Drilling more in U.S. won’t lower prices
There is no possibility that new American oil fields developed in currently forbidden areas will reduce the price of oil or gasoline. The most optimistic estimates place new American production, to come on line in a decade, far below projected world oil production. Because it is small, the new American oil will have a small effect on the price of oil that is set against world production. Because of our market economy, there is no possibility that American producers will price oil domestically below world market value. The supply might be local, but the price will be global.
Because new American drilling will have a negligible effect on oil price, the discussion of offshore drilling is a distraction from the need to shift our transportation energy from oil to a source that won't escalate continuously in price. It doesn't matter if the environmental lobby or the oil lobby wins this argument: new drilling will not lower the price of gas or free us from foreign oil now or in 10 years.
Paul Lucey
Honolulu
Second-placer gave Tiger a good run
Tiger Woods is invincible. Whenever he has to make a shot, he has the ability to "manufacture" one. That uncanny capability makes him the greatest golfer who ever lived.
Having given "The Tiger" his due accolades, let's turn our thoughts to Rocco Mediate, the 45-year-old, 157-ranked golfer in the world, (Tiger is 32 years old and ranked No. 1).
Rocco is a winner too; in spite of the big spread, in age and ranking, he gave Tiger a hard run for his money. He gave us great entertainment, with poise and courage to stay side by side with the great Tiger. Mahalo, Rocco!
Tetsuji Ono
Hilo
Big Island voters have great opportunity
The Star-Bulletin reported last month that our state Legislature sent to the governor's desk a bill to pilot-test voluntary full public funding of Big Island County Council elections. The League of Women Voters of Hawaii, along with BICC members, many Big Island residents and businesses, and democracy advocates across the state, urge Gov. Linda Lingle to pass this legislation.
We are hopeful that the governor, as a former neighbor island mayor, will want to honor the support of the Hawaii County mayor for this opportunity.
Based on demonstrated results when full public funding has been used elsewhere, we believe Hawaii County should get the chance to see if, as elsewhere, this option brings a more diverse range of candidates, higher voter turnout, and more conversations between voters and those candidates who qualify for public funding.
Jackie Parnell
League of Women Voters
of Hawaii
Governor should sign public-funding bill
Congratulations on the Big Island's decision to try public funding of elections! Private funding would still be an option for those who choose that. Many candidates see the wisdom of the public funding approach, however. Private special interest funding can make it challenging for a candidate to maintain his or her loyalty to the public interest, and thus cause tremendous taxpayer expenses associated with uneven planning and short-term decisions. Private funding can also require significant commitment of a candidate's time and energy soliciting special-interest money - time and energy that could instead be spent connecting with and learning and fulfilling the needs of their greater constituency. Gov. Linda Lingle should let the Big Island try public funding.
R. Elton Johnson III
Honolulu
You, too, can fit in with island drivers
The latest mainland studies infer that the resident Hawaii population cannot drive as well as their mainland counterparts. OK, let's see these pasty tourists pass our Hawaii driving requirements!
Below is a list of several exclusive traits required to survive our local highways:
» Pride! You are required to display a bumper sticker with only one word. This one word, by law, must utilize a minimum of 100 syllables. This is to keep the driver behind you confused and/or feeling culturally inferior. A Kamehameha Schools decal also helps. Especially if you are a non-Hawaiian.
» Carefree island attitude! You are required to keep a minimum of 20 untethered teenagers in the bed of your moving truck.
» Bravery! Darn the turn signals! Full speed ahead ... then when you are in front of everyone else, you can suddenly slow down to 15 mph under the speed limit.
» Family! You are required to post a memorial ("In loving memory of ...") in large gothic lettering on your rear window, as if that huge SUV that you drive is a combination disco and mobile mausoleum.
The lettering must be big enough so you cannot see all the other drivers in an angry line behind you. You must drive no faster than 45 mph in the passing lane of the H-1. You are, however, allowed to speed up "L.A. style," but only if you have the opportunity to intimidate and tailgate that small Toyota in front of you.
» Relaxationess! It is required by Hawaii state law that you learn to fall asleep, at sunrise, with the motor running, in a stolen Honda, while you are conspicuously parked at any boat ramp or beach park. The more prior arrests you have when arrested, the higher your Hawaii driving score will be.
Let's drive Hawaii!
Fred Barnett
Kailua