Governor kept his promise
to put education first

As the lead state negotiator during the recent Hawaii State Teachers Association contract negotiations, I would like to correct the inaccuracies in Ernest Chun's March 20 letter. Even in the face of many dramatic budget considerations, the governor has faithfully kept his promise that "education would be a priority."

The days added to the school year were no "scam." They will be implemented with the 1998 fall semester, not 1999, as incorrectly stated by Chun. If the governor had been able to have his way, these days would have been added immediately.

Chun also wrote: "If he (the governor) had negotiated the contract when he first came into office, parents, teachers and children would not have been used as pawns for his own political gain." Anyone even casually observing the protracted negotiations understands that the primary reason the contract wasn't negotiated earlier was because the HSTA and other unions preferred to wait until the state's economy and fiscal condition had perhaps improved.

The governor did not "renege" on "promised tax credits for homes, children and businesses." He simply had to balance many extremely difficult and pressing priorities to get this contract -- and to keep his word to protect and defend education.

Finally, Chun wrote that he was not surprised "that Governor Cayetano is losing the respect of the people of Hawaii." This statement is at least debatable, because 77 percent of those in the Star-Bulletin's Feb. 24 poll indicated that the governor's performance was "fair" to "excellent." "Losing voters respect" appeared only in the Star-Bulletin's rather sensational headline.

Charles T. Toguchi
Chief of Staff
Office of the Governor

The Society of Seven
has always put on great show

I strongly agree with John Berger's March 13 review of the Society of Seven. I saw them for the first time in 1970. I can remember waiting in line to get into the 1:30 (no cover, two-drink minimum) show.

It was a real event. The "show-stopper" number in those days was a song called "This is My Life" but every number was great. I come to Hawaii often and usually see their show twice each time.

I definitely should be paid a commission for sending all of my mainland friends to see the show. It's the best in the islands.

Merikay Kouski
Moline, Ill.
(Via the Internet)

Liggett settlement
fixes blame where it belongs

The settlement by the Liggett Group will have important consequences for protecting the public from the harmful effects of tobacco use. Most important, it underscores the need for Food and Drug Administration action to put an end to the industry's insidious efforts to hook more kids on tobacco. We applaud the efforts of Hawaii Attorney General Margery Bronster, who participated in the settlement agreement.

For the first time, a tobacco company has admitted that cigarettes cause cancer, that nicotine is addictive, and that the tobacco companies target teen-agers in their marketing.

The Liggett announcement reveals an undeniable pattern of deceit by tobacco executives, who have repeatedly denied that their products kill or that they knowingly seek to addict a new generation of teen smokers.

Smoking among young people is at a 17-year high. In Hawaii, 34 percent of high school students report smoking regularly.

After the Liggett disclosures, there can be no doubt about the industry's unscrupulous activities, and the need for FDA action to stop the industry from marketing its products to children.

Jodi Nishioka
Coordinator
Hawaii Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Legislature faces tougher issues
than gay marriage

Violence is consistent in our society. War, rape, murder, theft, scams, child abuse, spousal abuse, alcohol and drug-related crimes, homelessness, poverty. The list goes on. Then there is this "gay marriage thing." We are wasting too much time on it. Sooner or later, it will happen. Each American deserves full equal rights.

There is no hidden agenda to upset family values. How do you think we all got here? Those are the values that are cherished and wanted in same-sex relationships. Gay people have a great spiritual desire to make their relationships complete and full.

I am tired of the Legislature wasting time and money on this issue. I would like a Hawaii that has a better public education system, is able to deal with environmental concerns, knows the real causes of crime, and provides better housing for all of its people, an equitable tax for real estate and justice for all as a matter of principle.

Robert Zimmer
(Via the Internet)

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Same-sex archive