Protecting the flag won't hurt free speech

Regarding the June 8 editorial "Constitution no place for election antics": In condemning the democratic process of amending the U.S. Constitution, The Advertiser contrasted so-called election-year posturing with, as it put it, sincere efforts to "modernize" our Constitution.

For those who support a constitutional amendment to protect the U.S. flag from acts of physical desecration, the latter term summarizes the problem. By reading into the document what isn't there, the courts have revised — modernized — the Constitution. As regards flag desecration, a 5-4 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989 redefined conduct as speech, giving sanction to an act that was illegal in 48 states for more than 100 years.

Contrary to the editorial, a flag amendment hasn't been an issue in Congress session after session for two decades. But it has been debated and voted favorably five times since 1995 in the U.S. House of Representatives, while falling short by just a few votes in the Senate.

The idea that protecting the flag will curtail someone's free-speech rights just doesn't wash. From the birth of the nation until flag desecration was legalized in 1989, no one's free-speech rights were in jeopardy and no one believed they were.

All this aside, the thing that should most outrage every American is the proposal offered by Sen. Dick Durbin and backed by The Advertiser to ban all constitutional amendments in an election year. Ironically, such a ban would require a constitutional amendment. To limit the people's right to amend their Constitution in any other way would be, well, unconstitutional.

Kudos to Ed Case for not putting up signs

A big mahalo to Ed Case for observing the Outdoor Circle's guidelines for putting up campaign signs.

Other candidates' ugly signs dot the roadside and pollute our scenery.

I understand that the signs are a necessity — read "blight on the environment" — but it is not necessary to create such stink for the eye in the spring. The Outdoor Circle recommends waiting until 90 days before the election. That's plenty of time. Shame on all the candidates who wouldn't wait.

Children in truck beds just asking for trouble

One mechanical law of motion says an object in motion will stay in motion at constant speed and direction until stopped.

If you are going 40 mph and you stop quick, the groceries on the front seat end up on the floor in a mess because everything in the car was going 40 mph. When you hit the brakes, the groceries keep going at 40 mph because they are not attached to the car.

The same happens to any person riding in the back of a pickup bed. The car hits a tree and stops; the bed riders continue at 40 mph till they crash into the cab or over the top into a tree or oncoming traffic.

Princess Di went from the back of her limo to the front windshield at 80 to 90 mph.

You wouldn't put eggs at the end of the truck bed; are not kids more precious than eggs? Many die each year because they ride way in the back and end up crushed or thrown out.

Seatbelts make you part of the car or truck; if the truck or car stops suddenly, so do you because seatbelts make you part of the vehicle.

Kids are far more precious than eggs. Think about it!

Lingle wasn't sitting in a bar at bill signing

Just so your readers don't get the wrong impression, Gov. Lingle was not sitting in a bar with Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa when she signed a bill clearing the way for much-needed air ambulance service on the Valley Isle ("Maui will get air ambulance," June 10).

I attended the bill signing and can say that it took place in the restaurant portion of Koho Grill & Bar in the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.

Gov. Lingle signed the bill during her weekly radio show, which was broadcast live while a large crowd of patrons ate breakfast at this family-style restaurant.

President's tax cuts barely affect salaries

Remember President Bush's $3 trillion tax cuts of "real and immediate benefits to middle-income Americans." If you wonder why you haven't gotten any of that enormous sum, here's why: If your income, like most Americans, is from your job, it is barely affected by his actual tax cuts.

The trillion-dollar tax cuts go mainly to people who have huge investment income, such as capital gains and dividends. Income from not working is least taxed. In fact, the "income tax" is becoming mainly a "salary tax."

Even worse is ending the estate tax, which allows billionaires living on investments to gain most. They would inherit their billions of dollars tax-free, live on low-taxed incomes, watch their low-taxed incomes grow rapidly, and then pass all of it on to their descendants, forever tax-free.

More reaction on firing of Dobelle

University has lost a good, decent leader

I write to express my disgust, disappointment and disapproval over the firing of former UH President Evan Dobelle.

I was a senior at UH-Hilo when Mr. Dobelle first visited campus, and I found his speech and mannerisms refreshingly upbeat. I was most impressed with his credentials — anyone who worked and put himself through school (as I had been doing at the time) while still maintaining a family has my respect.

