honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 29, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Clear data needed in gasoline cap debate

It's obvious that the supporters and detractors of the gasoline price cap will be vying for the moral high ground for some time. I suggest the following to assist the rest of us in making up our minds regarding whom to believe:

  • Any discussion regarding comparisons between states should be based on just the price of the gas even though "price at the pump" is what we see. The difference is primarily taxes. (The direct ones, anyway; the price already reflects overhead from other taxes paid along the way.) Comparing pump prices between states has too many variables; the gas-price gap deals with the cost of a gallon of gas, so the comparisons should do the same.
  • Make public where the money the state receives in gasoline taxes is spent. There may well be some price gouging going on at the gas pump, but the culprit might not be the oil companies or the gas station operators.

If the objective is to fairly evaluate the reasonableness of a price of a gallon of gasoline, all aspects of the cost should be fair game for comparison.

Getting unambiguous information is the first step.

Steven Newell
Hawai'i Kai


Both candidates must focus on Middle East

The advancement of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness throughout the world demands that both President Bush and the Republican Party and Sen. John Kerry and the Democratic Party:

  • Strongly condemn Israel's assassination of the leader of Hamas.
  • Strongly support the creation of a democratic Iraq state.

For effectively dealing with terrorism and jihadism, the Israeli approach is in diametric opposition to on-going events in Iraq. Israel continues to focus solely on the use of force and occupation without any effort to create positive conditions for the improvement of the rights and economic opportunities of the Palestinians.

As a result, the Palestinian economy has tanked: Palestinians are forced into a ghetto existence, have no hope for the future and are therefore prime recruits for terrorism and jihadism. Stability in Israel and Palestine does not and will not exist.

Fortunately, events in Iraq are headed in the opposite direction. A despotic regime and force for terror and instability throughout the Middle East has been removed. Slowly and painfully, the Iraqis are struggling toward democracy — a democracy that will protect the rights of women, individuals and minorities; provide the platform for economic opportunity and hope for the future; and encourage Muslim partners for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ... not for terrorism.

Will both political parties put aside the rancor of the presidential campaigns to date and have the vision and strength to adopt these positions?

Robert E. Warner
Downtown Honolulu


Shapiro got it wrong on State Capitol bill

David Shapiro's March 17 column ("Democrats playing with fire") accused me of being the driving force behind a bill to transfer responsibility for the State Capitol from the executive branch to the Legislature.

I relayed to Mr. Shapiro that his accusation was baseless. As a matter of fact, I was totally unaware of the bill until it was heard by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Only at that hearing did I share with colleagues my frustration over not being able to renew my two State Capitol parking gate cards, which I had paid for and used since 2000.

He was correct, however, in describing me as "perpetually perturbed"; I'm perpetually perturbed by journalists who write irresponsibly. Whatever happened to standards of journalism where facts are verified?

Sadly, while the news media are quick to point out errors made by others, misstatements made by the media are rarely corrected or, when acknowledged, are placed in some obscure corner of the newspaper, never close to the size or placement of the offending article.

Sen. Donna Mercado Kim
D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Heights)


Song contest photo shows blended beauty

The headline on the March 20 front-page photo read "Students raise voices in song." Pictured were the senior girls at the 82nd Annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest at the Neal Blaisdell Arena.

Then it struck me. Those lovely, exquisite faces are part of what Hawai'i has offered the world. When you gaze at those faces, you see the Native Hawaiian-based beauty with the multiplicity of races from throughout the world etched in each of them anchored by the Hawaiian strain coursing through their veins.

This picture lends credence to our legacy that only in Hawai'i can you witness the meshing of races that produces the harmony of living together that no other place on this planet can emulate.

One more thing, it also reassures us that we are the beautiful people of the world, hands down. Go look at the picture.

Hank McKeague
Honolulu


L.A. fixed-rail train comfortable, convenient

I recently returned from a Mainland trip to L.A. where I had an opportunity to ride a new Metro fixed-rail train in my old hometown of Pasadena. It cost me $1.25 one way and whisked me from a nearby station to downtown L.A. in 24 minutes.

The train was smooth, comfortable and convenient. It runs every 10 minutes during peak hours, and this particular branch line covers 13.7 miles in 36 minutes with a number of stops along the way. The alternative? Battling freeway gridlock and dealing with big-time parking problems.

Having lived in Honolulu for 37 years, it just makes me shake my head in disbelief at the blown opportunities for having this kind of transportation available. Are we so different in Hawai'i that we would rather sit in endless traffic in our cars? Anyone who has had a chance to ride such trains on the Mainland comes to a different conclusion very quickly.

Dedicated freeway lanes, bus and van routes, and removing uninsured cars sound like a lot of Band-Aid solutions to me. As UH President Dobelle would say, it's simply a question of applying the common-sense test. Just as we continue to see in other no-brainer issues like fluoridation, misguided legislators unfortunately continue to allow themselves to be swayed by loud, vocal minorities.

I can handle a minimal excise tax hike if that is what it will take for funding, because in the long run, I know that is the best way to go for us. If the cost makes you angry, take a good look at those responsible for giving away all the federal money that was once ours for the project.

Peter Caldwell
Honolulu


Poor lifestyle choices deserve higher costs

In his March 23 commentary, Dr. Frank Singer asks "To whom does HMSA answer?" I'd be happy to tell him that it answers to me, a long-time subscriber.

I'm a 55-year-old male who takes no medication. My blood pressure is 118/70, my cholesterol is 166, my HDL is 60, my fasting glucose is 89. I know these values because I take advantage of HMSA's HealthPass screening every year on my birthday.

In addition, I get plenty of aerobic exercise and I adhere to a vegetarian diet.

I appreciate HMSA's attempts to keep my health insurance costs down by what amounts to penalizing those who wish to enable their unhealthy lifestyles through utilization of expensive patented drugs. For the very small percentage of people with legitimate medical conditions for which powerful statin drugs are indicated, I'm sure HMSA's medical directors would make an exception with proper documentation.

Meanwhile, don't ask me to condone using my dues to support poor lifestyle choices. Eating giant hamburgers and pizza an hour before bedtime isn't a medical condition, it's a bad habit.

Sean Stephens
Honolulu


Iraq resolution vote was against Bush policy

Letter writer Eric Terashima criticizes Congressman Neil Abercrombie for voting against House Resolution 557. The measure's clause expressing support for the troops was a fig leaf on a blatantly political celebration of President Bush's Iraq policy.

Abercrombie voted against it because he disagrees with the policy, not with the need to support our troops. The president's policy is based on false WMD claims, diverts antiterrorism efforts, and puts unsustainable demands on military personnel and their families, particularly National Guard troops and Reservists. House Resolution 557 was an exercise in election-year spin to obscure those facts.

Abercrombie voted at least four times this year alone for resolutions commending U.S. service members for their valor, sacrifices and professionalism. More importantly, he is fighting to provide real support for troops and their families. He has championed causes like better military housing, expanded healthcare, higher pay, concurrent receipt, an adequate Veterans Administration budget and eliminating the offset penalty on military widows' pensions.

These issues have been opposed by the Bush administration and many of its congressional allies who voted for House Resolution 557.

What's needed isn't more politically motivated resolutions from Congress, but policies worthy of the troops we send into harm's way.

Michael Slackman
Communications director
Office of Congressman Neil Abercrombie


Peace isn't an option

Your March 23 editorial states that the Israeli assassination of Sheik Yassin makes the chances of a comprehensive peace settlement "even more remote." Perhaps the writer of this editorial is not aware that the Hamas organization is opposed to any peace with Israel, under any circumstances, and has stated its desire to replace Israel with an Islamic state. Peace with Hamas is clearly not an option.

Stephen Tenby
Honolulu


Letter was in poor taste

The Advertiser says it welcomes letters in good taste on any subject. I beg to differ. Gerald Wright's diatribe is openly anti-Semitic, yet you proudly featured it in Thursday's edition. Shame on you!

Marion and Giv Cornfield
Hawai'i Kai


High schools should be voluntary, not mandatory

As a retired educator of 30 years with our public schools, I believe we need to take a serious look at changing the infrastructure of the Department of Education and halting its tremendous waste of resources.

To begin with, our high schools ought to be voluntary instead of mandatory. Administrators spend way too much time with students who don't want to be on campus and are disrupting those who want to learn.

A structure of a voluntary community high school (ages 14 to 17 years) modeled after our community colleges would better fit today's society. Students could then choose a curriculum of their interest: liberal arts to prepare for a university, auto mechanics, food service, tourism careers, agriculture, nursing, environmental studies, ancient Hawai'i, Hawaiian history, etc. The present high school graduation requirements are not suited for the needs of many students and contribute greatly to the lack of motivation.

The other serious problem with our school system is the mind-boggling waste of resources by the DOE. The department is too overloaded with educational officers and personnel who spend way too much time inventing the wheel over and over again. For example, an incompetent high school principal was removed to a paper-pushing job recently only after an outcry from the community.

The department relies on achievement scores in math and reading to evaluate student performance. But if one looks at other statistics, such as dropout rates from ninth to 12th grade (not only 12th grade); absentee rates; discipline counts (fighting, insubordination, teacher harassment), etc., it will be apparent the DOE is failing society.

The Board of Education has not yet been successful in stopping the waste and shenanigans of the DOE. Even the lawsuit to aid special-education students has met with only limited success.

The DOE has become a monster not particularly interested in educating but in protecting its own fiefdom.

Ronald M.K. Lau
Ha'iku, Maui