How about cutting taxes for a change?

Mayor Harris and his administration should try to do the right thing and give us taxpayers a break.

Instead of raising the price for things like playing golf, real property taxes, vehicle registration fees and garbage pick-up, Harris should be cutting spending.

Karen Bartolome

Foreign countries are too lax about Y2K

I'm confident that the U.S. government, local governments and American companies will be Y2K compliant before the year 2000. But foreign countries, especially Third World countries, will not be compliant by the year 2000.

This will be a big problem for Americans. Most foreign countries are doing nothing about the Y2K problem and some have just started to deal with it.

If your company does business or receives goods from foreign countries, you may not be able to place or receive orders.

Most imported goods will be in short supply. It also will affect the produce business, banking business, stock market, oil shipments, etc. I especially would not want to be traveling abroad on Jan. 1, 2000.

Craig Hashimoto
Via the Internet

Matsuura's excuses are insulting

In attempting to justify his vote against Attorney General Margery Bronster's confirmation, Sen. David Matsuura should have followed the adage that he should say nothing, letting the people only think that he is ignorant. Instead, his badly written explanation (Other Views, May 8) removed all doubt that he is.

He has a complete lack of understanding of the Bishop Estate investigation:

He implies that Bronster's goal was the destruction of the estate and Kamehameha Schools, and that removal of the trustees would be inconsequential. Where has he been these past two years? The removal of the majority trustees, to protect the estate and the schools, was the whole point of the investigation.

He believes that appointment of new trustees won't change anything, and therefore questions the need for the investigation. Unfortunately, this may be true, but only because of politicians like Matsuura, who are afraid of proponents of change like Bronster and Earl Anzai.

He questions Bronster's independence and motives, yet she dared take on the powerful political establishment to protect a large charitable trust. How can anyone be more independent or altruistic than that?

He also mentions the "potential liability" to taxpayers. Liability for what?

Finally, Matsuura said that Bronster's threat to criminally indict Sen. Marshall Ige was a threat to all senators. Does Matsuura then believe that senators are above the law?

This is the kind of politician we can do without.

Brian M. Kim

Bishop Estate Archive

Quotables "The ball still looks the same. I'm just zoning up, not missing the pitches that I should be hitting. I'm kind of surprised by the power." Benny Agbayani NEW STAR PLAYER WITH THE NEW YORK METS On his hot hitting streak after being called up to the majors "When she found out she had won $4.5 million, she just started screaming, 'Get my husband! Get my husband!' " Laurel Morley WESTERN REGIONAL MANAGER FOR MEGAJACKPOTS INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY On how a 29-year-old Waipahu woman hit the largest slots jackpot in Las Vegas history

UH should support its strongest areas

As a part-Hawaiian with two degrees from the University of Hawaii, I am concerned about the financial condition of the university and fears about the quality of education there.

The marketability of a UH degree in part reflects the quality of the institution. I am also aware that it is politically astute for educators to "cry wolf" when funding is in jeopardy.

It seems to me, though, given the size of this state's economy and its limited resources, the university's administration should be supporting those academic disciplines in which Hawaii has a comparative advantage. These include, for example, astronomy, geophysics and marine biology.

UH should not try to be a multidisciplinary also-ran. UH President Kenneth Mortimer seems to realize that, given budget considerations, he will have to choose which disciplines are to receive support within a shrinking budget, hopefully without the distractions of Hawaii legislators.

Mel Medeiros
Houston, Texas
Via the Internet

Raise resident tuition at UH medical school

The University of Hawaii medical school was started to give residents the opportunity to enroll there.

Islanders intending on going into the medical profession have a greater chance of being accepted at UH than to other medical schools on the mainland.

Yet the board of regents will be voting to double the number of nonresident students accepted at the UH school of medicine in order to generate more tuition dollars. If half the students come from out of state, we are defeating the very purpose of even having a medical school in Hawaii.

As an alternative, we should consider increasing the tuition for residents, since they will still be paying less than if they go to a medical school on the mainland.

Gerianne Lee
Via the Internet

Kahle's crusade costs taxpayers

As a person with religious values, I have been following the activities of Mitchell Kahle, who sees himself as a protector of the constitutional prohibition on the government's favoring of one religion over another.

I support his right to make his views known, and also firmly believe in the concept of civil disobedience.

But I draw the line at Kahle's opposition to posting of signs on the doors of legislators and assertion that the Bible glorifies violence and murder.

I interpret this act to mean that Kahle has a problem with religion in general, not with the concept of church and state.

He is using the church/state separation issue as a vehicle to get free publicity for his views and, at the same time, is interfering with government officials who are trying to do their jobs. Kahle also is costing taxpayers money since security must be available to protect us from his vandalism and other actions.

Free speech is just that, Mr. Kahle, it is free. Don't make us pay for your hang-ups regarding religion.

Jared Kaufmann
Pearl City
Via the Internet

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