AG INSPECTORS CRITICAL TO INDUSTRY

In a letter I wrote to Gov. Lingle, I asked about the lay-offs of the agricultural inspectors.

Not only do these inspectors perform the critical work of intercepting, identifying and eradicating new dangerous pest species, but they perform many essential services for the agricultural industry such as inspecting and certifying Hawai'i's 300-plus certified export nurseries, including my own nursery. What we are being told is that we may not be able to continue to be certified, as there will be no personnel to conduct the inspections.

I asked the governor: What is the state plan to keep our nurseries certified should these layoffs go forward? (Department of Agriculture Chairwoman Sandra Kunimoto's office has not returned my calls.) Are we expected to just close down our businesses and lay off our workers?

I also asked Gov. Lingle if she considered the widespread and severe economic and environmental impacts that the inspector lay-offs would cause, when she made the decision to let go these critical and essential "first responders."

Jeffrey Parker | Ha'iku, Maui

HEALTH CARE

HOPES RENEWED IN OBAMA'S PLAN

Hillary Clinton's concerns and long-established goals for health care reform were right on the mark for what our country needed so I voted for her in blithe anticipation. My shattered hopes found renewal in President Obama's carefully and expediently laid out plan that leaves no one behind. Our current system most assuredly does.

Meanwhile right-wing extremists sit cozily in their cushy health care-insured jobs and lie to their constituents — brainwashing them into believing we're headed for despotism when the simple truth is merely a fool-proof guarantee of medical care to be administered as needed, along with firefighting and police assistance, for all. It must be just too simple and common sensible.

Barb Stokes | Hana, Maui

ELDERLY ARE FACING A NEW KIND OF TERROR

From 9/11 on, our beloved country has had an incredibly expensive "war on terror." Through it all, we did not experience terror on a scale that we're experiencing now. Millions of our elderly and others are terrified that our government is about to institute "death panels" to dispense euthanasia.

On TV the other day I saw a 90-year-old woman at a town hall shaking with tears in her eyes saying; "Please don't let them do this to me!" It is then that I realized that this lie is an abomination.

I am outraged that people in positions of responsibility, like an ex-governor and a senior U.S. senator and countless right-wing talk show hosts, would so terrorize our elderly. And you should be too.

Rick Lloyd | Honolulu

MENTAL HEALTH

SERVICES KEY TO KEEP WELL-BEING RANKING

Hawai'i residents rank No. 1 in feeling of well-being, The Honolulu Advertiser reported on Aug. 13. But that feeling of well-being will be sorely tested without adequate continued support for quality mental health services in our Island communities. During these economic hard times, Hawai'i needs to make high-quality, meaningful and affordable mental health services accessible to all our residents. That means supporting treatment for depression, addiction and a wide range of other mental health issues that are exacerbated by stress. With such support, the feelings of well-being will be truly sustainable.

Dr. Rosemary Adam Terem | President, Hawaii Psychological Association

Dr. Jill Oliveira Gray | President-elect, Hawaii Psychological Association

CARBON EMISSIONS

TRANSPORTATION A BIG WAY TO GO GREEN

There are lots of good suggestions for going green and reducing your carbon footprint, such as changing light bulbs, opening windows rather than running the air conditioner and installing solar water heaters. But most of our energy consumption is for transportation.

One of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases is to walk, ride a bike or take public transit rather than use your automobile. Less auto use means less gasoline consumption and less air and water pollution. As a public policy, we must find ways to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and we must find cleaner, less polluting transportation options.

This is another reason to support rail transit, and we should all get on board.

Jon Sakamoto | Honolulu

RAIL TRANSIT

OFFICIALS SHOULD LEARN FROM PAST

They say hindsight is 20/20. Your article "Rail to cost us $4,000 each" is yet another example of our elected officials' lack of vision.

In 1992, a fixed-rail system would have cost $1.9 billion with a federal government contribution of 33 percent. The system would have been up and running, improving traffic, and giving people an alternate means of transportation. Now the system will cost $5.3 billion and the feds will contribute only 26 percent. Sheesh!

Here are a few more examples: