How far are we willing to take bag ban?

In all fairness, we need to ban them all. Bags for sale on grocery shelves: storage, freezer, kitchen, lunch, garbage, trash, leaves, et al. How about those nice bags from the dry cleaners when it's raining, or the bags for that fresh meat and fish wrapped in paper ... and for those buckets of hot take-out chili? Fair is fair, right?

U.S. engages in medieval methodology

If I would grab a naughty cat and dip its head underwater and make like I'm drowning the rascal in full view of the public, there would be an outcry and lots of letters to the editor. Someone would surely call the cops and I would be arrested and probably given a long sentence in the klink. Probably more so if I did it to a cute dog.

But our government can torture humans (non-Christian, non-Europeans) by simulating drowning and the public can't seem to be bothered much and no one is investigated, no outcry or punishment.

You know water boarding-type torture isn't new. The medieval church (Christian) used it during the Inquisition to get women to admit they were witches. While water was poured onto their mouths, a cloth was washed down their throat and then it was pulled out rapidly to wreck their throats. After a few of these simulated drowning and cloth ripping, they admitted to being a witch. But usually the torture continued until they named other witches and they fingered others so they could finally be burned alive to stop the torture.

Is this the standard for America, the great leader of democracy and freedom for the world?

Hawaii could become energy self-sufficient

Forget about biofuels, except for city and government vehicles that are hybrids, and also ambulances can go hybrid. Go a step further -- grow sugar cane for fuel for city and government vehicles and have a small sugar cane conversion factory for the needed fuel.

Go completely electric for cars. The roads would be quieter, the atmosphere would be less polluted and the trade winds would be heard once again as they were in the past years when Hawaii was a truer paradise. Electric cars have a range of about 100 miles to a charge, certainly enough for most people on Oahu.

Go even a step further, get rid of the huge tour buses allowing for further quiet areas in the city. Go to a system of jitneys for the tourist industry.

For delivery vehicles, go with hybrid trucks.

Think people, what a boost to tourism it would mean to have a state and city that is unique to all the world with all electric vehicles.

Go even further and setup windmills in the valleys or hills that are out of sight and get electric power from clean renewable sources. Hawaii with solar could be the first energy-efficient state!

How much fuel would be saved every year and that money could go to help needed programs funded by the state and city. Fix the roads and bridges, and whatever else is needed.

Inouye has done more than Obama could

This is in response to the many letter writers and others who have been trying to say U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye is misrepresenting Hawaii. Is this not a democratic society where anyone can voice and vote for whomever they want? Is Inouye any different? Here is a decorated war hero, dedicated, tireless and very respected political icon who has done countless, which is an understatement, worthwhile deeds for our great state. To say he has his own agenda at heart is completely thoughtless.

Knowledgeable residents of Hawaii know what Inouye has done for Hawaii for 50-plus years (how old is Obama?). My question is, "What has Sen. Barack Obama done for Hawaii?" Also, can these letters writers outline, if any, significant accomplishments that Obama has accomplished in his less than full tenure (three-plus years) in Congress? Kudos to Inouye and yes, if he does run again in 2010, I'll vote for him!

Could Obama clean up after Bush's mess?

Granted, Barack Obama was raised and educated in Hawaii. Granted, Obama has charisma and is an accomplished speaker. Granted, Obama has some lofty proposals as to what he will accomplish as president.

However, I am most concerned about his lack of experience on the national and international stage to be able to cope with the problems that will be left behind by the Bush administration.