FOOD SHORTAGES

LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE AG MUST BE SUPPORTED

What is the connection between taro farmers in Wailua, the price of rice, water, and you and me?

Stores are limiting sales of rice due to recent supply and demand trends. Rice prices are surging worldwide, in part on worries about supply shortages.

Food costs, as we all know, have soared here. They have soared worldwide, spurred by increased demand in emerging markets like China and India; by competition with biofuels; high oil prices and market speculation, sparking food riots around the world.

So, folks, it's not rocket science to recognize that we must support local, sustainable agriculture here on Maui, that racing to Costco is not the answer. So when taro farmers aren't getting enough stream water to grow healthy taro right here in our backyard, because that water is instead being used to grow sugar, when prime agricultural land is devoted to one mono-crop grown for export, or being removed from ag zoning to build more houses, we are not just shooting ourselves in the foot, we are shooting ourselves in the head.

POLITICS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LACKS LEADERSHIP TODAY

As a loyal Democrat, I am frustrated by the lack of leadership of our party. As a former Merchant Marine, I always looked to the captain to set the course for the quartermaster to steer and the crew to follow.

Today, the Democratic Party is a ship without a captain. When we elected a majority of Democrats in the Congress, we expected them to immediately start to impeach the Bush-Cheney administration in order to shorten the war.

Instead, for some inexplicable reason, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as her first official act, took impeachment off the table.

Democratic Party leader Howard Dean is no better. He is enforcing a stupid rule, which he established, that is disenfranchising millions of voters in Florida and Michigan.

In all fairness, those votes should be counted, no matter who they favor. Where is the media outcry for fairness in this matter? Mass media pressure is the only way the playing field is going to be leveled. Don't hold your breath.

The kept press is not going to act in this matter. Letters to the editor by Democrats such as I, whether published or not, won't do it.

Going independent is no answer. Come on, loyal Democrats, let's start making some noise. Let's get on the Internet and flood Democrat headquarters and the congressional offices with mail, demanding impeachment and the counting of those Florida and Michigan votes.

DEMOCRATS

OBAMA HAS APPEAL THAT GOES PAST PARTY BASE

The Pennsylvania primary turned out pretty much exactly how the polls and the pundits expected it would with Hillary Clinton running strongly with traditional Democratic blocs: working class, women and voters over 50. While these solidly establishment constituencies are important for success in a general election, the past two elections have shown that they are not enough.

Exit polls from Pennsylvania revealed that Barack Obama decisively carried the 300,000 newly registered Democrats by 20 points. Supporting that phenomenon, the April 20 article, "Young voters essential to Dems' future," assessed how Democrats need to see beyond 2008 to establish party loyalties of future voters, a demographic clearly won by Sen. Obama in all the primaries so far.

Clearly, he has an appeal that goes beyond the base of the Democratic Party, one that so far has supported Hillary Clinton because she is the establishment candidate and has great name recognition.

Nevertheless, for success in November and in future elections, the superdelegates need to consider which candidate will attract more independents and crossover Republicans in addition to the Democratic base, and that candidate has consistently been Barack Obama.

RAIL

O'AHU NEEDS TO THINK SMALLER IN MASS TRANSIT

Jerry Burris says Honolulu has had a failed history with the development of rail mass transit. He gives several reasons, but I believe that overall there are developers and planners — experts — who are not looking at the huge, permanent footprint a development like this leaves on this tiny island and our resources.

To institute a successful system, it must fit the place it is meant to serve. Instead of the "bigger is better" option like an expansive rail line, we need to be thinking smaller and more efficient.

Alternatives have come forward, but have our leaders listened? Will we be stuck with a system that, like the Aloha Stadium, will be rusted and ill-maintained within a decade of use?

Will the city continue to look for alternatives such as a University of Hawai'i community shuttle system and an improved, more expansive bus system to better serve the people?

We need to ask ourselves how big a footprint the rail line will leave on this island. Is this a responsible use of our resources in a time when our economy is in crisis and so many go without in our community?

OAHUANS HAVE RIGHT TO RECTIFY TRANSIT WRONGS

The Advertiser editorialized that the proposed rail initiative offers no solutions for voters.

Presumably, initiative, referendum and recall are similarly repugnant to the author of the editorial. As a state representative and senator, I introduced bills to provide these citizen tools designed to rectify egregious wrongs being committed by legislative or administrative bodies.

Given that there is limited ridership, an enormous cost per citizen, a consistent ignoring of citizen input by both the City Council and the administration, the appearance of "the train on the track" attitude by those in office, the only way to stop the train is through utilization of the initiative provision. It is not there by chance.

It is the citizens of the county who will bear the burden of this enormous cost and environmental impact. Why shouldn't they exercise this valuable right to rectify what the majority believe to be an irreparable harm to this community?

FEARS RAIL PROJECT COULD BANKRUPT CITY

I am truly disappointed. I have attended several of the public transit meetings and have come away with these observations:

First, the city acknowledges that rail will not solve our transportation issues, it only offers an alternative mode of transportation. Yet, it bypasses several significant employment centers or job sites (airport, Pearl Harbor Shipyard) and primarily connects shopping centers.

Second, the city doesn't know how much it will cost to operate the system, instead we will ask taxpayers for an open checkbook. Most certainly, the 0.05 percent GET will not be sufficient. I fear that this project could bankrupt Honolulu and saddle future generations with debt.

Third, the method used to power the vehicles will be electric. We can look forward to significant increases in our electric bills as HECO will need to increase its generating capacity, which is already stretched to the limit.

Last, taxpayers have had no real say in this matter. The mayor has squashed almost all opposition at the public meetings I have been to. He has belittled any City Council members who have questioned this project, and has publicly stated that this will be "my way or the highway," thus, demonstrating a true lack of leadership.

Now we know the true meaning of being "railroaded." I voted for Mayor Mufi Hannemann once; let me be the one to say never again.

ARMY

NOT ACCEPTABLE TO LEAVE DU IN GROUND

I'm writing this letter in response to the April 23 article entitled "Depleted uranium to remain in Hawai'i."

It was very disappointing and upsetting to read that the Army plans to leave nearly 300 pounds of depleted uranium in the ground on O'ahu and the Big Island. The arrogance and insensitivity to the long-term health of our communities, water and land is beyond the pale.

It may be acceptable to them, but it is not acceptable that we carry the burden of any future risks. What if there is a concentrated release following some natural erosion or deterioration that was not considered in the Army's static study of one moment in time?

I live in Waialua. I fish and eat local produce grown below Mount Ka'ala. Don't tell me that the levels are acceptable today, because my family and I are going to be here tomorrow.

If you know that poison is in the ground and you are responsible for putting it there, then take it out. If the feds will not step in, then our congressional delegation and the state need to take action to protect our citizens and all future generations.

RAISE AGE FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE, REQUIRE DIPLOMA

Although traffic and education are different problems, there is one change that would have a positive impact on both — raising the minimum driving age.

Advanced economies around the world, Japan, Korea, Germany and Belgium to name a few, all have 18 as the minimum driving age. They feel 16- and 17-year-olds should focus on their studies, not on clogging up traffic driving to the mall.

To incorporate an educational incentive into Hawai'i's driving-age requirement, we should consider the following: High school seniors could take the written driver's test. However, to acquire an instruction permit for road driving, state law would require a high school diploma.

To assist dropouts, public schools could offer increased opportunities to study (e.g. night school) and obtain a high school equivalency and license. At some point, maybe 21, all U.S. citizens would be allowed to drive, assuming they have met the testing requirements and have proof of insurance.

This new law would both significantly raise high school graduation rates and take thousands of young drivers, those with the highest accident rate and the lowest need to drive, off the road.

Finally, compared with other traffic and education initiatives, this rule change would be relatively simple and cheap to implement.