He brought hope to our campus.

Since that time, I have watched with surprised amazement at the attacks he and his administration have had to suffer. I see no reason for his firing other than the out-of-control behavior of government appointees afraid of moving the university into the 21st century.

We have lost a good and decent leader in the name of control.

Evan Dobelle turned the university around

I am angry and deeply discouraged to learn that the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents has fired President Evan Dobelle.

Dobelle is the best thing to have happened to the university since June Jones. He tripled grants and research funding, improved student and faculty morale, and worked to improve every aspect of the school. His optimism and leadership have turned the university into a front-rank educational institution.

The regents, in their small-mindedness, have lost for us the finest leader the university has had in decades. I look forward to a return to Mortimer-style dark ages.

Regents should be held accountable

What an incredible low-class, bonehead judgment the UH Board of Regents exhibited in firing its president while he is on a personal trip to the Mainland.

Then to keep secret their "for cause" reasons for doing so when it will surely come out in court makes me doubly suspicious of their reason(s).

I'm not in a position to agree or disagree with all of the decisions that Mr. Dobelle made since he arrived at UH, but it is a certainty that the task of replacing him now will be unquestionably more difficult when he undoubtedly will sue the Board of Regents/UH and win.

My suggestion when that happens is to fire each and every one of the regents and to make them responsible for the liability they have created for the university and the state of Hawai'i.

Gen. Shinseki would be good replacement

The UH Board of Regents should look to retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as the new UH president — if he is interested.

Gen. Shinseki is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as a holder of several master's degrees from top U.S. colleges. He is also a graduate of the U.S. General Staff College and U.S. War College, which is equivalent to a Ph.D. in the civilian world.

Gen. Shinseki was born and raised in Hawai'i, and most importantly, he loves Hawai'i.

We need his leadership!

Board of Regents should be dismissed

Unbelievable! That's the first thing that comes to mind. The narrowest-minded group of individuals fires one of the most progressive and insightful academic leaders we have seen in Hawai'i.

For years, the Board of Regents has wielded power over the University of Hawai'i with relatively unfettered oversight. The whole board should be fired, dismantled and their offices reconstructed into something really needed at the university, student housing.

Sure was a cowardly act, terminating the UH president while he's out of town. Let's hope the next UH president genuflects to the board when he or she is hired.

As a taxpaying citizen of Hawai'i for 29 years, I hope we can rid ourselves of these power-hungry isolationists. How can our children learn and expand their horizons when they are shown this type of provincial leadership?

Credibility, integrity are lacking on board

Gutless and no class is how I describe the UH Board of Regents.

While I did not agree with President Dobelle's stand on all issues, firing him while he's away from home on vacation is incomprehensible.

I hope that all the regents, as well as Sens. Bunda and Kim and Rep. Takai, never have to experience learning about losing a job while on vacation away from home.

I had hoped that Gov. Lingle appointing six regents a year ago would bring credibility, integrity and class to the board, but it's obvious that there's lots of room for improvement.

It's most unfortunate that our only public institution of higher learning is perpetuated in frustration, disappointment and mediocrity.

Inflated egos weren't given their proper due

Academic degrees do not prevent one from behaving like a dumbbell.

Evan Dobelle should have known this is Hawai'i, where the No. 1 priority is always to soothe the inflated egos of board members and where education is always down there on the bottom of the list.

After all, if people received a good education and knew what needed to be done, how, when, and why, where would our "leaders" be?

Regents should have gone to greater lengths

I am deeply disappointed that the University of Hawai'i regents have not exhausted other means to avoid the termination of UH President Evan Dobelle.

Although it may be too soon to determine what the driving force was behind this, politics and failure to compromise appear to be large factors. This is not surprising, considering the UH teachers strike in spring of 2002.

It's a shame to hear about UH's never-ending cycle of problems. This needs to be resolved before we lose our top students and professors to Mainland universities.

Doesn't make sense

Isn't it odd that the ones (Evan Dobelle) who make a difference and do the right things get fired?

And where the slackers and do-nothing people are promoted and get big raises?

Go figure.