UH FOOTBALL

WHY AREN'T UH GAMES IN HIGH-DEF FOR ITS COST?

Can somebody at Oceanic Time Warner Cable please explain why their customers can watch high-definition local high school football games for free, USC and other Mainland college football games in high-definition for free and even millionaire NFL football players' games in high-definition for free, but we have to pay several hundred dollars for low-resolution University of Hawai'i football games (even on the Mainland), and that is only on the chance that the feed happens to be working.

Of course, as I type this, New Mexico State has already scored on us and the pay-per-view cable feed is not working again. Thank God for local free radio.

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

CANNOT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS ON HIM

President-elect Obama is a good man, but no one could live up to the expectations that we are putting on him.

We are going to be disappointed, very disappointed.

His tax plan doesn't add up.

He doesn't take terrorism seriously. Terrorists will test him in a few months. His reaction to the test will define his presidency, and it will define our country and the world.

But we can be assured that no matter what is done, the press will think it is wonderful.

CHALLENGES AHEAD RAISE MANY CONCERNS, WORRY

The aftermath of the national election giving us a new president left me in a strange mood that persisted for days. I finally concluded it was because of the conflicting emotions that were coursing through my being. Part of me was elated and hopeful while another part was concerned and worried.

On one hand, the reality of witnessing a former student being selected as the next resident of the White House is profoundly incredible. In addition, the jubilant feelings that were expressed on the streets and in our homes and places of worship — throughout America — were marvelous to behold. That these good feelings were echoed around the world is very promising.

On the other hand, the enormity of the challenges that lie before us — as communities and as united 50 states — raises many concerns and worries.

Just to mention a few: rebuilding the entire infrastructure of American society, protecting the new first family while enabling some normalcy for the girls, staying connected with the millions of people who supported Sen. John McCain and acknowledging their fears and concerns.

We may have taken a huge first step toward positive change and worldwide healing, but we still need to walk gently, avoid the potholes and make certain we stay together.

WEALTHY TAXPAYERS BOON TO U.S. ECONOMY

The wealthy "class" of taxpayers are important for the commonweal, and our economy will be in peril as President-elect Obama carries out his promise to heavily tax the wealthy (more than $200,000 income per year).

The critical function of wealthy people is that they create small-business jobs — housekeepers, gardeners, pool maintainers, car dealerships, hobby- and entertainment-related workers, etc.

Former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), economics professor at Texas A&M, used to say he never met a poor man who created jobs. That is, only "rich" people create jobs. Or people (McCain's "Joe the Plumber") who are not so rich now, but strive like the dickens for future success, hiring workers, buying equipment, coping with government regulations and corruption. Increase the tax rates big time on big incomes — as Obama wants — and you'll kill a golden goose.

Ronald Reagan in his heyday as an actor had to cope with a 90 percent income-tax rate. His agent would call with a new movie in the works, and Reagan (and "wealthy" actors/actresses today) too often declined because 90 percent of his incremental income would go to woefully wasteful government spending.

So, movie industry workers — costume, camera guys, set makers and many others — didn't get work. Thus beginneth the downward economic spiral.

It seems Obama is too obtuse to realize the above. 'Tis very likely that the Libertarians have it right.

2008 ELECTION

HOPES MAYOR INTENDS TO SERVE HIS FULL TERM

Congratulations to Mayor Mufi Hannemann on his re-election.

But what I observed on TV Wednesday night showing Sen. Daniel Inouye with the mayor hinting of a possible higher public office gave me a sense of someone with more of a personal political ambition rather than someone who is willing to serve the people for the full term to which he was elected. I truly hope not.

EDUCATION

HSTA SUSTAINING BAD PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

It seems preposterous to even imagine that the Hawaii State Teachers Association would be against improving the quality of public education. However, there are half a million reasons to believe so.

HSTA and its parent organization contributed $500,000 to oppose the Constitutional Convention. The money was given to a company that made slick TV ads with little content that overwhelmed the voices favoring a ConCon.

Proponents of a ConCon said that a constitutional amendment could improve public education by restructuring the school system. Individual schools and their communities could be given more of a say in how schools operate.

But HSTA didn't like that idea. What's worse is that HSTA didn't have an idea of its own to reform Hawai'i's dismal public school system. It is clear that HSTA just wants to retain the status quo.

HSTA didn't even ask its teacher members for their opinions. The HSTA leadership made the decision to oppose ConCon without the input of its members.

It's another in a series of bad decisions by the HSTA leadership that sustains one of the worst public school systems in the nation while driving the reputation of teachers into the ground.

NOISY PEST

COQUI SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIORITY EARLIER

Why is eradication of coqui frogs a priority now that they have been found in Kailua and wasn't when they moved into the Big Island and Maui?