BICYCLISTS NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES, TOO

Every time a new story comes out about road safety, your newspaper is filled with letters from bicyclists beside themselves with the driving habits of the people of Honolulu. I for one am tired of it.

Every time I drive home I see cyclists who disregard traffic signals, stop signs, weave in and out of traffic, and generally create dangerous conditions, and I know I'm not alone.

If you're going to complain about the safety of our roads, the least you could do is include everyone, not just all us terrible motorists.

EDUCATION

DOE DOESN'T GET IT, NEEDS TO BE DISMANTLED

President Obama gets it. He understands the causal relationship between education and economic prosperity. In his recent speech to Congress, he said, "Our children will compete in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for."

Unfortunately, Hawai'i's Board of Education, Department of Education, and Legislature don't get it. They don't seem to realize that Hawai'i's children are destined to be losers in that global competition if Hawai'i's public school system continues to be ranked 47th in the nation.

A historical look at standardized test scores and graduation rates reveals that Hawai'i's public schools have been failing for decades. Low test scores have been so common that they don't seem to bother DOE leaders any more. DOE leaders usually respond to the latest round of low test scores by making worn-out excuses that things aren't as bad as they seem and reciting hollow promises that things will get better.

Failure is so common that it has become the norm. Failure is now part of the fabric of the DOE. It's time to dismantle the DOE and restructure Hawai'i's public education so that it has a chance to succeed.

ECONOMIC STIMULUS

NATIONAL TAX NEEDED TO PAY FOR LARGESSE

I just read an update for the new economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama. I was happy to see the tax benefits for higher education expanded so that young people seeking to improve themselves can save on their taxes.

There are apparently going to be tax credits of $400 for single folks and $800 for married couples, who are working people. People on Social Security and disability will get a one-time payment of $250 in 2009. The first $2,400 of unemployment compensation will be tax-free. Many of the tax savings are unfortunately phased out for higher-income people. Currently, 40 percent of the people in this country who file tax returns do not pay a dime in taxes, but receive thousands of dollars in tax refunds because of laws like earned income credit, child tax credit and low income.

Many are unwed mothers with dependent children, and the children's fathers are delinquent and AWOL when it comes to supporting their children. I think we should have a 5 percent national sales tax to pay for all of this governmental largesse. Too many people have their hands out for a free lunch all the time.

PRO BOWL

SHOCKED THAT HTA WOULD REJECT NFL OFFER

I'm shocked and appalled to learn that the Hawai'i Tourism Authority has rejected the NFL's second proposal to return the Pro Bowl to Hawai'i in 2011 and '12.

As an employee of two different tour operators on Maui, I have felt the decline in visitors and visitor spending acutely, and I am absolutely outraged that this organization, which ostensibly exists to increase tourist numbers in Hawai'i, has decided to deny Hawai'i the millions in revenue the Pro Bowl brings.

The main "concern" cited by the HTA was the NFL is planning on holding the Pro Bowl one week prior to the Super Bowl. This is obviously a bad idea, but it is not the place of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority to dictate operational decisions to an organization as prestiguous and profitable as the NFL.

When the NFL anounced that next year's Pro Bowl would leave Hawai'i and be played a week before the Super Bowl, the league's premier players came out in force to speak out against these decisions. Lo and behold, the NFL almost immediately started negotiations to bring the game back to Hawai'i.

Let the NFL sort these minor details out for themselves.

CIVIL UNIONS

GAYS' PURSUIT IS ABOUT BENEFITS, NOT RIGHTS

Civil unions are not about rights. It is about benefits. One could argue that it's rights to benefits that they want. They cannot say they lack the right to love whomever they want, live and have sex with whomever they want. These are civil rights. Benefits are granted or given when they qualify for it. Benefits are not rights written in the constitution.

Benefits are given to married couples because they qualify in the requirement of their "gender" of a man and a woman. Gays want benefits for their sexual orientation. They already have the rights to their sexual orientation. Some gays claim they've been together for over 50 years. But now, it's benefits, period.

KANEOHE RANCH POLITICS NOT APPRECIATED

Mitch D'Olier is certainly entitled to his opinions on civil rights issues, as are Larry Silva, Marc Alexander, and the others who signed the letter in opposition to civil unions (Letters, Feb. 23), but when Mitch signs off as president and CEO of Kaneohe Ranch, I am compelled to let the ranch know I am offended by its public opposition to my civil rights. Is there something I can do other than boycott all the ranch's commercial tenants (which is most of Kailua town)?

It may not seem fair to the tenants, but if someone can suggest a better way to let Kaneohe Ranch know I don't appreciate their politics, I'd like to hear it.

In the meantime, you won't see me shopping in any areas I know to be owned by the ranch.

HEALTHCARE

REFORM, NOT RIGHT-WING ATTACKS, NEEDED

Conservative pundits, led by Betsy McCaughey, launched an attack on healthcare provisions in the economic recovery package. McCaughey falsely claimed that measures in the economic recovery package rationed care.

There can be no economic recovery without healthcare reform, especially when medical bills are still the largest cause of bankruptcy in the United States, and when recent reports show 14,000 workers who've lost their jobs are losing their healthcare every day.

There can be no economic recovery until healthcare is affordable, guarantees good benefits and offers people a true choice between private insurance and a public health insurance option, competing on a level playing field to lower costs.