CONCON

OUR FOUNDERS FEARED TYRANNY BY THE MASSES

I disagree with Lee Cataluna that we need another Constitutional Convention, and I wonder if it's because we were taught different things in the public schools of our youths.

For example, what answer did you learn to this question? Which did America's founders most trust to control the government's unlimited power: (1) an anonymous majority vote by the people or (2) a small number of elected representatives, who separate the people from the reins of power and who are forced to debate and vote in public?

ConCon supporters argue for (1), but I was taught that they picked (2) because they feared (1) as "tyranny by the masses."

Just note how few times the Constitution allows the people to control the government's unlimited power? Zero — not even the power to elect the president. (The "tradition" of state electors rubber stamping a direct popular vote is just an illusion.)

Regardless. I believe ConCon supporters who tell me they want a ConCon because they are frustrated by their inability to influence public elections to their satisfaction.

So, does anyone believe a ConCon will suddenly make them potent enough to control it? I don't.

VOTE 'YES' ON CONCON FOR MORE EFFICIENCIES

Lately, I've seen a lot of anti-ConCon propaganda.

One particular ad stated that The Honolulu Advertiser said "libraries will need to cut services."

I was curious if that statement was true. I found the referenced article and I was appalled.

Not only was The Advertiser misquoted in the ad, but the article had nothing to do with a Constitutional Convention. The article stated that libraries would have fewer public service hours because of "budget restrictions imposed by Gov. Linda Lingle."

The Hawai'i Alliance paid for the ad.

This only proves that Hawai'i needs a ConCon. With a ConCon, we can revamp government policies to handle the state budget and other matters efficiently. ConCon is an excellent opportunity for the people to make sure their tax dollars are well spent, since the amendments proposed at ConCon will be voted on by the people, not just the legislators.

Also, state legislation costs $30 million dollars a day compared to ConCon's max daily cost of approximately $345,000. State legislation is paid for every year, but ConCon is only paid for four months.

So be informed. Vote "yes" for ConCon!

FINANCIAL CRISIS

PLAN OFFERED TO HELP STABILIZE HOME PRICES

The credit crisis won't be fully resolved until housing prices stabilize. There is a way to encourage that without rewarding those who made bad choices.

The government should purchase properties already on the path toward foreclosure, at market rates, then sell the properties to the foreclosed-on owners at the original sales price, but with a low interest rate that would make the payments affordable.

The government's cost to borrow money for 10 years is currently well under 4 percent per year, so it could lend it out at under 5 percent.

With this plan, mortgage holders could unload nonproducing assets at a loss, but more than they would get later at auction. Assets backed by the mortgage would immediately be liquidated, but the mortgage holders would quickly have more money available to lend.

Homeowners would suffer impaired credit ratings and have to pay the full prices for their homes, but they could afford to stay in them.

Many fewer houses would go back on the market, and this would reduce the downward pressure on home prices. Taxpayers would be protected and eventually gain a profit.

OBAMA COMMENTS

LINGLE'S CREDIBILITY PUT HER ON NATIONAL STAGE

In response to Lee Cataluna's Oct. 17 column, "Is Lingle losing her local cred?" It is exactly her strong local credibility and achievements that have placed her on the national stage, a stage on which few if any governors from Hawai'i have ever played.

That local, as well as national, credibility comes from what Gov. Linda Lingle has done for our state; her overwhelming re-election victory in 2006; and her focus on creating an innovation economy in Hawai'i and making our state energy independent.

This type of credibility, and a path similar to that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in terms of achievements as former mayors who took on the status quo and became the first women governors in their respective states, has made her an important player in the national presidential campaign. And everywhere she goes she is selling Hawai'i.

Suggesting that Gov. Lingle's brief absence from our state says that she has lost her focus on our state's issues is ridiculous. Just the opposite is true.

Gov. Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona are focused like a laser on implementing a five-point economic plan to revitalize Hawai'i's economy.

Sorry, Ms. Cataluna, no loss of focus, no loss of any kind of credibility.

STRYKERS

MAKUA CULTURAL SITES ARE BEING CARED FOR

Mr. David Henkin in his Oct. 22 letter writes, "Hawai'i does not have to pay the high price of Stryker training."

Those of us Native Hawaiians, former infantrymen who have witnessed the Stryker in training disagree with his assumption.

Cultural sites have been and are being cared for like no other outside of the training areas.

Strykers have tires, run quiet, are armored, and are able to deploy infantrymen right up to the objective.

Because of this advantage, infantrymen are able to accomplish their mission quickly, decisively and with minimum, if any, casualties.

Another thing, infantrymen are transported by vehicles with much larger tires to and from training areas, which makes his argument moot.