Bornhorst comment
shows arrogance of politicians

I find very interesting a recent comment made by the chairwoman of the state Democratic Party. Marilyn Bornhorst says that the Legislature should not get tied up in such "peripheral" issues such as same-sex marriage.

Since when does a political official decide what issues are important to the electorate? Sounds like the old plantation "luna" mentality to me.

John Pechauer

---

If anyone deserves raise, it’s
public school teacher

I have heard that state officials are unwilling to give public school teachers a raise. What are the real priorities of Hawaii? Out of all the government workers in this state, don't teachers deserve more money?

If you knew how much work teachers have to do to prepare a class, it would amaze you. For the amount of work, and the stress, you would come to see that teachers do it for the love of teaching. Nothing else could make them put up with all of the problems that students can cause.

Teachers definitely don't teach for the money, especially here in Hawaii where our teachers are among the lowest paid public educators in the nation. Although money is not the main thing for teachers, it would be nice if they could actually live off of their pay. With all of the bills and the high cost of living, many teachers are forced to look elsewhere for jobs.

I hope Governor Cayetano changes his attitude about teacher salaries. I hear that he has even hired more security guards to guard the state Capitol - money that could have been spent giving teachers a decent salary.

Oh well, maybe we'll just need to look for a new governor come 1998.

Gavin Yuasa
Kaneohe

---

Methadone programs work
despite criticism by NED

The recent arrests of drug dealers at a local fast-food place for diversion of methadone from treatment programs has been characterized unfairly by state officials of the Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED).

These officials suggested that those arrested and their crimes show fault in Hawaii's methadone programs. To suggest, however, that these programs are not vitally important to our community simply because a few addicts misused prescriptions ignores the tremendous work done in helping many individuals lead more normal lives.

Our methadone clinics function under a terrible burden of government regulations. They do their best to follow the letter of the law. When these regulations fail, the federal government that created the laws under which methadone clinics operate also has to bear the blame.

Many doctors think that drug addiction is a medical problem and deserves medical treatment. The NED opposes a medical model because it knows that, when the day comes that a doctor can treat drug addiction, many narcotics officers will be out of a job.

Until then, let the federally regulated methadone clinics continue their good work without taking a cheap shot at them when some of their clients do something wrong.

Dr. Kim Marie Thorburn

---

State narcotics division
plays God to those in pain

Stephen Kula, in his Nov. 8 letter on hospice care, wrote, "Suffering is indeed the enemy and there is an alternative to the suffering associated with impending death." Unfortunately, he failed to include the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic, intractable pain, non-terminal in nature.

In Hawaii, the decision on whether we are to receive adequate care in the management of our pain has been relegated to the office of the Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division.

In order to receive such care, physicians in Hawaii are forced to make decisions about patient care with this agency looking over their shoulders. If the NED decides that one is not a suitable candidate for treatment with the many available and legal prescription medicines, the patient and physician have no choice other than pursuing physician-assisted suicide or a life of suffering, devoid of quality.

The patient continues to suffer while the authorities wage their war against the innocent. Chronic pain patients are an easy and convenient target of this agency.

David D. Lamborne
Haleiwa

---

National Dems resorted to
grassroots politicking

During the recent general election campaign, I found it difficult to accept that Ralph Nader was not selected for U.S. president. Instead, my second choice won. I find it hard to believe that the intelligent choice came in last. Nader has done so much for America.

As a Democrat, I vote the man, not the party. I knew Hawaii would deliver its four electoral college votes to Clinton, but I refused to rubberstamp the decision of the party leaders.

On the eve of the election, I received a long distance telephone call from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington. I was asked to vote for Clinton and Abercrombie.

I guess the DNC is starting to get into grassroots campaigning for national offices. Back in May, I received a letter from Clinton - in reply to a form letter which I had sent to various elected officials in state and federal governments - on Internet access for the public school system. The letter actually looked like Clinton signed it himself, but it was probably generated on a word processor.

It's too bad Ralph Nader can't afford these perks of office. It is so unfair.

Mike G.H. Chun