Gov, Rodrigues insult
intellect of state employees

It appears that the powers-that-be are once again colluding to further squeeze the public employees of Hawaii. When the governor and union leader Gary Rodrigues tell us that a one-hour per day reduction is equal to a 12.5 percent pay raise, they're not telling us the truth.

As much time as we spend preparing for work and commuting to our jobs, the extra hour each day won't make that much difference. We don't pay our bills with time, we pay them with money. Will the people affected be able to find another job at, say, one hour a day? Come on, Governor, don't insult our intelligence.

Instead of virtually cutting public employees' salaries while at the same time asking for millions to give to the big contracting firms, let's take care of the people who support the government upon which you sit.

The economy of Hawaii won't be revitalized when people have more idle time and less money. Perhaps a course in basic economics would bring some understanding of what life is like outside of Washington Place.

Jeffrey Ady
(Via the Internet)

Individuals who litter
are trash of the Earth

Sometimes, when my family and I are driving down the highway, we see a lot of litter all over the place. I disagree with the people who litter. Either they misplaced their rubbish or they put it on the highway on purpose.

The president should put cameras on the highways to see who is littering, then hunt them down and make them clean up their rubbish. The litterbugs should be made to pick up 100 pieces of trash.

I've seen those people who adopt highways and the signs that say, "Adopt A Highway." Why should other people pick up someone else's trash? It's nice of them, but it's not fair.

If a highway were alive, you would be mistreating it. If it were to throw back everything you litter, would you still litter? I don't think you would.

Someday, all those people out there will finally discover that they are being disloyal to the Earth.

Jennifer Gayle
Grade 5, Kaneohe Elementary

Saga of Tiger Woods
is simply grrrreat

With all of the bad things happening in this world, it is so refreshing to see, hear and read about Tiger Woods' inspirational accomplishment at the Masters tournament. No question, the whole nation -- golfers and non-golfers, men, women and children -- watched this wonderful event.

No golfer past and present will doubt Tiger Woods' credibility as a folklore hero of the likes of Robin Hood or Davy Crockett. America and the world needs more of these kinds of personalities and happenings.

This is not about race or records but how dreams can come true with dedication and hard work and great parental support. Tiger said it best: All of the credit goes to his mom and dad. What more is there to say?

Tiger, Tiger, you did America and the world proud.

Tom Sugita
Pearl City

Don't hurt the endangered
with a rush to judgment

Key legislators, the environmental community and major landowners have been hard at work on endangered species legislation, but as the measures go to conference, they remain focused on landowners' wants, not endangered species' needs.

This legislation can be confusing. That alone justifies a measured approach to enactment. More to the point, passing a bill that does not protect endangered species' habitats could lock us into a system that allows exploitation rather than preservation.

There is no need to rush to judgment on this issue. Legislators should take as much time as necessary to produce a bill that will protect our flora and fauna, and address the interests of both landowners and the people of Hawaii. A dead bill is better than a bad bill.

Wendy Johnson
Kailua

---

Same-sex archive

---

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.