'Free' water causing waste of resource

Since moving to Honolulu six months ago, my wife and I have enjoyed the delicious water that comes straight from the tap. It's so much better than in other places in the world where we have lived. I have also thought that the TV commercials that encourage people to save water were good.

But I find one thing very puzzling, even disturbing. We have been looking to purchase a condominium and have noticed that all of the buildings have the price of water usage included in the maintenance fees, which must be paid monthly. In the large apartment building (over 200 units) where we are now living, water is also included in our rent.

It seems to me that the first thing that should be done to save water would be to prohibit this kind of bundling where water usage is included in maintenance fees or rent. I know that this would be an extra expense for the building owners as they would have to have water meters for each unit. But think of the alternative: probably tens of thousands of gallons wasted each day.

When the cost of water is included, people think of it as "free." And when something is "free," do people make much of an effort to conserve? Usually not. Do we need legislative action to fix this problem, or will building owners do the responsible thing?

New medical school awash in political hype

Beverly Creamer's recent article concerning the new medical school must be scrutinized because it perpetuates misconceptions. While positive economic development of Kaka'ako is a plus, the article promotes political hype and not reality.

First, the new medical school has historically been presented in economic rather than educational terms. Medical school dean Ed Cadman and ex-president Evan Dobelle constantly advocated that the new medical school would catalyze the fledgling life sciences biotech industry in Kaka'ako. They rarely stressed the impact of the new school on improved medical student training or healthcare in Hawai'i. Instead, they emphasized hiring renowned research scientists to secure research grants together with large indirect cost payments.

Second, Ms. Creamer's article restates the claim that "lucrative" indirect cost payments of $7.5 million would fund research and school programs. Indirect costs are not allocated by granting agencies to support medical school programs but are awarded to help investigators, and their institutions, achieve research objectives proposed in the original grant application. Not one medical school in the United States (public or private) is financially self-sufficient based on indirect costs.

So, are we left with a $150 million debt for what is in fact a research institute, putting an enormous future financial burden on taxpayers?

Mandatory voting might be the answer

This election season, we again heard the hue and cry about voter turnout. Perhaps it's time to implement mandatory voting in the United States.

Let us make voting a legal citizen duty. Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and Ecuador all have mandatory voting laws. Mandatory voting would enhance the legitimacy of representative institutions and of the political system generally.

All governments ultimately rely on coercion to back up socially desirable policies and to assure compliance. Of course, mere enactment of compulsory voting would not necessarily assure high turnout. Such a law would also have to be given some teeth. This would naturally require a certain minimum level of administrative capacity on the part of the state, and would also entail costs, although all or part of the cost could be recovered through fines. Countries that enforce mandatory voting laws typically levy fines. Some impose public embarrassment on non-voters or even deny government services or benefits.

For those who would argue that "abstaining from voting is my right," I would suggest that even invalid ballots can play a useful function. Under a compulsory voting system, the casting of an invalid ballot might become an additional electoral choice option that carries a political message (a vote for none of the above, as it were). It is certainly much easier to interpret than mere abstention because it requires a positive act, whereas abstention constitutes a mere failure to participate.

Bush cannot lead a unified country

Thomas Stuart, in his Nov. 8 letter, seems to think that the "losers" of this presidential election, namely myself and the other 55,949,406 people who voted for Kerry, should be accommodating to the current regime and not the other way around. Unfortunately, that sort of brazen disregard for democracy is what divided our nation in the first place.

Democracy is a rule of the people — all the people. This is not a childhood game of king of the hill. Without the support of the other half of America, Bush cannot lead a unified country and we will all suffer as a result. Although, with his track record, I don't see how unification is possible. Regardless, it is the job of the president to represent and protect all of the people under his charge, not just those who believe in the same "moral values."

I am deeply disheartened by the thumb-in-your-face attitude displayed by so many who voted for Bush. This is not "Us vs. Them"; we all have to live in this country together. Show a little respect and compassion for the whole other half of the country that feels differently from you. If we persist on creating a deeper divide, the core of America will begin to fall apart. A 3 percentage point margin is not a landslide win and should not be seen as a mandate like it's manna from heaven.

Clean up Iraq mess

Now that President Bush has claimed victory, he should clean up his mess in Iraq, the relationship with our allies, and everything else that he has created for the past four years. At least he can apologize to the American people that he made a "miscalculation" invading Iraq. Tony Blair did.

We'll need more help

Now that our presidential election is over, it's time for a new patriotic song (which can keep the old familiar melody): "God Help America ... "

Aloha at the polls

On Election Day 2004, working at a precinct in Kailua, I experienced the greatest feeling of the aloha spirit since moving to Kailua from the Mainland in 1972. At the ballot-issuing station, each voter gave me a smile, thank you, mahalo and/or a look in the eye that said it all and more. "Lucky we live Hawai'i" will now mean more to me every day of my life, and I will be available to work at every future election. Try it; you'll like it!

