Letters to the Editor

Needy already get their share of benefits

I almost fell off my chair reading your June 9 editorial "Congress must give tax credit to poor." Let's see, there's the earned income tax credit, which is a tax break for people who work but do not earn high incomes. Those who qualify could pay less federal tax or no tax, or even get a tax refund.

The earned income tax credit also has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, many recipients also receive Medicaid, supplemental security income, food stamps, low-income housing and temporary assistance for needy families payments.

The parameters for earned income credit qualification cover families making under $30,000 annually with one child and under $35,000 annually with two children.

Does The Advertiser understand the term "credit"? Recent legislation was made to give tax relief to my family and others like it who, through the above programs, more than contribute assistance to "the needy." Mssrs. Inouye, Akaka, Abercrombie and Case: Stop taking my money!

Cigarette litterers should pay the price

I wish to congratulate Robert Olin (Letters, June 7) for taking a stand against those inconsiderate people who litter our roads and public areas with their cigarette butts. If it is not good enough for the inside of your ashtray, it is not a good addition to our public spaces. It is filthy, disrespectful and downright dangerous in dry areas on our Leeward Coast.

To others like Robert, I encourage you to raise your voice to the Legislature. This year, Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland was considering a bill that would create a litter hotline, so that concerned citizens could report such insults to our 'aina without risking injury by road rage.

We could have the frequent offenders out there serving the community, picking up trash in public areas. After that, they would think twice about flicking that cigarette out the window.

Here's how to solve driving, budget woes

Here is a solution for traffic problems and the state budget: We need a Ministry of Silly Driving.

Drivers would pay for classes that teach them to intimidate pedestrians, especially the elderly: Tailgating I, II and III; Running Red Lights; Impeding Ambulances; Synchronized and Unsynchronized Lane Swapping; High-Speed Lane Weaving; Freeway Racing; Passing on Merge Lanes; Driving 20 to 50 mph Above the Speed Limit; and Unsafe Vehicle Customization.

Graduates would receive certificates, badges and uniforms that make them official Silly Drivers. Vehicles would have to make way for Silly Drivers, who could write citations for those who don't drive at least 11 mph over the speed limit or for those who obey traffic signs and signals. Invisible traffic police would no longer be required. People from all over would enroll and pay large out-of-state fees.

Imagine the revenue generated by this, and merchandise like T-shirts and action figures. I see a big movie sequence like "Planet of the Apes": "Silly Drivers I: First Wave," "Silly Drivers II: Avengers," "Silly Drivers III: Survivors," etc. We who are about to drive beg for some relief, if only comic!

Teachers are bogged down in bureaucracy

I would like to respond to the June 2 letter by Bill Prescott labeled "Blame teachers." As a special-education teacher in Hawai'i, I must agree with Mr. Prescott. Many teachers have neglected motivation as the key to learning.

However, I must mention that we are now so bogged down in bureaucracy as a result of "standards" and "Felix" that teaching is often no longer a joy but an administrative nightmare. We are no longer addressing motivation but are bogged down in training to address legal "compliance" or to emphasize the importance of standardized test scores.

I also found the reference to Paul Berman laughable. As if new teachers wouldn't relish the idea of "earning" their tenure at Noelani, but ooops, those positions just aren't available. Instead, we leave the "choice" assignments to the most inexperienced and ill-equipped, who then run out of those "disadvantaged" schools immediately at tenure. What do we expect?

In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" Let's stop finger-pointing and start coming together to address all of the problems that affect the ability of our students to learn.

There's no enforcement

Don't worry about a thing, motorized-scooter riders. Any ban on your obnoxious little vehicles means basically nothing. Your machines will be treated the same as the ear-splitting, illegal, modified mopeds and the billion-watt-car-stereo-playing morons: no enforcement whatsoever.