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Letters to the Editor


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POSTED: Friday, August 28, 2009

Turn-signal use least of worries

How is it that the writer condemning the lack of turn-signal use in Hawaii is so uninformed (”;Turn-signal use lacking,”; Star-Bulletin, Letters, Aug. 24)? As most drivers in Hawaii are aware, it is required that we drive with our left arm out the driver's window. Now that we can no longer use our right hand to hold our cell phone and must keep it planted on the steering wheel, it is physically impossible to use the turn signal at all. Furthermore, if a car in front of us stops, everyone knows the driver has either run out of gas or is probably going to turn left or right anyway.

Use this valuable time to grab your soda, check your hair or change radio stations. Stop complaining.

And drivers who manage to use their turn signals might not be aware of another fact: Using your turn signal actually increases your electric bill. It must be the reason Hawaii drivers have stopped using their signals now that our electricity rates have gone up.

Finally, if you have to complain about something else like illegally crossing double lines on our roadways, then be upset that in these tough economic times they are still painting two lines when one is plenty.

Rick Romer
Kalihi Valley

Smarter to spend on new weapons

Looking back on the history of American weaponry, if we know about it, it is most probably obsolete. The F-22 is most likely in this category, especially if it is being sent to bases on foreign soil.

Smart money should be spent on smart weapons, classified technology. The president is privy to such information.

Donnie Ho
Kailua

Raptor's no relic and merits funds

I was glad when I learned that U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye fervently supports the U.S. Air Force's F-22A Raptor aircraft. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and President Barack Obama are incorrect in their perceptions that the F-22A is a relic of the Cold War that has no place or need in today's world.

History has shown that since the invention of the combat aircraft, troops, tanks, ships and standing fortifications, no matter how well armed, are completely outmatched by the force that possesses air superiority over the battlefield.

Israel proved that during the Six-Day War when the Israeli Air Force decimated the ground forces of its enemies despite being outnumbered as much as 100 to 1. Secondly, if America is to defend its homeland, we need more than just parity with our enemies, we need total air dominance. The F-22A is not meant to have similar advantage or equal capability to enemy aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-35 or the Chengdu J-14 fighters; it's meant to dominate so our ground forces are covered.

The U.S. Air Force fleet is aging and needs the Raptor to remain relevant. More than 95,000 jobs in 44 states are at stake and stand to be lost if the Raptor line ends. I thank Sen. Inouye and hope Washington listens to him.

Danny de Gracia, II
Waipahu

Social workers are capable pros

In his Island Commentary, ”;Mental health patients are being shortchanged”; (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 24), John Callaway states that the social work profession is directing MDs and nurses. The reality is that the field of community mental health is multidisciplinary where doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and case managers work together as a team to provide holistic and comprehensive care to mental health consumers.

In the United States, social workers are the largest providers of mental health services and are considered to be one of the four core mental health disciplines. Here in Hawaii, as in most states, licensed clinical social workers are independent mental health practitioners who are able to assess and diagnose mental illness as well as provide psychotherapy and case management services.

To become a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Hawaii, one must have a master of social work degree, a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised professional experience in clinical social work, and pass the Association of Social Work Boards clinical social work licensing examination.

Alan R. Spector, LCSW
Kaneohe

               

     

 

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