Cayetano showed courage on economy
If I had to choose one word to describe our governor, Ben Cayetano, it would be "courage." It's a good quality to have, and he doesn't get much credit for it.Ben had the courage to make long-range plans for fixing Hawaii's economy instead of going for the quick fix. He kept our state strong when things got bad, and now we're starting to bounce back. He's bringing in high-tech businesses and giving the HVCB more funding for advertising than it has ever had before.
He's making the kind of decisions that real leaders make. Then there is the kind of leaders who spend all their time thinking about quick-fix solutions that will impress the voters and leave us in a worse mess.
Ben doesn't take the easy way out. These days, that takes guts.
Dickie Nelson
Honalo, Kona, Hawaii
Fasi has a chance to win this election
Letter writers in both dailies have called Frank Fasi a spoiler in the upcoming governor's election. I thought that was pretty dumb, but for the Star-Bulletin in its June 12 editorial to agree is ludicrous.How can you forget Frank's political history? Don't count the old man out, because he's dangerous.
Remember his upset victory of Mayor Eileen Anderson? I'd rather see Ben go up against that governor-wannabe from Maui than Fasi. Ben can and will beat Linda Lingle and I don't care what the polls say today.
But if Fasi beats Lingle, and if the Republicans had any common sense to back him in the general, along with Frank's tens of thousands of diehard supporters (I used to be one, I know), Frank could beat Ben. No doubt in my mind.
Remember what happened in 1990 when Patricia Saiki was supposed to walk away with the U.S. Senate race, leaving Danny Akaka far behind?
The local and national GOP and George Bush were licking their chops because they had that seat in the bag. But a few weeks before the election, the powerful Democratic grassroots movement was overwhelming with the slogan, "Kokua Danny."
Of course, the rest is history.
Art Frank
Makaha
Reputations of GOP, Dems have reversed
It would appear obvious to most political and social observers that the old cliches of the Democrats being for the little guy and that the Republicans are only for the wealthy and big business are, in Hawaii, totally reversed.All one has to do is to look at who supports the Democrats: namely, the big banks, the big landholders and those who have become wealthy from their associations with the politically powerful Democrats.
After all, Governor Cayetano was able to hold one fund-raiser that cost $1,000 per plate that had 1,000 attendees. Are these the little guys the Democrats are protecting from the big bad Republicans?
Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach
Too many public workers has led to state's demise
Your June 27 Insight story, "Hawaii: the state the boom forgot," was so clearly written and so true, it should be required reading for all voters, prospective voters or any citizen who would like a clear, current description of the economic and political situation in our state.The article points out that part of the problem may be due to the decline of the yen and subsequent decrease in eastbound visitors and spending. It quotes the governor as saying, "We're just a little dot on the Pacific."
However, it goes on to point out that Hawaii is an expensive, highly taxed, highly regulated little dot, as well as being a lousy place to do business.
It probably came as no surprise to those who have lived here for a while to learn from this article that Hawaii has a higher proportion of unionized workers than all states except Michigan and New York. And that Hawaii can be considered as 20 years behind the times in getting increased productivity out of its public workers.
William G. Burlingame Sr.
Mililani
Firearms enthusiasts shoot holes in the truth
The pro-gun lobby loves to misrepresent facts to support its otherwise unsupportable claims. Some examples from Victor Limacher's June 20 letter:
Pro-gun people have a nasty habit of quoting only the second half of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There is no constitutional right for individuals to bear arms. That right is specifically for "the people" in the form of a "well-regulated Militia." This clearly means that the people have the right to bear arms to protect democracy, in well-regulated militia units like the National Guard and armed forces.
If it were true that the government couldn't prevent individuals from bearing arms, your neighbor could have a B-52 parked on the street, loaded with nuclear bombs, and the police wouldn't even be able to give him a parking ticket!
Road-rage killings, school shootings, disgruntled employees committing murder, and other such crimes are rising at staggering rates.
Ken Armstrong
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
Doctor wearing lab coat was obvious Kihano 'prop'
I cannot believe your front-page photo of Daniel Kihano going to court with his doctor (Star-Bulletin, June 17).All the medical doctors I know (and I know a lot) take off their white lab coats and stethoscopes the minute they leave the office.
What would you use as a visual I.D., say if the "expert witness" had been an architect -- a slide rule and blue prints? How about overalls and a cow for a farmer? A dentist carrying a set of false teeth?
Who brainstormed this M.D. prop, anyway?
Plus, who foots the bill if Kihano goes to the mainland prison for two years and, because of his heart trouble, he ends up in the nearby Mayo Clinic?
Beth Cutting
Marcos is entitled to presidential burial
In response to your June 23 editorial, "Burial of Marcos," Joseph Estrada promised while campaigning for president that, if elected, he would bury President Marcos with presidential and military honors without any conditions.Now that he has been elected, Filipino leaders like former President Aquino, President Ramos and others are protesting his burial plans for Marcos. It is a shame and a disgrace for these leaders to forget that Marcos was, in fact, president.
It is his constitutional right to be given a presidential burial, because he was elected by the Filipino people.
He is just like the late President Nixon, who to some Americans was a disgrace because of the Watergate scandal. Yet he was one of the best U.S. presidents because of his foreign policy.
All we are asking is to give Marcos what he is entitled: justice, fairness and righteousness.
Jose "Joe" J. Lazo
Friends of Marcos
Bill would curtail input on environmental issues
We must ask Governor Cayetano to veto SB 2204, the Automatic Approval Bill. It abbreviates the state permitting process for development projects.If signed into law, this legislation may greatly impede citizen input in project approval public decision-making. This unfunded legislative mandate places public health seriously at risk.
The legislation places a mandate upon the executive branch of our government without providing the necessary resources to protect the environment and the public health. Call the governor today and ask him to veto this bill.
Keith Burchett
Sierra Club, Moku Loa Group
Hilo, Hawaii
Kawananakoa is afraid to debate Gene Ward
You have been printing some letters that support Quentin Kawananakoa for Congress and that urge Gene Ward, while being a very nice guy, to quit the race.Well, Gene Ward, a very nice guy, has invited Kawananakoa to a debate of the issues several times, and each time Kawananakoa has refused.
If Kawananakoa "can't stand the heat," he should stay out of the kitchen. In fact, if he can't run with the "big dogs," he should stay on the porch!
Donald C. Huff
Write a 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.
Letter to the Editor