarding corruption. The 35 years of oligarchy rule by the "Big Five" companies and the Republican Party denied the workers basic human rights for decent wages, decent working hours, better living conditions, freedom to vote for the candidates of their choices and social parity. Life improved when John Burns and the Democrats took power.
The Democratic Party has always represented the blue-collar workers, while the Republicans have represented the business people. Their party platforms have stated their views.
A.S. Acierto
Lifelong Democrats will vote for Lingle
"Change" has been the mantra for both parties during this historic election year.
The Republicans tout their ticket as a change for a new and better Hawai'i. The Democrats say they are the only party that can bring about true change. Everyone knows that change is something that needs to happen in the way things are done around this state in order to bring it back, once again, to the premier status it enjoyed in the '80s and early '90s.
It appears that if Mazie and Matt win in November, nothing will change. The system that has been in place for the last 40 years, a system that had become increasingly ineffectual, inefficient and lethargic over the last 16 years, will continue to operate in a business-as-usual type of atmosphere. True change will not happen as long as the current crop of Democratic powers remain the same and attempt to promise things just to get support of the unions.
This year I believe change will start with me and my family, all lifelong Democrats, voting for Linda Lingle for governor, but voting for our incumbent Democratic representative and senator (both on the state and federal level).
I am willing to give Lingle a chance and see what she can accomplish over the next four years. If she does a poor job, we can throw her out in the next election.
However, my family and I truly believe that for real change to happen, we need to shape things up and elect a new person to the governorship. I voted for Ed Case and I do not believe Mazie stands for change with a "D," as Case puts it.
Carol P. Lee
Kahului, Maui
Why so much secrecy about Mink's illness?
As a retired physician, I understand the situation Mrs. Mink was probably facing with regard to her illness. Viral pneumonia is a dangerous situation, especially when it affects the elderly. I am sure the Democratic Party knew of Mrs. Mink's condition and the dire straits she faced.
It is all well and good to have hope for a full recovery, but at a certain point you need to let go and let the patient rest in peace. Nevertheless, the Democratic Party continually claimed that Mink was "on her way to recovery," even up to the night before she passed away.
Although I know full well that a patient's condition can turn from good to critical at the drop of a hat, something does not feel right about this whole situation. I am no conspiracy theorist, but I have to question what the Democrats truly knew about her condition. Why was there so much secrecy regarding her state of health?
Why was there no hospital spokesperson involved in this situation? Where were the doctors to answer questions about her condition? Why was Mink not heard from, either verbally or through a written statement, for the month she was in ICU?
I understand that a patient has a right to privacy and so does her family. However, when it involves a public official, this privacy issue is a right generally given up by the official.
As a kama'aina raised as a Democrat and believing the party had values, I am disappointed in it and its leaders and may voice this disappointment in November.
Bob Ching, M.D.
Pahoa, Big Island
Schedule just one winner-take-all vote
Patsy Mink received an impressive tribute from Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner, who noted approvingly and wistfully, "She never tried to game the system."
In contrast, realize how utterly shameful and disrespectful to her memory and to the people of Hawai'i are the games and capers being played by the governor and Democratic Party establishment over the selection of her successor.
Why are they so afraid to have one stand-up, winner-take-all vote in January? Is it simply because their anointed candidate may not win? And who is the likely beneficiary of these grotesque machinations?
As the candidate creature re-animated by the Frankenstein political machine, former governor John Waihee once again lurches into public view. This is the same John Waihee who presided over an undistinguished, dissipated administration that left the state virtually bankrupt and who has spent his years out of office gaming the system big time as a lobbyist.
Patsy Mink believed passionately in the power of democracy, of people making choices in voting booths. All her life she fought for the broadening of political power to include all citizens. To restrict in any fashion the choice of her successor to a sclerotic, politically incestuous cabal would be the ultimate betrayal of her legacy of political integrity and clarity, which is ours if we will only fight for it.
Let the games end and the voting begin in January.
David Lee
Edith Green should be cited with Patsy Mink
I, like all of you, send my condolences to the Mink family after the congresswoman's recent passing.
I read that Congress has plans in motion to rename Title IX "The Patsy Mink Act" in recognition of her long congressional service. Although Mrs. Mink may have been a co-author and been at the forefront of the amendment and discussions that led to the bill's passing, it is widely understood that it was the late Edith Green, a congresswoman from Oregon who served 20 years in Congress, who was the primary author of Title IX. Many laws are named after more than one person.
As a former resident of Oregon, I believe Mrs. Green should have her name alongside Patsy's. I am sure Patsy would want it that way.
Dan Matsunaka
Newspaper should have asked questions
Amazing! The Advertiser's editorial editor believes that because he cannot discern any advantage to the Democrats, therefore there is nothing wrong with them (some of whom are also publicly elected officials like Rep. Abercrombie) withholding or providing questionably accurate information about the capacity of Congresswomen Mink to serve now or in the future.
