Hawaii should follow Oregon's example

In view of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision yesterday upholding Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law, let us hope that Hawaii's forever-hesitant legislators will soon consider discussing this subject again.

There have been several attempts in the past to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Hawaii, but in the end one or two weak politicians always voted against this measure.

Let people decide about their own fate, regardless of some legislator's private, emotional issues that continually prevent them from looking after the good of the society they are supposed to serve.

Enforce traffic laws, don't change them

In a Jan. 15 letter to the editor, a writer suggested that "right turn on red" be abolished. How many of those "near misses" witnessed involved pedestrians that stepped off the curb to cross the street after the pedestrian control light had begun blinking either the red hand or the "don't walk" warning? Most pedestrians seem to totally ignore the pedestrian signals while demanding that vehicle operators obey the vehicle signals (and watch out for errant pedestrians).

Using the writer's logic, we might as well abolish right turns (and left also) totally, as there are pedestrians in the crosswalks that run parallel to the traffic running on a "green light." Many of those are crossing against the pedestrian signals, as well.

Rather than changing the laws, enforce them. I do believe that there are drivers who do not understand the "right turn on red" law and the signs posted at intersections do not help the situation. The present signs state "Right turn on red after complete stop." The law reads "Right turn on red after complete stop and no traffic is approaching from the left (traffic to include vehicular and pedestrian)."

Instead of abolishing the laws, why not encourage the transportation department to replace the signs with new ones that are more specific. Additionally, demand better enforcement.

We must keep up fight against terrorism

I wholeheartedly support Ted Chernin's letter to the editor (Star Bulletin, Jan. 13).

We are at war against terrorism. We went after Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan because the country was harboring him, the world should know too, wherever they are we will go after them. If they don't want us chasing and bombing them, don't harbor or hide them. Instead, tell us where they are and get a reward.

The United States only wants peace. Get rid of terrorism and we will have it. We do not need people in time of war who criticize and aid the terrorist. Let's stand united as a team and leave politics out of it.

Opposing Alito a waste of senators' efforts

Rhetoric and spin on the issues are all a waste of time in the Alito confirmation hearings. No senator entered those hearings with an open mind, and the hearings seemed less about Judge Samuel Alito and more about giving long-winded senators a platform to campaign their own views for the constituents who vote for them and the special interest groups who donate to them.

The Jan. 15 "Gathering Place" called on Hawaii's senators to oppose Alito's confirmation, yet another waste of effort because in the Republican-controlled Congress, our Democratic senators will find themselves as impotent as the National Organization for Women in preventing this confirmation.

More highway lanes are not the answer

In response to Alan Kim's Jan. 17 letter, I would have to disagree that an expressway or more roads of any kind is the answer to Oahu's growing traffic problems. Mr. Kim's reasoning is that Hawaii's people are not willing to give up the convenience of driving their cars, so why fight it? Just add more highways and roads to accommodate them.

Adding more roadways will only encourage more driving.

Hawaii's commuters will have to accept the fact that unless there is a change in the way we think and do things, our traffic problem will never really go away. Transportation planners must not only choose the best technology to move people but to improve the overall transportation system to make commuting enjoyable and affordable.

Like most cities that have installed some form of mass transit system, it takes a while before people start to adjust to it and accept it. I believe as long as the city and state give commuters all the reasons to use the system, in time people will buy into it.