Dole Food has come to Wahiawa's rescue

The Wahiawa Community and Business Association (WCBA) would like to take this opportunity to let you know what a good neighbor Dole Food Co. Hawai'i is to Wahiawa town.

Wahiawa town has received much criticism and ridicule from people in other locations on O'ahu in letters to local newspapers directed at the leaders of our community regarding an illegal dumpsite. This site is located at the north entrance into Wahiawa, off Kamehameha Highway.

When irresponsible people have driven their vehicles into Tamura's Wahiawa parking lot and proceeded to dump trash down the banks of Kukaniloko Stream, Dole has come and cleaned it up. Dole officials brought in their large trucks several times, provided manpower and hauled away tons of debris.

The WCBA appreciates the time and expense that Dole has expended in clearing this area and for putting up a 6-foot chain-link fence to deter this illegal dumping.

Trick-or-treaters should show respect

While enjoying Halloween with my 3-year-old son, I observed so many things that need to be addressed.

First, children need to understand that it's not required for people to go buy candy and give it out on this one night a year. We do it because we want to, so the kids can have fun. A simple "Trick or treat" followed by "Thank you" or "Mahalo" would have been nice, but I cannot tell you how many times I just got a bag stuck in my face demanding candy.

I also saw kids trampling through people's yards and flowers to get to a door, when just a few extra steps would have put them on the sidewalk.

I saw a handful of older teenagers who weren't even in costume running past the smaller kids to get the candy. If your children are old enough to go out alone at night, then they have probably outgrown the tradition of trick-or-treating.

The final frustration was when I left a large bowl out with a note saying to take one or two pieces and came back a short time later with all the candy being gone. Maybe I was naive and expected too much.

I know Halloween is for the kids to have fun, but they still need to respect people and property no matter what the circumstances are. I did see many parents who stood right by their children and used this as an opportunity to teach good manners, and they should be applauded.

What of public trash?

Although I applaud Suzanne Jones' policy of recycling, why are there no separate trash bins at city parks or city offices to separate bottles, cans and other recyclables? Do city workers separate the trash at these locations? If the city feels that recycling is such an important issue, it should also show the public it cares enough about the issue to provide these separate bins to encourage recycling at public facilities.

Organic growers should be thankful

Farmers attacking farmers. This is one of our biggest problems in the agriculture industry today. The multitude of problems farmers and ranchers face today requires collaboration and partnering among industry participants, as anyone would realize if they had the opportunity to attend the 2004 Ag Conference held recently in Honolulu.

Melanie Bondera, in her Oct. 25 letter, continues to attack agriculture in Hawai'i. Instead of proposing a meeting with the papaya industry people and researchers to obtain the facts on scientific research and development, she attacks the transgenic papayas with only her assumptions and insinuations through the media without any scientific documentation.

Coexistence of biotechnology crops with conventional and organic crops is possible. It has been proven on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Without the transgenic Rainbow and Sunup papaya, there would be no viable papaya industry in our state today. The organic growers should thank the growers of the Hawai'i Papaya Industry Association for planting transgenic papayas, which suppress the papaya ringspot virus, so that they are able to grow organic-type papayas in these areas.

We all need viable agriculture in Hawai'i — farmers, residents, tourists. We need to be willing to learn the facts, communicate with each other and work together on our tiny islands so we can all survive.

Apology was made; let's work together

The legal actions taken against Native Hawaiians raise questions about the integrity of the United States of America.

Our freedom depends heavily on the strength and might of this great country and its Constitution, a wonderful document written by men who had visions of freedom and rights of our citizenship. I will not argue that these fathers of democracy had issues and personal practices that were contrary to what was written. Nevertheless, it is a document worth defending.

However, over time, this document has deteriorated with every new interpretation that further erodes the morals of this country and moves us further from its intent. It is being used again to make a wrong a right.

The United States apologized for the taking of this land from the Hawaiian people. Let us work together on defining our relationship and future so we can get on with our lives.

Chang deserves our respect and admiration

Congratulations to Tim Chang on his great accomplishment of setting the NCAA record for passing!

And to those of you who are naysayers and full of criticism: Please stop it, already.

I am not a sports fan; however, I do know when a person deserves others' respect and admiration, and Mr. Chang is definitely one who deserves just that. The majority of you haven't even come close to succeeding as he has done. Be proud! Hey, this guy is from Hawai'i!

As for Mr. Chang, his family and friends, enjoy the moment.