Letters to the Editor
Forget casting stones, focus on the issues
In response to the Oct. 16 "Knock it off" commentary by Dave Shapiro: Thank you, Mr. Shapiro, for putting lightly what must be said about our candidates for whatever office to set an example not only to the youth, but to all.
Casting stones is a child's game, and I, for one, am tired of such behavior. I wish to vote for those who will speak about the issues, debate with dignity and honesty, and step out to let the voters know who you are and what you are about.
Think before you speak, as the times are changing and "we the people" wish to know what you are going to do to help our communities, programs, schools, disabled and elderly.
The issues, please, and there are so many.
R. V. Smith
Captain Cook, Big Island
Hawai'i should adopt 'clean election' system
I am dismayed by Gary Grimmer's position that the gubernatorial candidate who attracts more Mainland political contributions will also attract "healthy" outside investment in Hawai'i's struggling economy (Letters, Oct. 17).
This candidate may in fact attract investors to Hawai'i, but at what cost? Once a political candidate accepts a large sum of money from a campaign contributor, he or she is beholden to that contributor's interests, which often contradict those of the voter.
The candidate is no longer representing the best interests of the people of Hawai'i but the best interests of the campaign donors whose money helped them get elected. We need a governor who is going to serve the people and not Mainland interests.
Hawai'i should seriously consider a "clean elections" program like that currently in place in Arizona. In clean elections, once potential candidates receive a specified number of signatures and small contributions from voters, they become eligible for campaign funding from the government. Several candidates have been successful there running on clean money alone, and these politicians feel relief because they can represent their constituents, not outside contributors.
A system like this is crucial to protecting the integrity of Hawai'i's government. You cannot honestly believe Mainland investors are just giving away their money to Hawai'i's gubernatorial candidates. They are expecting a payback.
Kimberly A. Tice
Lagoon Drive fiasco bottled us up for hours
I was one of some 25-plus cars caught in the ocean-side of Lagoon Drive on Oct. 17. When the sheriff stopped the traffic, we were advised there was a crime scene and he did not know how long we would be held up. There was no other way out so we sat there.
After an hour, we asked again and were only told it may be a couple hours longer and we would have to wait. Seeing cars on the perimeter road of the airport, I asked him if it were possible to let us use that road so we could go home and not be a bother for them. He said he could not speak for the airport.
I called the sheriff's dispatcher to see if he knew more and got the same reply. The airport was not his area of control and that I could call their security and ask them.
I called the airport security and a woman said she saw the blue lights on Lagoon but did not know what was going on. I told her what I knew and asked if we could use the perimeter road to get out of the area. She said I had to have a decal for my car. I told her none of us have it but could we be escorted out as we have some families out here who have been here for over two hours.
Long story short: The sheriff would not let us through the crime scene and had no control over the airport. The airport said the sheriff made the problem, it was up to him to resolve it. Not once did the sheriff come to the line of cars to see if there were any problems. The airport would not even consider escorting us out on the perimeter road.
The state employees could not have cared less for the situation we were in. After three hours, they opened the road.
I was a lifelong Democrat who is now voting a straight-line Republican ticket. I now see what the Leeward people have to put up with, and it is time for a change.
Thomas E. Herman
'Aiea
Mazie will get it done
Mazie Hirono is the tide of change that will raise everybody.
H. Mal Campbell
Accused must have their due process
Susan Phillips' Oct. 17 letter in response to Arthur Ross says how she will vote "yes" to Constitutional Amendment Question No. 3 because she wants to expedite due process for the victims.
I was feeling sorry for the victims also when this issue first came up. I thought it might be a good idea to prevent victims from having to go through testifying so many times.
But then I thought about the case where a couple of girls accused their school counselor of sexual harassment. Then the girls recanted their allegations, saying they were just angry or something. Whoa!
From this case we need to recognize that there are alleged victims as well as alleged perpetrators. Without due process, we could be sending innocent people to jail. After thorough due process, the real criminal will be found and punished.
That's why I am voting "no" on Constitutional Amendment Question No. 3.
Gavin Yaji
Public schools have to take the rejects
I disagree with a comment Jean E. Rolles made in her Oct. 18 letter saying "that if public schools provided a better product ... parents would be delighted to send their children there."
Well, maybe so, but how come so many private schools kick out their discipline problems, delinquent students and those unable to maintain a high GPA? Why are these students sent to the public schools and not dealt with and corrected in the "better environment of a private school"?
Why are those who can barely read at the fifth- or sixth-grade level or cannot do simple math problems allowed to stay in the private school system as long as they can bench-press 300 pounds or run a hundred yards in 10 seconds or throw a baseball 90 mph or dunk a basketball or run a mile in 5 minutes?
Private schools should be financed and supported totally that way — privately. Rely on your alumni to give back. Don't be begging and whining to the state about getting lower interest bonds when we who send our children to the public schools are honestly trying our hardest, donating our own money and time to try to do the state's job.
Jeffrey Nishimura
Lihu'e, Kaua'i
Ballot Question No. 2 should be rejected
Private religious schools are asking voters to approve Question No. 2 on the general election ballot. Voters should not be fooled. The proposed amendment to our state Constitution would authorize the state to issue special purpose revenue bonds in support of private religious schools.
