Posted on: Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Letters to the Editor

Learn from Maine's 25-year experience

I read Catherine Toth's Jan. 19 article "Bottle law a drain on business" online from Maine, where the 5-cent bottle and can measure has been a huge success and has been implemented for 25 years.

The key to its success is the use of small businesses in each town, or many in larger towns and cities, where people bring their bottles. These businesses pay on-the-spot in short order, sort the bottles for later pick-up, and collect 8 cents from the company whose truck comes to collect them in large quantities.

This is a win-win where roadside litter is hugely reduced, and people can be seen occasionally walking along the roads to collect "little treasures." Less litter, many small businesses to provide employment (like two to three people) and rational re-use of materials.

Some grocery stores have their own sites with automated recycling machines that crunch the cans and plastic bottles and give the customer a printed receipt at the conclusion, which can then be redeemed at a customer service desk.

As a longtime resident of Hawai'i, I am glad to see this law finally enacted. It sounds like you have a few kinks to iron out, but "nevah fea, ain't no big ting."

Dr. King would have approved of parade

This letter is for David Rosen and Thurston Twigg-Smith, who seem to have a problem with Hawaiian groups participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.

Perhaps this is the time for you to join in the celebration of the King holiday because you will find that all ethnic groups participate and have done so in all the parades for the past 17 years.

I am sure that Dr. King was smiling down on the past parade.

Healthcare system should have cushion

My financial planner advises me to keep about six months' worth of expenses in savings as a cushion should something unexpected happen. It makes sense to me that we would want our health plan to do the same.

Giving $100 back to consumers sounds good until you really stop to think of the risk the governor is putting our healthcare system in. With all that's happening around the world with natural disasters, we should be prudent and keep our health plans strong and stable.

There are teachers right here at home

For all the talk of recruiting teachers from the Mainland, the Department of Education doesn't seem to be looking too hard for teachers at home.

I recently graduated from the College of Education at UH. I am certified to teach secondary English. I am willing and able to work in 34 middle or high schools on the island, yet I haven't had a job offer. This wouldn't bother me so much if there weren't so many "emergency hires" working in the school system. Shouldn't a certified teacher in any subject take employment precedence over an emergency hire?

I am also aware that many schools are in need of substitute teachers. I am willing to substitute in the meantime, yet I am required to take a substitute teaching course that is a requirement of the DOE. Shouldn't state-certified teachers be able to work as a substitute without being required to relinquish even more time and money to the state than they already have?

I am beginning to feel that all that I went through to become a certified teacher has left me simply as certified.

Matt Catingub would make good bandmaster

Letters and articles in the newspaper have focused on the pros and cons of firing Aaron Mahi from his post as conductor of the Royal Hawaiian Band. However, nowhere have I read about a possible replacement.

I would like to make a suggestion to the mayor: Hire Matt Catingub, who is presently the Honolulu Symphony Pops conductor. He not only conducts, but he also composes and arranges music. He would bring more interesting music and the kind of leadership that the band members crave.

Besides, doesn't the city pay the band conductor more than the symphony pays its pops conductor?

I think Matt would jump at the chance to be the new band conductor.

Bring keiki to get free fingerprinting

Safety is always on your mind when you are a parent.

Over 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States. If your child is missing, the most valuable tool you can have is a way to provide the police with the most current information about your child. Time is crucial, and the more information available to police, the faster they can respond.

The police and FBI highly recommend that every child be fingerprinted and have a record of ID information. So take a few minutes out of your busy day and make safety a priority — get your keiki fingerprinted.

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Times Market Shopping Center at 45-934 Kamehameha Highway, Kane'ohe, Smith Taekwondo Foundation will be hosting a community event where you can get a free blood pressure check, tour an ambulance and get your keiki fingerprinted for free.

Federal funding has become a cruel joke

If Gov. Lingle is serious about increasing affordable housing and homeless services in Hawai'i, I would request that she speak to the Bush administration about its proposed slashing by up to 50 percent of annual Community Development Block Grant funds, a key funding source for affordable housing for seniors and low-income families, homeless and community support services.

Hawai'i receives about $14 million annually in funding. Losing $7 million per year would wipe out much of the gains achieved by her proposed state programs.

The administration's claim that it desires to end homelessness becomes a cruel joke when one considers its funding priorities.

