If laws are ignored, then why create more?
With respect to
Wednesday's editorial concerning paying parking tickets on purchased cars, I think it would be better to refer to the lawmakers, not the law, as "silly." Poor old law was brought into existence by some less-than-brilliant legislators.
But more importantly, how is it possible for a law to remain unenforced for 12 years? It would seem that someone should be slapped on the wrist, at the very least. And this is a scary thought: How many other laws on the books are ignored? Do we really need more laws?
Kenneth D. Fleming
Honolulu
When will lawmakers figure out the obvious?
First we had the van cams, where the Legislature said to issue tickets to the registered owner of a car, rather than the person who actually committed the moving violation. Now we have the government trying to force buyers of used cars
to pay the fines of the previous owners, rather than going after the scofflaws who actually committed the violations.
What's next? If someone commits a felony while driving a car, then skips bail and sells his car to me, will I be charged with his crime and thrown in jail?
Which part of "cars don't commit crimes, people do" is baffling our clueless politicians?
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
Troops dying to make Halliburton richer
Another six Marines were killed Thursday in Iraq, bringing the total to 1,950 of our troops killed there. Is the loss of our troops worth getting terrorists in Iraq? Or is keeping our troops there the reason to keep Halliburton there longer so it can rebuild and support our troops, making billions at our expense?
Let's think about pulling out our troops so that there are no more casualties for the purpose of making all these greedy rich people happy. We need a better and more understanding leader who we can trust.
Francis K. Ibara
Kahului, Maui
Let Miers' response be a warning
There has been considerable speculation as to whether or not Harriet Miers is qualified to sit on the Supreme Court. The answer is no, due to lack of acumen or good judgment. Proof? She referred to George W. Bush as the most brilliant person she has ever known. Case closed.
Lisa J. Burket
Koloa, Kauai
Female inmates do have different needs
There was much to be discouraged about in the Star-Bulletin's Sept. 22 installment on Hawaii's female inmates ("
Women often benefit little in a prison made for men"). Our state remains committed to its destructive policy of incarcerating its citizens far from home and treating women inmates as an afterthought. But more disturbing are comments made by those implementing these policies, comments that illustrate a lack of understanding of women's lives, addiction and crime.
Separating women from their families is nowhere recognized as a best practice in dealing with this problem, contrary to comments by the Department of Public Safety staffer. We cannot incarcerate our way out of the problems of poverty and addiction. The real pity is that we do know what works -- community-based organizations in Hawaii have been doing it successfully in partnership with corrections for years, albeit on a very small scale. We do not lack knowledge of what works with women, nor do we lack committed professionals who know what to do and have the will to do it. Our problem is that very few such individuals are in positions of leadership in government.
In spite of the grim information presented in the article, I remain optimistic that a new, courageous leadership will emerge, one that will bring some real efficacy to our corrections policy, especially as it relates to girls and women in the criminal justice system. And it will do it in Hawaii nei.
Marilyn Brown
Volcano, Hawaii