SERVING ON BOARD IS OFTEN THANKLESS TASK

Your articles on fighting condo associations ("Conflicts between condo owners, associations on rise," and "Fighting a condo association can be futile," March 14), do a grave disservice to all of us who voluntarily, unwillingly, and unhappily serve on condo association boards.

I've been a president/vice president of our condo's board of directorsfor the past six years, not because I enjoy doing this thankless job, but because no one else will step up to do their share.

I have a husband and young children,three part-time jobs and a small business to run; I'd much prefer spending my precious free time enjoying my family instead of being hauled into court, writing countless letters, learning about building maintenance, defending my name against a disgruntled owner protesting outside our building and dealing with owners who want to complain but refuse to be part of thesolution by volunteering fora position on a board.

It's important to remember that board members are elected, so every owner has the opportunity to work toward solutions to the many problems and issues in a building, although I've found that a lawsuit filed in hopes of easy money is a much more popular option.

julie akey | Honolulu

DUI WEB SITE

POSTING PHOTOS DID NOT STOP OFFENDERS

In response to the article about the DUI posted photos ("Internet DUI gallery ends," March 8), it seems that the objective of this was not achieved. Preliminary results show that posting photos didn't deter many from driving drunk.

Yes, to have your mugshot posted for a DUI is very embarrassing but it doesn't stop people from drinking and driving.

Hey, come on. Let's think of real solutions and not childish ploys. Someone was spending time and getting paid to post all the photos online. With all the budget cuts being made at the state level, wouldn't someone's time have been better spent?

Taxicab drivers could be stationed at popular establishments like they are at the airport, hotels, etc., to make it convenient for people to not jump in their cars and drive home drunk.

The taxi cost could be subsidized by the government or MADD, so that it would be more affordable. Let's see if this could work to bring down DUI arrests. It would be dollars well spent if it even saves one life!

kari komine | Honolulu

ROD TAM

BERNIE MADOFF NEVER CLAIMED 'POOR MATH'

Remember Bernie Madoff? He cheated thousands of people out of billions of dollars. Did he ever claim "poor math"? I doubt it. Never mind. The judge sent him to 150 years in prison anyway.

Along comes Rod Tam in our backyard. He bilked the city and therefore us taxpayers — that means you and me — out of thousands of dollars, and guess what he claims? "Poor math." Where is the judge that sends him to jail?

Someone in our Judiciary better wake up soon, before we raise all kinds of "poor-math" Rod Tams.

gerhard c. hamm | Wai'alae Iki

FALLING TREES

ROADS NEED TO BE SAFE FROM DEBRIS

In a recent article "Legal claims cost state $343K," (Advertiser, March 16), it was reported that more than $300,000 was paid out to settle a variety of claims including claims involving damaged caused by falling tree limbs and falling trees. Curiously, below the article was a photograph of a car damaged by a 60-foot tree.

As a Windward resident I have often feared for my safety while driving on the Likelike and Pali highways, especially during inclement weather. I would like the state to do something about this.

Rather than risk another lawsuit or another potential victim, the state should enact preventive measures. My suggestion would be to adopt a highway and public roads maintenance measure that would employ workers to keep driving conditions safe. I would further suggest that they take immediate action to prevent the occurrence of any future accidents.

pauline chinen | Kan[0xeb]'ohe

COOKIE RECALL

GIRL SCOUTS HURT BY BAKER'S MISTAKES

In reference to the article "Girl Scouts recall lemon cookies," (Advertiser, March 11):

Being a Boy Scout for more than five years, I've been through a lot of fundraisers. These fundraisers play a key part in the scouting programs because they provide the funds needed for equipment and educational programs. To have these fundraisers hindered because of faulty distribution is highly detrimental because our funds would be delayed.

Girl Scouts selling their cookies had a mass recall of lemon cookies because of a discoloration in the filling. I feel that this should not have happened and the bakers of the cookies should have checked their products before shipping them.

It's like turning in a test in school; you don't turn it in without double-checking your answers.

scott nakashima | Kan[0xeb]'ohe

RAISING GET

CUT GOVERNMENT, DON'T INCREASE TAXES

Are they nuts?

How can our legislators even think of increasing the excise tax? This is the most regressive tax of all and impacts everyone.

Individuals and businesses are getting slammed with increases in our gasoline, medical insurance, electricity, sewers, etc., etc.

This tax increase will only deepen our recession. Reducing the size of government should be their focus.

bob matsuwaka | Honolulu

ECONOMY

U.S. WORKING CLASS STILL WAITS FOR RELIEF

We have all watched billions of dollars doled out to corporate America with no results to show for it other than huge bonuses for their executives.

The results so far: Banks still aren't lending money, foreclosures remain at record highs, unemployment rates keep setting records, new homes sales are stagnant, and where are all those real new jobs stimulus money was supposed to create?

When are our new president and Congress going to stop fighting long enough to notice the nation is still bleeding? How about bailing out the working class if you really want to do some good?

Instead of dealing with "the recession," both parties are too busy attacking each other over a health care plan that is simply just a bad piece of legislation.

If this health care plan is so good, then Congress should replace theirs with it. If that were the case, this piece of legislation would never pass. A recent quote comes to mind, "You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig."

John Tobin | Koloa, Kaua'i