SHOPO is hurting image of the police

With a Hawaii police union like SHOPO, the citizens of Hawaii don't need any enemies.

First, we find out that SHOPO bosses are passing out information to the rank-and-file about higher paying opportunities on the mainland, if not actually encouraging them to leave this state. Now it's reported (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 2) that these SHOPO bosses paid out $64,000 to a Los Angeles man who owns an advertising agency to create ads for SHOPO's endorsement of political candidates in Hawaii.

What's the problem, SHOPO? Haven't you a clue about our troubled economy, and the shortage of good jobs? So, were none of Hawaii's fine advertising agencies good enough for you and your chosen candidates?

I'm sure the members of our police department care a lot about Hawaii, its citizens and its economic health. So boys and girls, why are you sitting back and allowing these union bosses to damage your public image?

Art Todd
Kaneohe

Local bus schedule runs on Hawaiian time

I am a computer consultant/programmer, who moved from the mainland three months ago. I accepted a position with a large Honolulu health-care organization at 75 percent of what I could be making elsewhere, because I wanted to live in Hawaii. This morning typifies that experience.

My boss asked that I be at the office for a 9:30 a.m. meeting. I was at the bus stop at 8:45 a.m., expecting to catch the 8:51 bus. I smoked a cigarette. Then another. Still no bus. No 9:06 bus. No 9:13 bus. Finally, at 9:20, a bus arrives.

As we traveled along the route, other passengers boarded. An older couple leisurely climbed on and stopped near the front. Finally they strolled to an empty seat and sat down. Others boarded in the same leisurely manner.

My father was a bus driver in New Jersey. His routes serviced the outlying areas where people commuted to work to cities such as Philadelphia (across the river) and Trenton.

Now New Jersey and Philadelphia people oftentimes put down people from New York City because of their faced-paced attitude. Yet the buses in New Jersey and Philadelphia were great about sticking to schedules.

The bus was where it was supposed to be. You get in, sit down, shut up and generally rest assured that you will arrive at work on time. However, Hawaii is apparently unconcerned about people who use the bus for work.

Tourists have all the time in the world, in contrast to people who have to be somewhere at a given time. Apparently, visitors are more important than the people who work for a living.

Arthur M. Grant

Yearbook censors have gone overboard now

Last year, some of Hawaii's (censored) school yearbooks offended some (censored) people. Parents sued and now the state is reviewing all (censored) student publications, newspapers included.

How will these new (censored) guidelines work? One section says the content and presentation of articles must be of certain "value," but those values don't include entertainment and opinions. That means no swing dancing, no zines, no fun. (Censored!)

The state is not allowing our students to make mistakes and learn from them. Students cannot be (censored) perfect all the time. Censorship robs us of our (censored) entertainment and (censored) right to free speech.

Jason Higa
Grade 12
Moanalua High

High cost of gasoline defies sound reasoning

A few weeks ago, I visited Louisville, Ky. I've since learned some facts that just couldn't explain the low price of gasoline there compared to Hawaii:

Kentucky taxes its gasoline and the price includes this tax.

The octane levels are identical to the different grades of gasoline in Hawaii and are therefore similar in quality to ours.

The prices of other consumer goods weren't as proportionally low as gasoline was. This implies that the shipping costs for gasoline in Hawaii shouldn't be as significant as some claim.

Why is this? Do oil companies in Hawaii overcharge or are they merely inefficient? Is our local government overtaxing gasoline? Or both?

I suspect that I'll soon hear a thousand excuses to maintain the status quo, much to the detriment of the consumer/taxpayer.

Kendrick Sue-Ako
Kaneohe

Dedicated paper carrier was a good friend, too

Our Star-Bulletin carrier, John Palimoo, just informed us that Jan. 4 will be the last day he will deliver the paper. That is devastating for senior citizens like me, because John has become not only our paper carrier but also a treasured friend.

Through all kinds of weather, he always placed our paper at the front door. When it rained, he put it in a plastic bag. I am 62 years old and my disabled parents were in their 80s when they passed away within the last two years. I never had to worry that my parents had to wait for their paper until I got home from work.

With the other carriers, my paper could be in the mailbox, in the garage, on the stairs or out on the lawn. John was loved by my parents, who knew he cared for them and did whatever he could to make their lives easier.

While we had hoped John would be with us forever, we wish him well.

Jane Y. Yano

What's the big deal about gay relationships?

Although I support legally recognizing same-sex unions, I was frustrated by the strategy used by those favoring a "no" vote in the election. The purpose seemed to be to avoid talking about same-sex relationships altogether.

Those encouraging a "yes" vote, however, appeared to want to talk about nothing else. They did little more than make it sound like same-sex couples should not be allowed to have intimate relationships at all.

With the election behind us but a fight over domestic partnerships ahead of us, we can finally address the issue: What exactly is the problem with allowing the state to legally recognize the union between two people, regardless of gender and ready to make life-time commitments to each other -- loving, honoring and obeying until death do they part? Seriously, I don't understand what the big deal is.

M. McKown

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