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Letters
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Saturday, April 1, 2000

There's a faster way to dispose of fireworks

Why can't the Honolulu Police Department use a bulldozer to crush the 14 tons of confiscated fireworks while the Fire Department hoses it down to prevent sparks?

They might also consider using a tree mulcher and water. Then they could burn the resulting mush at the HPower plant and make electricity.

The whole job could be done in hours, not days.

Carl Neff
Kailua

NRA was right: Clinton exploits gun deaths

I totally disagree with the Star- Bulletin's March 14 editorial. I think the National Rifle Association told the truth. President Clinton did tell the country that 13 kids will be killed every day by guns.

Also if you look back during the impeachment, Clinton used military fire-power so often to distract public attention from his legal trouble. I really don't know how you can justified the bombing in Sudan.

In Hawaii, please tell me how the new firearms proposals can prevent Xerox-like accidents. By the way, do you think that those people with felony convictions will go to the HPD to register their guns?

For the record, I am a gun owner but I am not a NRA member.

Loi P. Le

Quotables "This was a house of cards which fell (and) damaged so many lives." Steven Alm U.S. Attorney After arrests were made in what authorities say was an international Ponzi scheme that bilked $40 million from unwary investors "To me, the Rice decision is a violation of our civil rights...the rest of the nation has to be aware of what's happening in Hawaii." Charles Maxwell Chairman of the Hawaii Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Explaining the committee's request to have the national civil rights panel come to Hawaii and advise Hawaiians on how to obtain political status within the federal government

Isle delegates backed better marriage tax bill

Don McDiarmid Jr.'s letter (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 19) raises questions about the vote in the U.S. House to end the marriage penalty. The marriage penalty is a provision in the tax code that causes some married couples to pay more than they would if they were single. The standard deduction for two single individuals is higher than the deduction for a married couple.

There were two bills considered by the House on Feb. 10, one sponsored by Republicans and the other by Democrats. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink voted for the Democratic measure to end the marriage penalty by simply making the deduction for married couples double. They voted against the flawed Republican bill, which includes other provisions that have nothing to do with the marriage penalty.

In addition, the Democrat bill, unlike the Republican bill, sets aside money to protect Social Security, strengthen Medicare and pay down the national debt. We can be proud of our representatives in Congress. They voted for a balanced bill that combines fairness for Hawaii's families, protection for senior citizens and fiscal responsibility for the future.

Charles Ng

American corporations helped create Hitler

OK, so now German government and industry will begin to compensate survivors of Nazi slave labor camps. And the Swiss were forced to acknowledge their role in hoarding the "Nazi gold." And the pope has apologized for the Catholic Church doing nothing to aid those persecuted by the Third Reich.

But so far I have heard not one word about the role played by Wall Street financiers and American industrialists in bringing Hitler to power!

For years I have owned a book by Anthony C. Sutton (a British researcher at Stanford's Hoover Institute) titled "Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler." According to Sutton, World War II was not only well planned (including the attack on Pearl Harbor), but also extremely profitable for a select group of financial insiders.

Sutton documents the roles played by J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, the Rockefellers, General Electric, Standard Oil, Chase Manhattan Bank and many more.

When will American GIs, who went to Europe to destroy the monster that American business helped create, demand compensation for their sacrifices? Soon, I pray, before they're all deceased.

I have a personal stake in this: My father, who was drafted into the Nazi army, was killed in France in 1944 during the retreat from advancing Americans. We've all been had!

Eva Schumacher

Dangers of smoking known for decades

These huge tobacco settlements for cancer victims on the basis that "they didn't know" the dangers of smoking because they believed the advertising puffery of tobacco companies, are strange.

The dangers of smoking were known by the general public as far back as at least 1924. That's when I heard a neighbor, a smoker himself, referring to cigarettes as "coffin nails."

People choose to take the risk and smoke in spite of warnings because they have faith that "it won't happen to me."

Ted Chernin

Chen is a dangerous choice for Taiwan

The independence advocate Chen Shui-bian, supported by the provincial Taiwanese, surprisingly won the presidential election on Taiwan. But Chen won only 39 percent of the vote.

James Soong, a popular former Taiwan provisional governor, came in second with a strong 36 percent. He was supported by those who are against the Kuomintang and do not support Taiwan independence.

