SUPERFERRY

BOY SCOUTS WANT TO EXPLORE OTHER ISLANDS

What a mess this whole Superferry thing is.

I am a Boy Scout here on O'ahu. We have hiked, camped and explored this entire island. The Superferry would give us a chance to explore other parts of our state. We could take all of our stuff with us. We could pack our cars with our stuff. It is amazing the amount of stuff a Scout has — much more than would fit in a suitcase or a backpack.

So let's get this Superferry moving so the Scouts of Hawai'i can experience the other islands of our state.

SEWAGE SPILLS

BACKUP POWER SERVES AS PREVENTION METHOD

When Hawai'i experiences heavy rains, we almost inevitably experience electrical power interruptions of some sort. An Advertiser article last Monday reported that a power surge brought on by heavy rains caused a wastewater collection system's main lift station to go off line, leading to 1.97 million gallons of wastewater spillage at Pearl Harbor.

Fortunately, environmental impacts from this spillage are expected to be minimal. However, this "near miss" event should serve as a wakeup call. The implementation of a simple and relatively inexpensive system consisting of power generators placed on automatic bus transfer switches could provide the rapid unmanned response necessary to prevent future similar occurrences.

Radio stations, hotels and supermarkets have already implemented similar methods of backup emergency power with great success. Our state has suffered enough damage from sewage spills caused by electrical power interruptions. Let's implement an ounce of prevention. The cost to repair our environment will surely cost us more.

LOCKER SEARCHES

IT'S ONLY TIME BEFORE BAGS UNDER SCRUTINY

The school board views its decision to search students' lockers as "righteous" and "for security reasons," but the simple truth is that they have started something that has no end.

While there may be no logical and foolproof argument against the board searching lockers, since it is, after all, for "our safety," how are the schools without lockers going to be affected?

My high school has no lockers and has not been built for the school to have lockers, so we'll probably not be getting them any time soon. As a result, my high school will probably not be getting off that easily; there will be implications felt by public schools that don't have lockers that may translate into backpack and purse searches for our continuing safety.

Since the students at locker-free schools have no place to hide anything incriminating, they may bring something in their backpack, purse or bag that would lead to a search. Unfortunately for the school board, backpacks and bags are viewed by the schools, including faculty and students, as private property and not for searches without a very good reason.

I am sure that at one point, lockers were viewed as the private property of students, as well; it is only a matter of time before backpacks, bags and purses are not private any more.

While this problem may not present itself for many years, eventually, someone will propose that these bags be searched. Why subject the students to this kind of pressure? Give them the chance to be more responsible and leave their stuff alone!

THRIVING BLACK MARKET

DRUG PROHIBITION ISN'T WORKING IN HAWAI'I

"Ice production, use dropping in Hawai'i" was The Advertiser's Nov. 1 headline. Two days later, it was "Seizures of crack cocaine rise." Yet amazingly, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo have trumpeted these statistics as evidence that "significant" progress is being made. Perhaps so, if by "significant" you mean "shifting" users and addicts from one drug to another.

Despite spending billions of taxpayers' dollars to thwart illicit drug use, all our state and federal governments have succeeded in doing is to create a thriving black market for gangs and dealers, who really don't care what they sell — pot, ice, crack, heroin. They just adapt to the marketplace. After three decades of drug prohibition, we still have roughly the same number of addicts in this country.

Here's a simple question for Aiona and Kubo: If they truly believe we are making "significant" progress in the war on drugs, why do we need drug-sniffing dogs in schools and drug-testing of teachers, government employees and construction workers? If use of illegal drugs is really going down, why all the paranoia and fear?

When will we have a local politician who is willing to state what is plainly evident: Drug prohibition isn't working.

In order to reduce harm and lessen the profit motive for criminals, we need to consider legalizing and regulating drugs. Instead, our government just continues to throw more good money after bad in a war it cannot win.

GARRISON KEILLOR

AMERICANS AGREE WITH 'TRUTH' ABOUT PRESIDENT

I cannot let Tom Freitas' letter of Nov. 6 go unchallenged. While Freitas may not like Garrison Keillor's work, it needs to stay in the Focus section. Keillor has only told the truth about this president.

Freitas is upset about the two words "current occupant." Certainly there are many more unflattering words to describe this president that I will not use. I note Frietas says the president was a popular two-term governor. I ask how popular is Bush today.

Mr. Freitas, you certainly have the right to express your opinion. However, 64 percent of us agree with Keillor.