Letters to the Editor

Criticism of gas-cap report is unfounded

I wish to respond to the criticism of the Stillwater Associates report on the gasoline price caps that was contained in Sean Hao's Oct. 1 article "Citizens group attacks gas study."

First, and most important, price caps will not work. Our team could not find an example where price caps did work better than the free market. We continue to believe that the gas-cap law would lead to higher, not lower, prices.

Second, there are examples of markets where transparency was successfully implemented. Transparency means that the relative costs and margins for gasoline are routinely published. Our research indicated that both Australia and Canada saw benefits with this approach.

Next, consumers do have choices about the price of gasoline. Along with the Federal Trade Commission, we continue to urge consumers to check their owners' manuals to see what grade of gasoline their car really needs. A driver can save 20 cents per gallon when switching from premium to regular gasoline if his car's engine doesn't knock.

Finally, the report is the result of the hard work of Stillwater Associates' team in cooperation the National Council of State Legislatures, the Attorney General's Office, the Federal Trade Commission and DBEDT's professional staff. The only guidance we got from the Lingle administration was to write the best possible report.

Hawai'i must provide current texts for all

When my little brother was in the third grade, I was shocked to see him bring home the same math book I used when I was in the third grade. Now that he is in the fourth grade, he is once again using the same math book I used 14 years ago when I attended August Ahrens Elementary School.

My sister, now a junior in high school, is not even allowed to bring her Spanish book home because there are not enough books for everyone. When I was in high school, there were enough books for every student. It is unfair for me to have had the opportunity to have a book that supplemented my learning, and for her and her classmates to not have any.

Our students need books that they can take home. Notes that they copy alone are myopic, and limited in examples, concepts, pictures and words. Outdated books have their limitations. With a book to study with, I was able to see examples and read materials that weren't discussed in class. My sister relies on just her notes as a reference and supplement.

Since this is the case, teachers have to create exams based on lectures, which in turn create very unchallenging exams, ones that would not exercise the student's thinking. Truly, it is not the teacher's fault, and the students are losing opportunities to be challenged. Now when our students take their SATs, their ability to think critically in choosing the correct answer is harmed.

If the demand is greater than the supply, why is the state not providing more supply in order to meet the demand? By not providing learning resources, our students are facing inefficient learning opportunities. And the state wants to know why we failed No Child Left Behind?

Don't blame those who 'mod' their cars

Recent speed-related accidents have caused a lot of people who are not in the import-car scene to over-generalize about people who "mod" their cars as their hobby.

These kids killing themselves and others obviously don't know how to drive, and they paint a very negative picture of the import-car scene. The public ends up looking down upon everyone who drives a fixed-up Honda or Toyota and sees them as a danger to society; that view is unwarranted.

Focus commentaries on Iraq appreciated

This reader may have a misimpression, but it seemed that your lead commentaries in the Oct. 12 Focus section represented a happy departure from the custom of presenting a subject by staging a written debate in which two parties present radically opposite and totally one-sided points of view. When that is done, it nowhere presents the truth as anyone sees it, and risks insulting the intelligence of those who recognize valid arguments on both sides.

The articles by Trudy Rubin and Oliver Lee on things in Iraq were well-reasoned presentations of the views of two persons, and even though Dr. Lee had few good things to say about our actions there, the presentation of each was intelligent and free of name-calling. Congratulations for resisting the temptation to play just to the emotions of those with built-in prejudices.

Getting a road test appointment a pain

5 a.m.: Wake up, drive from North Shore to Wahiawa Police Station.

5:30 a.m.: Walk in, late. Already, 15 people ahead of me. Atmosphere: quiet. Smell of fast food (gotta eat), sounds of newspaper being read, everyone looks sedated. Benches are full, so people already sitting on cold tile floor or leaning on the wall. First guys in line came at 3 a.m. Wow! Lots of time for quiet thought. Majority in line are devoted parents with young teens getting license to drive for the first time.

6:30 a.m.: 36 people in line.

7:30 a.m.: 48 people in line. Excitement in air, everyone stands up, line gets tight, 15 minutes to go.

7:45 a.m.: 58 people in line with more flowing in.

7:45 a.m.: Office opens. Door opens. Woman comes out to set rules of needed paperwork. Three service windows open. I'm awaiting my turn.

8:10 a.m.: My turn. Got appointment for 1:20 p.m. I'm lucky. Many in line will get rejected: No more appointments today.

I leave. Return to North Shore.

12:30 p.m.: Back to Wahiawa.

1:20: Daughter takes road test and passes. Whew!

Won't repeat until my next child's time. Unless they change this process.

Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, could you please look into this?