Lian Chan, the Kuomintang candidate, only got 23 percent of the vote. In general the voters on Taiwan hate the corruption of Kuomintang, particularly the native Taiwanese and the intellectuals.

Chen was the former mayor of Taipei and a very poor administrator. Two years ago in the Taipei municipal election, he was defeated by Ma Yin-jiu, former president of the legislative Yuan and a member of the Kuomintang, who is young, uncorrupted and a rising political star.

Chen does not possess political acumen. He cannot be expected to be a good president of Taiwan. Beijing regards Chen as a treacherous man who can't be trusted.

Chen will be inaugurated May 20. The future of his power will be limited by the Kuomintang-controlled legislature. For instance, the new president can't declare Taiwan's independence without approval by the legislative Yuan.

Chinese leaders and Chinese people consider the Taiwanese people to be Chinese. They have no idea to attack Taiwan at all, but will be patient for the future reunification unless Taiwan declares independence or indefinitely refuses a peaceful reunification.

Hung Peng Lee

Full-time jobs in film industry are rare

Once again, a news story has referred to Hawaii's "4,000 full-time jobs in the film industry."

I am fortunate to be what might be considered a successful art director/decorator in the local film industry for more than 16 years. I have also been unemployed at some time for each of those 16 years.

Other than state and county film office workers who promote and assist in attracting film/TV projects here, I know of no full-time film jobs in this state.

As to this mythical number of 4,000 jobs on Oahu, are we counting the popcorn sellers and one-day beach extras on "Baywatch Hawaii"? Are we adding in every day player, projectionist and TV repairperson?

I know numbers are important, and that we are all trying to improve our film industry. But I can't imagine coming up with a figure of 4,000 jobs -- and full time, at that.

It sounds like a "Fantasy Island" plot to me.

Richard "Rick" Romer

Clinton's calls for peace ring hollow in India, Pakistan

President Clinton is hardly one to tell India and Pakistan to negotiate peace regarding Kashmir, and for both countries to refrain from using nuclear weapons against each other.

The United States calling for peace negotiations anywhere would be almost laughable, if not for bloody bombs and maddening missiles used by the U.S. against Iraq in 1991, and for 78 nights last year against Yugoslavia.

Clinton's lobbying for the return of democracy to any country is farcical, especially since the U.S. is notorious for supporting dictatorships, past and present, and worldwide.

J.J. Kaufmann

Tourists are stunned by lack of aloha at Waikiki Beach

I recently took my 17-year-old sister and her mainland friends to Waikiki Beach, where they happily sunned themselves in some lounge chairs they found. An hour later, I realized the chairs were rentals when I went to get one for myself. I apologized and pleaded ignorance, but the lady in the beach-boy booth turned her back to me.

After we returned the chairs, an angry boy approached us, swearing and gesturing angrily. I apologized again, but he continued with his curses and threats. I looked around and saw the shocked expressions of nearby tourists.

Is this how we treat our visitors? Threatening them with violence and hurling curses? Surely these young girls weren't the first to make this honest mistake. If tourists think they're unwelcome, why would they come back?

Sarah Spaulding
Hauula

Spouting off on paper's whale-watching article

Having lived in Hawaii for many years, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing humpback whales in the Hawaiian waters, I enjoyed your Feb. 24 whale-watching spread.

While whale watching brings income and joy to folks in Hawaii and helps raise public awareness about conservation and the health of our oceans, one must be cautious of its applicability in other locales.

Whale watching can benefit a community only under specific circumstances:

The presence of a "star." There are more than 60 species of whales and few are as acrobatic, large and visible as the humpback whales, which tend to come close to shores. Hawaii is lucky that they are regular visitors.
Geographic conditions and infrastructure. Some coastal communities are very remote. Local communities may also lack infrastructure (roads, hotels, ports, sewage, etc.) to accommodate visitors.
Local impact. Whale-watching businesses are usually set up and run by outsiders to a local community. The real economic benefits to a community are thus questionable.

Conservation efforts to end commercial whaling in the last 30 years have achieved many positive results but also have forced traditional whaling communities in Japan, Alaska, Iceland and elsewhere to give up an activity that has cultural, economic and spiritual importance.

It should be noted that not all species or stocks of whales are endangered. Many are in healthy numbers and scientific experts agree that sustainable takes are possible with no impact on these stocks.

Anny Wong
Arlington, Va.

