SAFE DRIVERS SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED

The cell phone ban will punish the thousands of people who innocently and harmlessly use cell phones, and should be vetoed.

I believe it will actually affect business activity.

We already have laws against inattentive or distracted driving, which includes being distracted by a cell phone.

Why cause unnecessary traffic stops and make criminals of people who can drive and talk?

Police, and our justice system, will waste resources in an exercise that will not improve safety.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

COSSA RIGHT ABOUT CONSIDERING CHINA

Mark Valencia (Letters, April 12) criticized Ralph Cossa (Apr il 5 commentary) for advocating that any consideration of further nuclear arms reduction by the new administration must include China, in addition to the U.S. and Russia.

I wholly agree with Mr. Cossa because if the Japanese faith in the U.S. nuclear umbrella falters, the Japanese may also consider having their own nuclear weapons to deter, not only China, but also North Korea from military/nonmilitary aggression toward Japan. That would result in a new era of nuclear proliferation, and perhaps create another cold war.

Mr. Cossa has been an adviser of the Pacific/Asian political and military arena to the highest military officials in the Pacific and Washington, D.C., for more than 30 years, and I do not doubt his competency.

EQUAL PAY

RAISE VOICES TO HELP WOMEN GET ON PAR

Tuesday was Equal Pay Day, signifying that a woman must work almost five months longer to earn the same amount of money as a man did at the end of the previous year.

Women's pay, on average, has only increased 18 cents for every dollar paid to men since the Equal Pay Act of 1963. That means it took nearly 50 years for women's wages to increase by less than 20 cents. Are we willing to wait another 50 years before the worth of a woman is equal to that of a man?

President Barack Obama recently signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, named after a woman whose winning lawsuit against the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. for unfair pay was overturned by the Supreme Court because of the 180-day statute of limitations from when the discrimination first occurred. The new law cancels the Supreme Court's decision.

This is an important first step in achieving equality, but more must be done. I urge you to contact your congressional senators and ask them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which updates the 1963 Equal Paycheck Act, empowering women and ensuring that employers pay what is fair regardless of gender.

ECONOMIC CRUNCH

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS AND ALOHA NEEDED

This place we call home is a special place. We work hard to make sure there is food on the table, a roof over our heads and clothes for our children. Yet we are the lucky ones. Although we struggle to get by, we can still get by. Times are getting tougher, prices are rising and people are losing their jobs.

There are more families who cannot make it. We live in an island state and we have to take care of each other. That's what 'ohana means.

Our elected officials are making tough decisions today, but these decisions are short-term. The budget still does not add up to meet the needs that are out there. We need longer-term solutions.

We cannot sit and do nothing. We have to speak up and call our legislators and governor. Tell them to find the resources to prevent further cuts or elimination of health and human services.

Maybe they have to raise taxes, use special funds or find other means, but they must remember that here in Hawai'i we take care of each other. We give a little more so we can all get through the hard times together. That's aloha. That's why Hawai'i is so special.

SWINE FLU

STEPS NEEDED NOW TO PROTECT US, TOURISM

After listening to Vice President Joe Biden tell the nation he would not have his family travel by air anywhere, I think our state government needs to be very proactive in taking immediate steps to ensure that air travel to Hawai'i is absolutely safe. This state must protect the visitor industry.

Screening needs to be done at the departure airports on the Mainland with the message that Hawai'i does not have rabies, snakes or swine flu. We need to keep this flu virus out of the Islands, instead of keeping infected visitors from leaving. Time is of the essence.

We have a unique opportunity to promote Hawai'i as a truly safe destination with safe air travel. We are an isolated paradise and have a chance to promote Hawai'i as never before. We could be the one place in the world to vacation in complete safety.

The state government needs only to require the airlines to follow a strict anti-flu protocol before allowing passengers to board their flights. We already have a procedure the airlines follow to keep insects out of passenger baggage and to protect us (agriculture declaration form). Let's expand it to keep the flu virus out of Hawai'i as well.

LANA'I WIND POWER

PRISTINE BEACH BAD SITE FOR MURDOCK PLAN

David Murdock's energy plan is more than just an eyesore ("Lana'i awhirl over wind power," April 26).

Murdock has plans to sacrifice one of the most beautiful beaches in the state, and the longest on Lana'i, to fuel the uncontrolled and insatiable power demands of O'ahu. This project is for O'ahu use only as Lana'i residents will not be drawing power from the wind farm.

He plans to install 200 wind turbines, each the height of a 40-story building, along with all of the equipment, vehicles, roads, fuel, water, housing and people needed for the massive project. The site selected is one of the most pristine, untouched and spectacular locations in the state.

Just because a site has potential as an alternative energy source does not mean it should be developed as one. An example is the recent Penguin Banks energy farm proposal — good idea, bad location. People were outraged, and they should be just as outraged with Murdock's plan. Let's not let a landowner and developer spoil Lana'i to sustain O'ahu's uncontrolled growth; build it on O'ahu.

While we should utilize all of our alternative energy resources we have to be responsible to future generations by developing and using these resources thoughtfully.

TAX INCREASES

SAY NO TO COUNCIL'S NICKEL-AND-DIMING

The Honolulu City Council just moved forward on a number of proposed tax and fee increases that will affect everyone. I can understand their need to raise money but I also understand what excessive spending can lead to and what the word "budget" means.

During good times, the city coffers were full and spending was easy. Now in tough times, the city is hesitant to make really tough decisions and back up spending to a reasonable time. It's way easier to get more revenue from the taxpayers. Some call it nickel and dime taxes.

These "nickels and dimes" could easily cost the average household an increase of $1,000 per year, and that's not including the "nickels and dimes" that the state is proposing.

Think about it and share your views with your City Council representatives.