West Maui needs traffic help, too

Has our governor forgotten her Maui roots? The "Intelligent Traffic System" that would alleviate a lot of West Maui's traffic woes has been offered up at the low price of $400,000. She keeps beating around the bush, denying funds that could be a quick fix. How's about a few more $100,000 capacity studies, done by someone's cousin for the Department of Transportation? Please, Governor Lingle, help us out! I have to drive that road, and traffic could run lots smoother if the lights had help from an ITS monitoring them. Mahalo, Auntie Linda.

Ron Paul should appeal to Republicans

I was surprised to see the letter from the Hawaii Republican Party chairman Willes K. Lee (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 9). Does he not know that one of his own party's candidate's is non-interventionist? That is, there is one Republican, Ron Paul, who is for reducing our overseas commitments and respecting the sovereignty of foreign nations.

Seeing as how my husband is "over there," I have a personal interest in the situation. It finally hit home for me last year when he visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. We STILL have a presence there, more than 50 years after our initial appearance. John McCain has said he will have troops in Iraq for 100 years and Mike Huckabee has no plans for withdrawal either.

That is unacceptable to me.

However, I still want low taxes, free trade, a balanced budget, freedom to make my own health decisions and respect for my privacy. So, yes, I will be voting Republican -- but for the old-school kind of Republican like those who were hesitant to enter World War I and who later pulled us out of Korea and Vietnam.

Being good at math is part of the job

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee says he will stay in the race despite the overwhelming lead of his opponent. He says he's no good at math, but does believe in miracles. He sounds like just the kind of guy we need to lead our country out of its financial and other problems. I wonder how many CEOs, CFOs, engineers and accountants got their jobs using that argument.

Some homeless people are just not motivated

In a Feb. 9 letter Alika Campbell wrote about the homeless and why we are to feel so sorry for them, going on how none of their problems are their fault and we are supposed to babysit them. Sorry, but if you go to any place where homeless gather you will see people who are capable of working but choose not to.

Out of 10 homeless, two need the help because they really do need the help and we should give them all the help we can give them. The other eight are just plain lazy. Lazy in every facet of their life, including discipline and self-control, key factors leading to their homelessness. Drinking their beer and smoking their cigarettes and ice is what they want to do.

Sorry, no sympathy here.

Inouye's count shows value of term limits

First of all, congratulations to Sen. Daniel Inouye for his 15,000th roll call vote (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 7). With that being said and at the risk of offending Inouye supporters, I have to say that he is the classic example of why we need term limits for our members of Congress. I cannot believe for one moment that Inouye has been effective, relevant and in close contact and in touch with his constituents for more than 45 years! If the president of the United States can serve only eight years, then there must be a stipulation for the extent of service for our representatives.

Our forefathers did not intend for citizens to make politics their life work. Representatives were to go to the center of government, govern, and then return home to their chosen professions. If anyone wants to know why Congress is inept, paralyzed and unable to produce any effective legislation, one needs only look to the career politicians. They become entrenched in partisan politics, unable or unwilling to reach across the aisle for the benefit of the American people. This is symptomatic of both political parties. The career politician keeps young, innovative and cooperative minds from entering political races because of the cost and the influence the career politician brings to the table.

No one is entitled to the lifelong privilege of sitting in Congress. The more citizens who are able to actively participate in our democratic government only increases the chances of creating legislation which will benefit all of American society. The only way to ensure this happens is to have term limits enforced for all representatives of government.

Using words as gavel, the news he unravels

A guy name Joe is my poet sublime
Who writes to the editor in words that rhyme.
He once was a magistrate who meted out fines
But now reserves judgment for daily headlines.
Sometimes, reading his stuff, I like shout:
"Your Honor, you took da words out of my mout'."