— Limited amount of developable land to quench the demand for housing

— Strong military presence and tourism creates additional demand for housing

— Universal appeal as a second home market

The current economic crisis we are experiencing today is tough enough. Let's not fuel the fire unnecessarily.

GAMBLING

STATE LOTTERY WOULD BE GOOD SOURCE OF INCOME

To paraphrase Ross Perot, the giant sucking sound you hear is that of hundreds of millions of dollars being sucked out of the Hawai'i economy by Las Vegas. This is, of course, cleverly and heavily marketed by Hotel California, et al., as a wonderful 'ohana experience. It certainly is for them.

Now it would be a good idea and a smart move to keep at least some of this money at home. This could be done by having a state lottery which could cycle this money back to our public schools, our homeless and to senior services. It's hard to believe that it has taken this long and a recession for somebody in the Legislature to suggest gambling as a source of income.

Now I understand that some folks do not want casinos on the island or slot machines in every bar. I think that's reasonable. But everybody makes a little money off of the lottery. The people who sell the tickets, the people who work for the lottery and, of course, the winners. What's wrong with that?

CUTBACKS

STATE DOESN'T HAVE GUTS TO LAY OFF EMPLOYEES

I am fascinated by the current state budgeting process.

The business community throughout the industrialized world has a consistent approach to its economic problems. One of its solutions is to lay off excess employees. From giant worldwide companies (Microsoft, etc.) to the local ones (Matson and many others), the average reduction in employees appears to be about 10 percent.

Our state government says that we need new sources of revenue (gambling, new taxes, etc.) plus cutbacks in government services. The one thing off the table is any layoff of government employees.

Let me restate this policy: the government plans to increase prices, reduce services and do this with the same number of employees. This is a great deal for the employees. They will be able to earn the same salary and benefits for working even less hard than they do now. Can you imagine what would happen to a business leader who proposed such a solution?

The answer to the question as to why this policy is proposed is sadly obvious. Our government leaders do not have the guts to go against the unions covering government employees. I know that layoffs are painful, but why are government employees the only group immune?

LEE CATALUNA

ODE TO TADD FUJIKAWA WAS ALMOST SPOT-ON

I almost always enjoy Lee Cataluna's column, and her piece on Tadd Fujikawa (Jan. 20) was one reason why I enjoy it — well, it almost was. Her observations about Tadd, his composure and his impact in the world of golf was spot-on.

Then she blew it with an unveiled vent against Michelle Wie which was totally uncalled for — it was vengeful, offensive and petty and not at all professional. Far from her best work. It detracted from her ode to Tadd, sadly, rather than buttress it.