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Hawaii is still a high-tech backwater

Wasn't that Governor Cayetano and Mayor Harris just a few weeks ago touting the upcoming new century? They were going on and on about how Hawaii will meet the new millennium head on, and how we will be at the forefront of technology and the Internet -- yada, yada, yada.

Anybody interested in filing their federal and state income taxes on their home computer? How about paying your taxes on your home computer? Or, best yet, want to take full advantage of the information superhighway and get your tax return super fast?

Don't count on it. Take a gander at the Internal Revenue Service web site and you'll be informed that, of all 50 states, only two do not support the government program that allows you to file your taxes from home. You guessed it: Hawaii is one of them.

Once again, our state is faithfully bringing up the rear when it comes to innovation. Welcome to the new millennium.

David Taylor-Garcia
Mililani

Without gays to blame, what will legislators do?

Now that the Legislature doesn't have homosexuals to demonize, vilify and blame for the state's problems -- everything from the problems of the "traditional" family to the failing economy -- one can only wonder what the lawmakers will do this legislative session.

Can you imagine if Japanese, Chinese, Mormons or Catholics had been vilified in the same way as homosexuals? We would still be experiencing the fallout.

One racist remark about Sen. Daniel Inouye solicits tremendous negative feedback but, to our Legislature and most of Hawaii's people, homosexuals are the only group that it's OK to hate. So much for aloha.

Don Harryman

Accepting guilty plea spared a man's life

I would like to thank U.S. Attorney Steven Alm and his staff for accepting the plea agreement of Richard Chong, who otherwise faced the prospect of the death penalty.

By accepting a guilty plea in return for life imprisonment, Alm protected the public from a horribly abused and terribly damaged individual while at the same time saving a man.

In an era when, far too often, we see extreme violence and utter disregard for the sanctity of life, it is gratifying to see humanity win one for a change.

Donna Bair-Mundy

Quotables "She thought I was a man, calling me 'sir.' She was very incoherent. Just rattling, you know, in pain." Ida Smith RURAL BIG ISLAND RESIDENT AND WITNESS IN THE TRIAL OF ALBERT IAN SCHWEITZER, ACCUSED OF THE KIDNAPPING, RAPE AND MURDER OF DANA IRELAND Describing how she found the disoriented and battered 23-year-old Ireland at the crime scene "We have gone through some battles together. She has a great deal of integrity and philosophically our views are very, very alike. I expect she will be the next governor." Governor Cayetano Predicting that Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will be Hawaii's next governor, despite a possible strong challenge from Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris

Democrats changed, and not for better

Walter Heen's Jan. 20 letter attempts to convince the uninformed that the Democrats haven't changed in the last 45 years. I know better.

I was there in 1954, when the Democratic Party came into power. We all cheered when it promised reform, more power to the people, better working conditions and fairness to all. Since then, they have become what they replaced.

Heen doesn't want to accept responsibility for his party bringing us to the brink of economic disaster. Today's Democrats seem to believe in cronyism, keeping power to themselves, big government unions that control our state and nonbid contracts for their friends.

Heen may be able to pull the wool over some people's eyes, but not mine. I've seen which party believes in the little guy and giving power back to the people. That's why I am now a Republican.

Tish Acido-Mercado
Ewa Beach

Me-too attitude is wrong for fluoridation

Governor Cayetano's argument that we should fluoridate our drinking water because all the other states do is incorrect. That's the same as saying Hawaii should permit gambling because other states (with the exception of Utah) all have some form of gaming.

We are well aware of the dangers of gambling as an addiction and a criminal influence, and those who have done their fluoride studies know the harm caused by long-term exposure to fluoride. The bottom line on the fluoride issue is the money trail, not health or dental hygiene.

The governor may have the corporate facts but he has been poorly advised regarding the number of cities in the U.S. and Europe that have abandoned, prohibited or outlawed water fluoridation.

Sodium fluoride is a waste product derived from the aluminum industry and is used in pesticides and in chemical warfare. It is recognized by the EPA as a toxin, and it has not been approved by the FDA as safe and effective.

Melissa Yee

Slow drivers are aggravating, dangerous

Not a day goes by that I don't get upset while driving Hawaii's freeways. Most upsetting are slow drivers in the left and center lanes. Don't they realize they are a danger by forcing other motorists to stack up behind them?

Why do these people think it is their duty to control how fast others can drive? They are either ignorant or rude. We can't do much about the rude ones, but maybe we can teach the ignorant ones to drive on the right.

Thomas Teson

HOV lane should be opened to all

Question: What can two guys in a stolen car on their way to a bank robbery do that can't be done by a doctor on his way to deliver a baby or a priest on his way to deliver last rights to a dying person? Answer: Use the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) Lane.

Our leaders have decided they can cure our traffic problems by creating a special privilege for those who hang up their keys and car pool. Just build it and they will come. Swing and a miss!

If you want to help traffic, raise the speed limit in the zipper lane to 70 and open it to everyone. Giving a special privilege to parents driving their children to daycare or private school is an insult to all the rest of us who are only given the privilege of paying for it.

My advice for those two guys in the stolen car: Take a hostage and use the zipper lane.

Paul Dery
Kailua

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