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Tuesday, April 28, 1998

Date-rape drug sellers deserve very long sentence

Aren't attorneys amazing! James Pallett, the attorney representing "Mr. Australia" in the date-rape drug case, apparently does not read the same newspapers the rest of Hawaii does. There have been many news articles in both Honolulu papers regarding the "date-rape" drug.

I am opposed to all dangerous drugs, but at least the users of other drugs are destroying themselves. Innocent, unknowing victims are subjected to the date-rape drug, which makes it more dangerous.

Early last year, in the course of my business, I was subjected to this drug by a member of a client's family. I woke up in a very compromising situation.

My boss wanted me to report it to the police immediately, but I was so traumatized that it took me two weeks to get the courage to report it to police. Yet no action could be taken.

To this day, the thought of this event causes me to relive the same fear and disgust. It is something I have avoided talking about but, in reading your April 16 article quoting Pallett, it infuriated me to no end.

I wonder how he would react if the drug had been used on a member of his family.

Distributing a drug like this deserves a long sentence.

Helen Hilmerson

Follow Alaska's lead in improving economy

Hawaii would do well to do as Alaska did some years ago, faced with reduced income from oil money: We went ahead and reduced the level of benefits for state workers hired from that day on. This was not an immediate ''fix" for problems, but this change took place in 1986 and by now it has made a difference.

When times are hard it is possible to get little changes made, like this. And it is far better than just arguing and accomplishing nothing. With this system, people knew what they were getting.

Most workers acknowledged that even the reduced benefits package was quite attractive so we were still swamped with applicants for state jobs.

It is better to let some people go -- they will find new jobs somewhere -- than to reduce everyone's pay. The key is to stop looking for a big fix.

Kay Davies
Fairbanks, Alaska
(Via the Internet)

Iwase is condescending in his view of public

In your April 10 article, "Senate would cut 431 state workers," Sen. Randy Iwase unconsciously reveals a big part of what is wrong with Hawaii today. Arguing for a larger middle-class tax cut, he says, "We are not reinvesting back in our people as much as we could and should."

Since when is letting people keep the money they earn "reinvestment?" Why should the government take the money and then "give it back," like a parent doling out an allowance to an irresponsible child?

Iwase's remarks, well-intentioned though they may be, belong in the dictionary under "paternalism."

Marc Beauchamp
Falls Church, Va.
(Via the Internet)

State workers showed aloha during tough times

It was heartening to see state employees come out and support this year's Hawaii food drive with renewed commitment and fervor. This was not-withstanding the specter of being the next ones on the chopping block as the state continues to downsize its workforce, the hard economic times and discussions of salary reductions.

State workers sold T-shirts, Diner's Club memberships, baked goods, musubi and even chances to "dunk your favorite dean, professor, coach, or legislator." Many departments exceeded their goals, even with fewer people to contribute. A legislative aide donated her entire paycheck.

Despite the stereotypes they have had to endure, the spirit of aloha is alive and well among Hawaii's -- nay, the nation's -- finest public servants.

Zachary G. Labez
State Food Drive Coordinator
Office of Community Services

Cayetano really is education governor

An April 17 letter by Richard Ernst of Aiea suggested that Governor Cayetano hasn't done enough for education. Let's take a look:

Prior to the new teachers' contract last year, Hawaii ranked last in the nation for having the fewest classroom hours each year. Our students are now in the upper half, nationally, for time spent in the classroom.

To reduce classroom overcrowding, Governor Cayetano is building 11 new schools and nearly 900 classrooms for new and existing public schools. Many schools are receiving new buildings with six to 10 classrooms.

As further evidence of the governor's commitment to education, he has nearly doubled the annual school construction budget from $90 million to $160 million. Half of the state's $335 million construction budget released recently is earmarked for education.

The time it takes to build a school has been cut in half, from four to about two years. Taxpayers saved about $6 million per school during the planning and construction of two recently built schools on Maui and Kauai.

Randall Obata
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor

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