Absentee voting easy, just read instructions

The headline in the Sept. 4 Star-Bulletin read, "Absentee ballots criticized." Give me a break. Absentee voting is cheap and secure. And if a voter is disabled, as I am, absentee voting is extremely convenient.

The only way the ballot might be confusing is if a person is color blind. Instructions are clear. The key words are: "Read the instructions!"

Mayor should resist responding to letters

I commend Mayor Mufi Hannemann for having a PR staff that responds quickly to any negative letters in your newspaper. One can expect a nasty response to this within days.

Careful readers of the city's responses will note the administration seems never to directly dispute or deal with the critical points the original letter writer made. Instead, one is treated to a wide-ranging attack on the writer, with overtones of calling the person a liar or someone to be dismissed with a wave of the hand. The policy of the mayor's office seems to be "beat them into submission."

Some advice to Bill Brennan, Mark Matsunaga and His Honor -- ease up. When you are in political office people will gripe and groan. You are expected to handle it with grace and a sense of humor. It's the Hawaii way. Remember where you live and the people you represent.

Hannemann has a lot to learn when it comes to shedding his reputation as a bully. Every cranky letter his staff writes to the editor reinforces that image.

He can start here.

Why not blame Bush for traffic jam, too?

Regarding the recent incident where the military truck carrying an excavator that struck the H-1 overpass causing hours of misery for commuters: Isn't it obvious that President Bush, as the commander in chief of our nation's military, is to blame for this travesty? We all know he was privy to the Sept. 11 terror attack, and he conspired with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the Hurricane Katrina flood in New Orleans.

Come on, Democratic Party leaders, back me up on this one!

Case has forced Akaka to be more visible

For some reason, this election is all about seniority. I thought the Senate was about making sure we in Hawaii get our voices heard and our fair share of federal funds.

Sen. Dan Akaka has been in Congress for nearly three decades. I am glad that he has attained prominent positions within the Senate, but the real question is, what has he done? Since the announcement of Ed Case's candidacy, his visibility and work accomplishments have spiked through the roof. Thanks, Ed, for letting us know we have another U.S. senator!

Alabama fans showed southern hospitality

I attended the recent University of Hawaii vs. Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa. Arrived on campus six hours before kickoff and spent the next five hours at the student union to escape the humidity.

While there, we were able to meet many Bama fans who really showed their southern hospitality. The harshest words were "hope your team has a good game but hope Bama wins." Some of our group were invited to join ongoing tailgate parties.

At no time did the Bama fans boo our team or us. The Bama fans cheered their team continuously but booed only the decisions of officials when ruling against Bama.

The Bama fans showed us a real aloha but did not boo as some Aloha Stadium fans do to opposing teams and supporters. We should learn from that.

Rail is only logical way to avoid huge jams

After the dust has settled over last week's H-1 fiasco, we should look at transportation and traffic planning through realistic eyes.

Buses were stuck for hours on the highways as well as surface streets, so buses are not going to do it. A "managed lane" system would not have worked, because all the entry points would be as clogged as the highways with people trying to get onto a two-lane ramp.

There's no way we can build more highways in our city. It would cost too much and wholesale land condemnations would be needed to clear a path through residences and businesses to build an "H-4." Remember what Kaimuki homeowners went through back in the 60s?

Only a rail system would have made a difference on Tuesday night. And only a rail system will work for Honolulu in the future. Let's get on with it and build rail transit before it's too late.