TRAINING AREA

BELLOWS BEACH POLICY HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED

After reading last Monday's article, "Bellows beach policy a surprise," readers may have been left with the impression that recent policy changes have resulted in beach closures here. In fact, there have been no policy changes and the specific stretch of beach referenced in the article is a training area that has been closed to the public for decades.

The Air Force training area runs from the northern edge of Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area to just south of the camp site and beach area that is open to the public on most weekends (Marine Corps Training Area Bellows).

During our patrols of the Air Force training area, we have found broken bottles, smoldering fires, garbage and alcoholic containers. We endeavor to keep this area safe for our airmen training there, and want to ensure that the safety of civilians is not compromised by our training. Signs are posted, indicating the boundaries of our training area, and our patrols politely remind beach goers if they have strayed.

We know beaches are important to all of us here in Hawai'i. A big part of my job is to protect the environment and beaches at Bellows Air Force Station.

Our commitment doesn't stop there, however, as we want to be good neighbors. We appreciate the community's understanding of our training and safety needs. We will continue to protect Hawai'i and our airmen.

RAIL

TRANSIT TAX NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR RAIL SYSTEM

From the figures in Sean Hao's article in the Sept. 28 Advertiser, the projected revenues from the transit tax won't even come close to covering the cost of building the rail.

Right now, rail is projected to cost at least $5 billion over the 10-year construction period as adjusted for inflation. Assuming (optimistically) that the federal government will pay $1 billion of this, the net cost to the city will be $4 billion. That $4 billion divided by the 10-year project span is $400 million per year, or $33.3 million per month.

Per Sean's article, the most collected in any month so far is $17 million, barely half of the total needed.

This being the case, unless I'm missing something, the transit tax is grossly inadequate even under the best-case economic scenario.

Where is the balance going to come from? Is it too much to ask our leaders to be honest at least once, and tell us how much our property taxes will be increased?

ELEVATED RAIL SYSTEM WILL DESTROY BEAUTY

When I was a little boy I remember that they tore down the elevated subway lines in New York City. Suddenly the sun penetrated down to the street level and the streets became cleaner.

About 30 years ago, San Francisco chose to tear down a section of the elevated freeway that separated the city from the bay.

And now here we are seriously considering whether to destroy the unique beauty of our city with a noisy, elevated transit system.

One can get a preview of what it will do to the street below by visiting the intersection of Kona Street, Mahukona Street, Kaheka Street and Atkinson Drive, adjacent to the Ala Moana Center. It's a tragedy in the making.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

TIRED OF BAILOUTS FOR AMERICA'S WEALTHY

Most people hate taxes. Remember the "trickle down" theory? Give tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy; they grow the economy and we all benefit.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, families earning more than $1 million a year saw their federal tax rates drop more sharply than any group, and tax rates for middle-income earners edged up in 2004 as a result of President Bush's tax cuts. Just think of all that additional money to start trickling down.

So why do so few support the government bailout bill? That's even more money to trickle down and the good people at AIG have already begun. According to The Advertiser article ("Bailout in hand, AIG execs gave selves a $440,000 party," Oct 8), "Less than a week after the taxpayers recued AIG, company executives could be found wining and dining at one of the most exclusive resorts in the nation." This included manicures, massages and facials.

Undoubtedly, former AIG CEO Martin Sullivan will also sacrifice for the economy by spending some of the $5 million performance bonus he just received.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being "trickled on."

ENDORSEMENTS

AMAZED, DISAPPOINTED BY SUPPORT FOR MEYER

I was amazed and disappointed to read your endorsement for incumbent Colleen Meyer. Arguing that we need a "fiscally conservative" Republican to provide an alternative voice in these tough economic times might make sense if that is really what Ms. Meyer was about.

What you seem to forget is that Republicans long ago abandoned their fiscal conservative roots in favor of deregulation, corporate tax breaks and military spending that borders on the insane. Of course this is all going to eventually "trickle down" to the rest of us. We're still waiting.

Major leaders of the media, major parties and Project Vote Smart repetitiously ask candidates one central question: "Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?"

Rep. Meyer has repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff, according to the Project Vote Smart Web site.

Of course she has, because she represents a rural district and yet votes consistently against recycling bills, alternative energy, protecting public beach access, and setting aside special lands for protection. All issues the majority in her community support.

I would consider looking into the issues you are interested in and seeing where Democrat Jessica Wooley stands. At least she is willing to tell you and let you decide.

SUPPORTING STATUS QUO A DISSERVICE TO HAWAI'I

The endorsement made in The Advertiser regarding the Windward area coupled with previous endorsements, validate the banal definition of insanity—repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results.

The Advertiser down through the years has endorsed the status quo Democratic juggernaut that controls the Legislature.

In your rationale, you always have politically correct, feel-good statements like "restructuring schools," "long-term care facilities," "traffic mitigation," "improved infrastructure," "energy independence," and the list goes on. Under the Democrats' control of the Legislature these situations, year in and year out, worsen and yet you keep endorsing the political ideology and the individuals who make it happen.

Hawai'i may well be headed for dire times in many ways. Forty years of the one-party monopoly at the Legislature is coming home to roost. The fact that The Advertiser has once again, for the most part, supported the status quo is a disservice to everyone in Hawai'i.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

NADER'S PLATFORM IS RIGHT FOR AMERICANS

I shouted "Me too!" when a recent letter writer bemoaned the fact that he voted in the primary on Sept. 20 and found names of candidates for mayor he had not even known were in the mix.

How many of you know that Ralph Nader will be on Hawai'i's ballot in November?

Mr. Nader is running as Independent Party candidate for president of our United States. If only the mainstream media gave him any attention, he could really catch fire with his platform, which has proven to be so right for the ordinary Americans to whom he has devoted his life.

Please consider voting for the presidential candidate who, unlike the corporatocracy-owned Democratic and Republican near-identical twins, believes in "letting the people decide" by full participation in the representative democracy slipping away from us day by day. Wake up, America! You and I can take back our country!