If approved, the amendment would repeal vital language included in Article X, Section 1; specifically, the word "sectarian" would be deleted from the clause that currently mandates that "(no) public funds (shall) be appropriated for the support or benefit of any sectarian or private educational institution ... "
By removing the word "sectarian," the amendment would weaken the explicit prohibition against government aid to religious schools. Vouchers, which are tax payments, directed through citizens to religious schools, present a serious threat to Hawai'i's struggling public education system.
Special purpose revenue bonds are tax-exempt and thus represent a de facto tax subsidy in financial aid to churches and religious schools. Thus the state would indeed lose tax revenue and may be held liable should any religious institution default on its payment obligations.
We urge Hawai'i voters to mark "No" on Question No. 2.
Mitchell Kahle
President, Hawai'i Citizens for the Separation of State and Church
Dockworker position doesn't make sense
In reading the Oct. 13 article about the shipping dock problems, I was struck by a line that really should have rung a warning bell.
The union says its members should share in the savings from bringing in technology. That brings up two points: 1) Are the unions going to put out any capital to invest in the technology, and 2) shouldn't we, the consumers, be the ones to benefit from the technology in the form of lower costs, which the unions apparently are not interested in passing on?
Some things just make you go hmmm.
Terrence Won
Surely there's a way to open our library
When I drive to the post office to buy stamps, I face the beautiful new building that will be our new library in Kapolei. But the pride I should feel seeing something new and useful in my community is not there.
In its place is the sadness of viewing an empty building, missing the spirit of all the children and adults meant to have the experience of reading and interacting with one another.
I've read all the articles in The Advertiser about the funding shortages. But I wonder if we can do more.
Suppose the community at large showed unanimous support for our librarian and her quest for funding? Suppose we were to finance the buying of books by sending money to an established fund, which would become a memorial to our loved ones?
If every family in Kapolei and Makakilo financed the purchase of one book on behalf of a family member — wouldn't that make a huge impact on the shortage of funds for books? The pride of each family having their book represented with the name of a remembered friend or family member would be a fine start to a new endeavor.
Linda M. Staton
Makakilo
Gas stations opposed price-cap legislation
As a gasoline station operator for over 17 years, I noticed Richard Baker's Oct. 13 commentary "Gas prices: The real enemy is ourselves."
The gasoline business in Hawai'i is unique, misunderstood and, as he correctly pointed out, a political punching bag every election year. While Baker is correct in encouraging fuel-efficient vehicles and tax reductions (Hawai'i has the highest gasoline tax burden in the nation at .557 cents per gallon), several important points were overlooked.
We all know that competition is the answer to high prices (real or perceived), and Hawai'i's regulatory impediments and legislation hamper competition. The current administration's anti-oil company mentality causes existing suppliers to reconsider their viability in our Islands and discourages new suppliers from wanting to enter the market.
Baker was wrong when he said station owners almost unanimously supported the gas-cap bill. I was part of a large group of dealers who strongly opposed the gas-cap legislation, due to its poorly framed logic (self-serve regular grade only, tied into volatile West Coast markets) and the potential of eliminating existing stations and suppliers.
Studies have proven that had this law been in effect for the last 36 months, Hawai'i consumers would have paid, on average, 10 cents per gallon more for their gas.
Caps and price controls historically have had disastrous results. Why does Hawai'i's current administration believe it can fix problems by repeating past mistakes? We need to stop looking at the symptom and focus on the cause, which is for government to repeal bad laws and open the doors to a free market.
Barney Robinson
Chevron dealer
Police should help the flow of traffic
In regard to the Oct. 5 editorial on the Wai'anae Coast: That telephone pole had been leaning into Farrington Highway for at least four months. I know; I drove past it every day.
The ironic thing is that some utility lines had already been transferred to the new pole quite some time before, but not Hawaiian Electric's. There they were, on this totally termite-eaten "Leaning Tower of Pisa" pole. We were told "we were next on the list" by HECO. Yeah, and I have a bridge for sale.
Meanwhile, I and hundreds of folks were crawling along Farrington for three to four hours. Yep, traffic halted at the Campbell off-ramp at 5:03 p.m.; I got to the end of Wai'anae Town at 8:42 p.m.
In addition, as the traffic merged at the intersection of Farrington and Kahanu Estates, two policemen were standing by their cars, not helping with the flow of traffic. Nor were there any police at the next three stop signs.
Geez, HPD, place an officer at each stop sign to allow traffic to proceed through the signs. But then that would be a "no-brainer." Auwe!
Let's vote, Westside, and totally make our voices heard.
Victoria Naehu
Wai'anae
Harris' rescue plan wasn't in the cards
Poor Mayor Harris. He had a plan to save the Hawai'i Convention Center, which was a nice thought but about as easy as raising the Titanic.
The fact the center was squeezed into a rundown porno district, on congested roads, with no parking and unable to expand is simply more politics and no brains.
Just one more reason Hawai'i is broke.
Ed Kelly
