Tamagotchi teaches kids
to be more responsible

I am a fifth-grade owner of a CyberPet (Tamagotchi). I don't think that they should be banned from school ("Electronic pets peep their last at isle schools," June 2). I agree that they distract both students and teachers, but they shouldn't be confiscated.

Tamagotchi teaches kids responsibility. You can't learn this by leaving them to starve, or pleading with your parents to babysit them at work. We should be able to bring them to school, wake them up and take care of them during recess and lunch, without being afraid of having them taken away.

Erin Caldwell
Age 11

Silence over Rodrigues'
appointment is telling

Last week in a unanimous, landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no person, not even the president, is above the law. Here in Hawaii, however, a powerful union leader has been appointed to the Judicial Selection Commission in contravention of our state Constitution.

This constitutional provision (Article VI, Sec. 4) clearly states, in relation to the commission, "No member shall take an active part in political management or political campaigns." Gary Rodrigues' activities violate this provision.

His recent lawsuits resulted in two Supreme Court decisions of political consequence; the Con-Con ruling, privatization ruling and other cases are pending. As a lobbyist, he is ever present during legislative sessions and was instrumental in writing the Senate draft of the House bill that favored his position on the question of privatization.

Yet there is a silence of protest. Where are the voices of Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the Women's Political Caucus, Bar Association, judiciary chairmen of both houses and, most particularly, the "people's attorney," the state attorney general?

Is this a silence of indifference or of fear? Either should be of concern to the citizens of our state.

Sen. Whitney T. Anderson
R-25th District

Forbes is right about
state's bad business sense

It's easy to see why nothing gets done to correct Hawaii's business climate when even the Star-Bulletin relegates the reports of the Forbes magazine article and the Small Business Survival Foundation to the last page of the business section.

The Forbes article is wrong, according to union official Gary Rodrigues. Then why does the SBSF rate Hawaii at the absolute bottom of all 50 states when ranking business friendliness?

Rodrigues said the Forbes writer "just doesn't understand what's happening in Hawaii." Mr. Rodrigues, perhaps he understands all too well and you just don't, or don't care.

Douglas A. Russell

Clinton has sunk to level
of persecuting Joe Camel

Bill Clinton, unable or unwilling to do anything about the scourge of illegal drugs in America, has decided instead to do battle with a cartoon: Joe Camel. What a goofy idea.

Talk about a Mickey Mouse president!

Mike Stetson

Flags should be thrown
at football bowl alliance

On May 22, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee initiated proceedings to investigate the College Football Bowl Alliance, thus exposing it as the monopoly that it truly is. It is time for Congress to take action and put an end to this scam.

What makes this monopoly so reprehensible is that these are not businesses engaging in unfair competition. Instead, these educational institutions are preventing others from competing in the big money bowl games.

The Bowl Alliance institutions and conferences have only succeeded in casting a dark cloud over collegiate athletics. BYU, Wyoming and San Diego State were just a few of the victims of this monopoly last football season -- the latter two being denied bowl bids.

As a member of the Western Athletic Conference, Hawaii has lost a major share of bowl revenue. Unfortunately, WAC teams will continue to be swindled for as long as this scam is allowed to continue.

Rainbow Warrior fans, as well as college football enthusiasts everywhere: Take action. Contact one of your U.S. senators to convey your objections.

Peter Bryan
San Diego, Calif.
(Via the Internet)

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