Letters to the Editor
Monday, July 8, 1996

Unions, government are intent
on killing economy

Yes, there is business in Hawaii but the cost of doing business simply removes the profit.

The unions run the Legislature, so you can collectively kiss investment and small business goodbye. Example: Governor Cayetano approving a 15 percent skewed bid approach to the bidding process.

What kind of boss could think of such a thing! The unions think it's wonderful; it was their idea.

Logic will tell you this law will cost the unions a lot of jobs in the long run and will cost taxpayers a lot more money. It will continue to drag people from our state. The scent of death is on our economy.

This ignorant inbreeding between unions and politicians will bury Hawaii, our bond ratings and our lifestyle. Woefully, democracy is truly no longer at work here and frankly it makes me sick to my stomach. There are so many young dreams being ignored by greed and ego that it is pure criminality.

This horror story will end when the voters decide they have had enough. I beg you to get out and vote!

Harry K. Meyer


Utility should consider burying
its unsightly wiring

Hawaiian Electric Co. is planning to install high-voltage transmission lines on Waahila Ridge on the east or diamond head side of Manoa Valley. HECO should be strongly urged to find an alternative route for these lines or bury them underground.

Unless alternatives are found, terrible current and long-term visual blight will be created from the 100-foot towers, negatively impacting the natural beauty of the area.

A peripheral result would be the lowering of property values, which impacts the city's budget.

Heco must find a more sensitive way to solve its infrastructual problem.

Harrison Spiegelberg


It's discourteous,
wrong to call it 'Mormon Church'

In your June 20 Glad You Asked column, the first question dealt with the legality of polygamy in Utah. The answer was correct, except for the last sentence: "The Mormon Church outlawed polygamy in 1890."

If you will consult your telephone directory or dictionary, you will find there is no such organization as "The Mormon Church." The proper title of the organization is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

"Mormon" originally was a pejorative appellation given members of the LDS Church by its enemies and detractors in the 19th century, based on an LDS scripture, "The Book of Mormon," and the ancient prophet of that name after whom the book is named.

It is important and courteous to use the correct title, at least in the first mention in a newspaper item, if for no other reason than to indicate to readers that it is a Christian church. Its members worship neither the prophet Mormon nor the prophet Joseph Smith nor any of his successors as leader of the church.

Robert W. Donigan
Public Affairs Specialist
Makakilo Ward, Waipahu Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints


'Morgado for Mayor'
signs are being spray painted

Supporters of political office seekers are beginning to put signs up in their front yards.

Signs in Kaneohe and Pearl City were spray painted recently. I'm afraid the defacing of signs and other political mischief will increase over the next few weeks.

In my memory, even heated political battles still reflected our aloha spirit.

But why are only "Morgado for Mayor" signs being spray painted?

Samuel Kakazu
Kaneohe


Nobody knows which baby is
at risk for syndrome

I am concerned that Dr. Wes Young's June 26 column, "Sleep position factor in SIDS," will give expectant parents a false sense of security.

Four years ago, when I gave birth to my second child, the American Academy of Pediatrics had just issued its recommendation to place infants on their sides or backs when laying them down to sleep as a means of reducing the risk of SIDS.

I took comfort thinking my baby would not succumb to such a fate because his sleeping preference was on his back.

Needless to say, my husband and I were stunned when, at his death at two months, we were told at the hospital and later by the medical examiner that his cause of death was SIDS.

Please let the general public know:

1) There are other risk factors involved in SIDS (lack of prenatal care, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and/or drug use during pregnancy, premature birth and/or low birth weight, lack of breast-feeding, etc.).

2) In spite of all these risk factors, no one can determine whether or not a child is susceptible to SIDS.

Debbie Oyadomori


Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.



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