DRIVERS

POLICE NEED ACCESS TO VALID INSURANCE DATA

Bill Haig's July 20 letter, "Require proof of insurance at pump," is a good idea, but something extra could be added.

Two years ago, I was involved in a traffic accident. The other driver showed the police an insurance card. Days later, the insurance company said that she never had insurance with them. So, it was a fake card.

The Legislature should pass a bill requiring bar codes on driver's licenses that would be daily linked to the insurance companies and would indicate valid and updated insurance.

Maybe the driver's license could be swiped into a computer system at the gas pumps before gas is released. And, if police are checking someone's driver's license because of a driving infraction, maybe swiping the license in their computer could show if someone actually has legal updated insurance.

Those who oppose the idea will say it costs too much money.

The cost will be worth the lives saved when irresponsible drivers are not on the road, and will lower Hawai'i insurance premiums down the road.

TRADE

MARKET SHOULD DECIDE WHAT GOODS TO PRODUCE

Mike Fitzgerald's July 16 Island Voices column ("Imports of food, oil a drain on economy") regurgitates a common economic fallacy: that trade with others makes us worse off and that we should be self-sufficient.

The reality, as anyone who has studied the economic principle of comparative advantage should know, is that trade makes everyone better off and that if something can be done cheaper elsewhere, we should import from them and concentrate on exporting those goods and services that we're best at delivering.

The cost of growing food in Hawai'i is generally higher than elsewhere, so it makes economic sense to import a lot of basic foodstocks and export specialty foods like Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.

With a few exceptions, such as solar hot water panels, it is cheaper to import energy than to create renewable energy using current technology, so we shouldn't be using government mandates to drive up our energy bills with overpriced renewable sources.

What Mike Fitzgerald is proposing would make us all poorer. We will all be better off if we let the marketplace, not government, decide what goods and services each of us can most profitably produce.

WAR

IRAQ WITHDRAWAL WILL DESTABILIZE MIDEAST

I disagree with Alfred Bloom's conclusion in his July 19 letter that "withdrawal from Iraq will restore trust in the United States."

Regardless of political rhetoric, the fact remains that the United States cannot unilaterally withdraw from Iraq without setting in motion a destabilizing of the Middle East. Additionally, the United States has taken the position that Iraq should be a democracy and helped move the country in that direction.

Unfortunately, we did this without a clear understanding of how that would actually be accomplished or its effect on its citizens, and without the clear approval of the citizens in accepting democracy.

For any of this to be successfully accomplished, the United States must assist Iraq in developing a stable economy and a universal educational system; creating a political forum; and providing national security and ethnic equality.

When we have done this and peace is returned to this part of the world, trust in the United States will be restored.

None of this can be accomplished overnight. We will be in Iraq for a long, long time, and walking away now will do nothing to restore the image of the United States — and in fact will lessen us in the eyes of the world.

Mr. Bloom is correct in his assessment of the need to focus with other nations of the world, joining together to rid ourselves of the disruptive insurgents that seek only to defeat the peace process and continue terror everywhere.

'OPALA

CITY BULKY-ITEM PICKUP PROGRAM EXPANDED

I would like to respond to Lisa Schofield's July 19 letter, "Volunteers Pitched in to Help Remove Trash."

The housing units where the trash was dumped are state-owned, and the trash collection for that complex is a state function. The state Department of Accounting and General Services is responsible for refuse collection at state-owned facilities. The number is 586-0400.

Last July, the city expanded its bulky-item pickup program islandwide. Monthly pickup of bulky items, such as furniture, appliances and mattresses, is provided for every community.

We ask that items be put out for collection the evening before your scheduled pickup day. It may take a few days to remove all the items, as the city uses different trucks based on the type of item. This allows for the recycling of appliances.

If someone can't wait for their scheduled pickup, they may drop off bulky items at any of the city's nine convenience centers seven days a week. For the island's bulky item pickup schedule or additional information on our refuse collection programs, please visit our Web site at www.opala.org.