Jerry Burris even goes so far as to say that even making an inquiry into the circumstances "dishonors" Rep. Mink.
Amazing! The Advertiser's executive editor believes it was correct to wait until after the primary to even send a reporter to the hospital in an attempt to see Rep. Mink. Is Jim Kelly a newspaper person in the tradition of the great newspapers of this country?
The constituents, the Hawai'i voters, and the U.S. Congress all have a reasonable interest in the well-being of an elected official whom they count on to represent them. Your paper, in spite of a forthcoming pending primary election, chose not to focus on even one simple question: Was she required to be on life support?
Now that she is gone, your newspaper wants to sweep everything under the rug of secrecy. Instead, a decent newspaper would be asking: What did they know and when did they know it?
We deserve better from the newspaper in Honolulu with the largest circulation.
Paul Smith
Politicians just keep recycling themselves
Well, I see all the "usual suspects" are lining up for an open seat.
No wonder nothing ever gets accomplished in Hawai'i: We can never get rid of the politicians. They keep getting recycled from one office to another.
If we could just get rid of the career politicians, things would improve.
Larry Symons
UH-Hilo China Center has mountain imagery
It is interesting to note that the Han Dynasty is the favorite dynasty of the architect of the proposed UH-Hilo China Center. It is a Republic of China-funded project, and the Han Dynasty is a political ancestor of the People's Republic of China. Han Shan is a favorite poet of mine from the T'ang Dynasty. "Han Shan" means "cold mountain." Han Shan, the poet, is my candidate for the original "fool on the hill" in the Beatles' song:
"Day after day, alone on the hill, the man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still."
Compare this, if you will, with Han Shan's poem (No. 308 in "Poetry of Han Shan," by Robert G. Hendricks):
In the midst of layers of cliffs
Contest with the cool breeze
His fan does not move
The cold air comes through on its own
The Bright Moon Shining
White clouds all around
Sitting alone by himself
One venerable old man.
About 2000 years ago, the Han Dynasty built the mountain of China from the schools of philosophy and a uniform written language into a bureaucracy that lasted several more dynasties. Today, the PRC, ROC and the overseas Chinese are like Chinese acrobats unified by leaning together to form a three-sided mountain. How appropriate this mountain imagery for an island composed of five mountains, with activities ranging from the most advanced Newtonian astronomy to the development of modern akamai spiritual leaders in the Hawaiian community. Thus this mountain/island has diverse slopes, or cultural ahupua'a.
Historically, the Han Dynasty was the most foreign-minded of the dynasties, expanding the borders to the present-day borders. It contacted the Western empires of Rome, Egypt and Persia and received Buddhism along the Silk Road through Central Asia. Europe did not have a uniform, bureaucratic state until France of the 12th century.
Daniel M. Finley
Volcano, Big Island
State wants to exploit Hawai'i boating public
The Department of Land and Natural Resources is changing course again. Privatization of the Ala Wai Harbor seems to be temporarily off. Increasing slip and commercial operator fees are back on.
The state auditor said the DLNR has done a less-than-adequate job of managing our money and handling harbor maintenance. The DLNR responded by hiring a manager who introduced himself to us at his first meeting as having no boating experience. This was not very encouraging.
No one would argue with a reasonable rate increase, but the DLNR now wants to raise our fees 300 percent. These are difficult economic times for everyone.
The present administration has historically turned a deaf ear toward the plight of Hawai'i's boating public. It has allowed harbor facilities throughout the state to deteriorate unnecessarily.
Just taking our money is not the solution. It has not worked in the past, and using Ala Wai Harbor to subsidize all other harbors is not fair.
The state should start by hiring people who are passionate about our coastlines and marine activities. Only then can creative decisions be made that are truly in the best interests of Hawai'i's ocean enthusiasts.
Is anyone listening?
Jim Heumann
Public school parents must get involved
Libby Tomar, in her Oct. 4 letter, lists eight reasons why private schools in Hawai'i attract 300 percent more students than do other states. I could easily list a couple dozen more reasons, but that's not my point.
If parents of public school students want their schools to be as good as or better than private schools, they need to work through their School Community-based Management (SCBM) and PTA/PTSA groups. As do parents in most private schools and many public schools, parents must provide volunteer services and get involved in fund-raisers and benefits.
Public school parents can help decide how state-allocated and non-allocated funds should be spent through these groups. Through SCBM, many school rules can be changed to better manage students, curricula, books, resources, etc. How much a school can raise and how the money should be spent are only limited by the imagination and energy of the parents, students, teachers, staff and community.
Most importantly, parents and students must provide the manpower while funds should be used to buy materials and resources.
The bottom line is, if parents want better public schools, parents must help out. Complaining and private school envy don't do the job.
Russel Noguchi
Pearl City
