No-fault bill bears out
anti-business image

Our state legislators will reinforce the allegation that it is anti-business by the passage of the compromised auto reform insurance bill. The lowering of the medical coverage, which includes loss of wages, from $20,000 to $10,000, will allow the injured party to more quickly file claims for benefits under his or her group's health plan. This will increase the employer's business expenses, as well as the employee's contribution.

Any auto rate reduction will be short term because by reducing the current $13,900 threshold down to $5,000, it will allow the plaintiff attorneys to enter the picture sooner with their threat of lawsuits. This will result in an increased frequency of claims, which in turn will increase the pay-out to settle claims, which in turn will increase insurance cost for the consumer.

Wilbert W.W. Wong
Insurance agent

Forget cemeteries?
Not on your life

Monday's commentary by Diane Chang, "Forget cemeteries; support the schools," is so insensitive and illogical, it boggles the mind. Chang's concerns for our schools are shared by many of us, but those concerns are in no way related to our outrage with the recent grave site desecration.

The greatest strength of a nation, a people, a community or a family resides in how it respects and honors those who sacrificed to give us life, opportunity, freedom, hope and security. Our memorializing those sacrifices is a thread of continuity to the past.

Hawaii, with its diverse cultural and ethnic makeup, has always impressed me with its special recognition of our ancestors and those who made life today possible for us. That's why it's so easy to love the people of Hawaii.

Chang, a prominent and influential personality in our community, is the beneficiary of countless sacrifices by her family, friends and, yes, the warriors who rest in Punchbowl.

Her insensitivity and, perhaps more frightening, her apparent lack of understanding of the outrage over the grave site desecration is appalling. Honoring and respecting those who have made our lives possible is not "obsessing" over the dead rather than the living.

Chang owes the people of Hawaii a humble and sincere apology.

Orson Swindle

Indifference to schools
is worst kind of vandalism

I feel compelled to write in support of the letter from a teacher quoted in Diane Chang's April 28 column. I only wish I could be as eloquent. Steam has come from my ears for years until I feel there is nothing left to boil. I have always expressed my concerns aloud but they have fallen on deaf ears.

It has been my experience that substitutes hired for an extended period always express admiration for the work of the regular teacher. As one new sub put it, "No wonder they have vacations, no one could keep this pace up without them."

I have said since my early days as a VP that the legislators and juvenile court judges need to spend a week or two in a school. Not in their position of power, but anonymously as a sub. Then they might understand where we are coming from and what our needs are.

The column's final paragraphs were marvelous! I'm as appalled as others at the vandalism in the cemeteries, but we at school deal with vandalism on a daily basis. I think you could call the lack of support for our public schools the worst kind of vandalism.

Chris Fonoti
Principal, Kaewai Elementary
Kalihi

Former teacher flunks out
in assessment of the job

Although there may be some teachers who work short hours and leave immediately after school, Corazon Tacitan (Letters, April 9) is most unfair in her assessment of public school teachers.

Many do bring work home, use their own money for supplies that are not covered by the Department of Education, and work with students as coaches and advisors in extra-curricular activities for long, unpaid hours.

We are lucky to have the many dedicated teachers in the public schools who do not reflect Tacitan's jaded view of a very serious responsibility. We hope the beginning teachers, "green with excitement," never lose this enthusiasm.

Betsy Takesono
Kaneohe

---

Same-sex archive

---

Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.