Nimitz nonsense

Speaking of Nimitz Highway, have you noticed that upon exiting Sand Island Access Road, turning toward town, and immediately moving to the middle lane, that by the time you reach the HECO plant, you are in the makai lane? How you figgah?

Reduces need for people to own a car

After all the political rhetoric I hope our legislators are going to get serious about a light rail system, for obvious reasons. To those who propose other systems as a main form of transportation, I point out that only a rail system provides reliable transportation for those who cannot drive, such as the elderly, children, disabled, and those who cannot afford the expense of owning and driving an automobile.

When we lived in the Bay Area and caught the BART to work, we only had to own one car for weekend driving. Now, however, my wife and I have to own two cars because we work in different directions. Think of how much we could save if we didn't have to each have our own car.

Physician-assisted suicide is too much of a burden

It is with respect that I respond to Mr. Bob Rees' Jan. 16 commentary maintaining his right to die as he chooses. In the face of a very serious medical condition, he writes thoughtfully and courageously, and one can only wish him a successful battle against his disease. However, there are reasons why physician-assisted suicide (PAS) should not be legalized just because of one individual's plight.

Mr. Rees' article reveals a very important detail that should not go unnoticed. He has a very supportive and caring family who will stand alongside him in his struggle, no matter what course of action he takes. In such an ideal context, PAS might be considered by some to be the most compassionate and humane thing to do. Unfortunately, since we live in a less-than-ideal world, PAS can instead become the expeditious and convenient thing to do when family dysfunction or pure economics enters the picture. There are many vulnerable ones in our society who will be too meek or guilt-ridden or depressed to object to PAS when they misinterpret a "right to die" as a "duty to die."

In my 25 years of practice, there is one thing that I count as the most important aspect of my duties. It is gaining the trust of my patients so that if in a split second I must make a drastic decision to ensure her safety and well-being, she will trust me completely, at times without further discussion or negotiation, that I am acting in her best interest. Placing the burden of legalizing suicide on the shoulders of physicians will severely threaten the all-important trust relationships with patients that most of us have spent our careers trying to establish. I am afraid that the Oregon experience that Mr. Rees refers to will eventually reach the opposite conclusion. "For many patients knowing the option that physician-assisted suicide exists creates a climate of fear and distrust (instead of comfort)."

Please do not place physicians in a role where the line between protecting a life and terminating a life becomes blurred. We have been trained in the healing arts and not in the killing arts. Legal safeguards notwithstanding, physicians are not omniscient or objective enough to fully judge or prevent motivation of the wrong kind. Most physicians will not personally participate in PAS. That is why the official position of the American and Hawai'i medical associations is to oppose physician-assisted suicide.

Landfill issue should be no surprise to Ko Olina's Stone

With regard to developer Jeff Stone's assertion that "the city's indecision about the landfill location has delayed his development plans for Ko Olina" ("Is 2005 Ko Olina's big year?" Jan. 23), I ask the following questions:

• What would you call someone who hates rain, and moves to Hilo?

• What would you call someone who hates the ocean, and moves, beachfront, to the North Shore.

• What would you call someone who is afraid of heights and moves to the top of Tantalus?

The answer to all of the above questions is "Not very smart"!

What do you call someone who hates landfills, and builds a $1 billion resort called Ko Olina adjacent to a known, fully functioning landfill with long-term, carefully considered plans for a 60-acre expansion in Waimanalo Gulch?

The answer to the above question, according to our governor, is "a brilliant entrepreneur."

As I see it, the Honolulu taxpayers who allow this to happen can rightfully be termed "Not very smart."

Why not use the $75 million tax credit to improve the island infrastructure for the citizens already here, instead of luring tens of thousands of tourists, new residents who will need sewers, cars, schools and other government services which are already strained up to the hilt?

The Waimanalo Gulch landfill is currently in the best location. The taxpayers own the land, the City Council and our previous mayor endorsed the site, and the Land Use Commission approved the expansion.

If the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closing proceeds without taxpayer outrage, we will have truly been "Stoned" into complacency by a developer. Multibillion-dollar development projects produce a lot of garbage.

Where do Mr. Stone, Gov. Lingle, and now Mayor Hannemann intend to send it, if not to Waimanalo Gulch?

Wouldn't it be wise to know exactly where it's going, before we commit $75 million?