Stop building prisons and fix the schools

It's disgraceful that Hawaii's public schools are in need of $239 million in repairs while the governor wants to enter into an agreement with a private prison corporation at a cost of $149 million. Inadequate learning facilities breed a negative arena where learning is stifled. Thus, our children are more at risk of ending up in prison.

About 80 percent of Hawaii's inmates are addicted to crystal meth/ice. Rehabilitation is more cost effective than prison.

Warehousing human beings is not the right answer to prison overcrowding; getting to the root of the problem -- the epidemic of drug addiction -- is the moral course. We must concentrate on the condition of Hawaii's schools and stop feeding the prison population.

Boyd Kato
Hilo, Hawaii

DOE went back on offer to improve schools

A month ago, the state Department of Education said it wanted to be partners with the military to help improve the schools on military bases. But recently the DOE turned down an offer by Hickam Air Force Base to buy playground equipment for Hickam and Mokulele elementary schools.

To me, that is not a good way to start out "helping" each other. The school system in Hawaii is ranked almost last in the nation and the politicians here couldn't care less. I want more for my children than third-rate education.

Hawaii would be a better assignment for military people if their children didn't have to suffer through a poor education system.

Mary Anstett
Via the Internet

Change rules to increase usage of ZipLane

The state spent $875,000 apiece for two ZipMobiles and countless dollars on the cement barricade, not to mention thousands of hours moving it twice a day.

Yet, you see very few cars in the morning using the ZipLane. It's not being used to its full capacity.

Two or more people in a car (instead of three or more) should be allowed to use the ZipLane, since the HOV lane is always used to its capacity.

That should make all the work -- moving the barricades back and forth, and maintaining the ZipMobiles -- worthwhile.

Also, increase the speed limit to 65 mph.

I. Okemura

Quotables "The eyes were on me. I can't go and goof around. People were laughing, even friends. I was a little upset." Debbi Akiona 31-YEAR-OLD FIREFIGHTER Remembering how, in 1987, the Kailua resident became the Honolulu Fire Department's first female firefighter "He shows no respect to the man in charge (of the trial) or the rank and file of his own union. This reinforces the rank-and-file perception that people with money can influence the system and buy their way out of anything." Tom Young HONOLULU BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY EMPLOYEE Describing how United Public Workers state director Gary Rodrigues, on trial for refusing to disclose financial records requested by union members and then publicly criticizing them, bullied people during his hearing at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

Democrats' infighting serves no purpose

Governor Cayetano, in appointing Earl Anzai as attorney general, is trying to provoke the Senate into doing something stupid. This strategy is likely to succeed, since the Senate has already demonstrated such a remarkable capacity for stupidity.

The Senate can't lead, follow or get out of the way. All its members can do is agree with those who have already agreed to do nothing but agree. Reasons? Heck, they're in power (for the moment). What other reasons do you need, chump?

I liken them to lemmings, all jumping off a cliff together. The Democratic Party already did this on Kauai, right after Hurricane Iniki. The two wings of the party decided to fight. Why? For the same reason that Cayetano is fighting the Senate: for nothing.

Nothing at all.

Mike K. Pettingill
Waipahu

What do Titanic and UH have in common?

Joke of the day (for those of us who can still laugh): There's this captain standing on the bridge of a ship. Part of the deck is already under water, and the captain is saying to the crew, "Just keep calm. The ship hasn't sunk. In fact, the officers and I are planning some meetings to discuss the situa...glub, glub, glub."

Oh, yes, the name of the ship is the UH-Manoa. She was commissioned in 1907 and plowed the seas between the islands, the mainland and every other continent of the world, distributing the best products of Hawaii and bringing in the best from abroad.

In this decade, however, several deep cuts have been made in her hull and have never been repaired. It is heartbreaking for the many thousands of us who served on her as apprentices, crew members and officers to see such a fine ship go down.

Alice D. Scheuer

Several factors led to increased taxes

I would like to respond to Solomon and Helga Berge's June 26 letter stating that government is taxing people to death and that it is the main reason that tourism is down in Hawaii. While the Berges wrote a compelling letter, their situation is not typical of a Waikiki condominium owner. In fact, their situation is unique.

The Berges' real property tax liability increased because of several different factors, including the conversion of their cooperative to a condominium, the purchase of their fee interest, and several recent sales at higher prices.

In other words, private market forces -- not government actions -- led to the increase in their real property taxes. I hope this clarifies matters.

Duke Bainum
District IV, Honolulu City Council
Via the Internet

Column was dream to Red Sox fanatic

As a die-hard Red Sox fan, I enjoyed immensely Bill Kwon's July 13 column, "Red Sox dream team hard to beat." My only minor quibble is that Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez are ready for the dream team now.

Also, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the dream stadia of the American and National League, respectively.

Bill McCorriston
Via the Internet

ACLU targets Scouts for teaching 'reverence'

So the ACLU is going to sue the Boy Scouts, one of the last organizations in this country that teaches responsibility for one's own actions, because it has a requirement to be "reverent." God help us, for we know not what we do!

R.D. Greenamyer
Mililani
Via the Internet

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