While I applaud the KEY project and Kahulu'u Clean Up for their efforts, I hope that this information helps our residents to understand that there is an alternative to illegally dumping unwanted items in our communities.

RENEWAL OFFICE

DRIVER'S LICENSE STAFF GETS HEARTFELT KUDOS

This is my birthday month, so I was faced with the inevitable driver's license renewal.

I reported to the city license renewal office on Dillingham and immediately became one of many standing in a zig-zag configuration.

While in that long line, I had the chance to observe how the city's staff handled the renewals.

There were five open windows staffed by courteous staff members with smiling, friendly faces.

I watched further as each applicant approached the window with a "let's get it over with" attitude only to be disarmed by the receptive person at the window.

Applicants arrived tense and drawn and, without exception, left in a happy, relaxed condition — joking about their new card photos.

This is all due to the upbeat atmosphere of the licensing staff.

Our congratulations and thanks to this staff for turning a routine, mundane task into a pleasant experience.

AIRPORT

KAHULUI RUNWAY NEEDS TO BE LENGTHENED NOW

The airline crash in Brazil last week demonstrates the need to extend the main runway at Kahului Airport.

While it is believed that mechanical problems contributed to the cause of the crash, the short runway was also a factor. The runway at Sao Paulo, Brazil is 6,362 feet long. The runway at Kahului, Maui, is 6,995 feet. (Honolulu's main runways are 12,000 feet.)

It is time to extend the runway now.

HOMELESS

WAI'ANAE RESIDENTS WANT BEACHES BACK

Congressman Neil Abercrombie responded to a Hot Seat question (Focus, July 15) about the Iroquois Point Beach access issue by stating: "In Hawai'i, the beaches have always belonged to us. That is not going to change because of a few developers. I'll do everything in my power to keep the beaches open."

Do none of our elected officials understand that several beaches on O'ahu's Wai'anae Coast have long been inaccessible and unavailable to ordinary citizens because of the huge population of homeless living on them?

There have been many complaints to city and state officials, yet the only beach park to be cleared and cleaned is a portion of Ma'ili Beach Park.

City policy is that homeless will not be evicted from Wai'anae Coast beaches until there are homes for all of them; however, while thousands remain on the beaches, the Wai'anae shelter built at taxpayers expense and completed several months ago, remains only about 75 percent full.

Many of the homeless refuse to go there because there are too many rules.

Enough is enough; we want our beaches back.

MUSIC

MAHALO TO ALL INVOLVED IN 'UKULELE FESTIVAL

To everyone who contributed or participated in the 37th annual Starbucks 'Ukulele Festival: You all did a wonderful job in putting on a great spectacular.

Every year that I have attended the festival, I am amazed at the immense growth in the number of participants.

I also want to say mahalo to all the local musicians who come out to support the keiki as they perform and give them a treat by performing songs themselves.

It was a treat to have Jack Johnson as the special guest performer.

He even taught the kids a song.

PRESIDENT

IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY

I respect Congressman Neil Abercrombie very much, but I must disagree with him that impeachment should not take place as it would be seen as political revenge for ideological purposes, self-indulgence or satisfying visceral opposition to George W. Bush.

As a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel and a former U.S. diplomat, I believe an investigation by the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that could lead to impeachment of the president and vice president of the United States must take place to hold elected officials accountable for their actions, their criminal actions, "high crimes" as specified by the U.S. Constitution.

In my opinion, those crimes include violation of the U. N. charter by launching an illegal war of aggression (which is a war crime) against Iraq without cause, authorization of the torture of thousands of prisoners in violation of U.S. and international law, and violation of U.S. law by wiretapping of the phone calls and e-mails of Americans without a warrant. All are "high crimes."

If the president and vice president of the United States get away with criminal actions, then why should any other citizen have to abide by the law?

Impeachment is about accountability and preventing other and future elected officials from thinking they can get away with breaking domestic and international laws.