Big Islanders protested over water wells

Residents of Ocean View and Puna were at the recent Pacific Basin Economic Council meeting to protest the governor's refusal to release money for water wells for small-owner subdivisions on the Big Island.

According to the Star-Bulletin, Seiji Naya of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism "sent a special-delivery letter to guest speaker Steve Forbes, the publishing magnate and former presidential candidate, to let him know before he arrives that what Forbes magazine dubbed 'The People's Republic of Hawaii' has improved its business climate."

The protest about water wells was also about the business climate, which depends on a level playing field. Hawaii is still plagued by the same cronyism that has crippled its economy for years.

And it's not just about water. These small-owner communities are being denied land-use planning, schools and access to federal rural development and transportation funding. At the county level, they are denied parks, police and fire protection, and the zoning and permitting to develop an economic base.

Bonnie Goodell
Volcano, Hawaii

Background checks needed for care-home owners

The difficult decision to place an elderly family member in a care facility is sometimes the only alternative families have to secure proper care for their elderly. It often is made as a last resort.

Fortunately, Hawaii has a number of quality facilities that offer various levels of care for the elderly. And as this fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population increases, it is inevitable that more facilities will be built.

To ensure that our elderly receive the best care possible, guidelines must be established for these facilities. One is presently resting at the state Capitol and has been reported to be a "dead" bill.

This bill would require criminal history record checks for all applicants for licenses to operate adult residential care homes, nursing homes, home health services and other facilities for disabled and elderly people.

The families of Hawaii must be given every assurance that their elderly are being offered a high level of licensed care. In passing this bill, the members of the Legislature will be moving in a positive direction.

Jeff Thomas

High electricity rates fund HEI's foreign ventures

In 1998 HEI Inc. had assets in excess of $8 billion and revenues for the year of over $1.5 billion. Yet Helco, a subsidiary on Hawaii, is asking the Public Utilities Commission for a rate increase of 11.7 percent from the present rate of 19 cents per kilowatt hour to 21 cents.

Pacific Gas and Electric of California charges 11 cents per kwh. Helco charges home owners on Hawaii $60,000 for infrastructure plus $2,000 per pole that a homeowner can put in for $200 (115-foot pole in five feet of concrete).

HEI's annual report to shareholders discloses that it also owns American Savings Bank, Hawaiian Tug and Barge Company, Young Brothers Ltd. and HEI Power Corp with electric power investments in Guam, the Philippines and China.

Why should the people of Hawaii pay high electricity rates to finance HEI's ventures in Guam, China and elsewhere? It is time for the people of Hawaii to develop renewable energy sources -- solar, geothermal bio gas-ocean. Helco's slogan is "giving you the power."

They're giving it to us, all right.

Ross Halsted

Parents should be warned of vaccine's danger

Hawaii's children are beginning to receive a new vaccine called Prevnar, which is supposed to help prevent some pneumococcal diseases. It is composed of seven different vaccines --each to a separate strain of pneumococcus -- so its toxicity is seven times greater than the currently marketed hemophilus vaccines.

The problem is that no long-term studies of this vaccine have been conducted in the U.S. In Finland, where the Prevnar vaccine has been given for 10 years, it has been shown that the rate of insulin-dependent diabetes was elevated in children as a direct result of the administration of this vaccine. The potential risks of Prevnar exceeded the potential benefits.

I hope parents will choose to withhold this vaccine from their babies until adequate, long-term research can be conducted in this country.

Gretchen Worthington
Master of Public Health

Honolulu police are selective about enforcing gun law

In a country based on the premise of innocent until proven guilty, the Legislature seems determined to replace the jury with itself. The progress of SB215 and HB1880 is punishing the law-abiding gun owner for the Honolulu Police Department's failure to enforce existing laws.

HPD made such a big deal about the fact that it had used Chapter 134, Section 7, to deny Byran Uyesugi a permit to purchase another gun. Why, then, did it not use Chapter 134, Section 7, Subsection G, which require Uyesugi to dispose of his guns? This would have prevented the tragedy at Xerox, as Uyesugi would have had no legal firearms in his possession.

Our legislators should demand an answer to these questions, and further ask how many have been arrested and prosecuted for violation of Chapter 134, Section 10.5, which would punish those who let guns fall into the hands of minors.

Charles A. Phelps
Waianae

Coach Jones performed a miracle at UH

I was surprised to read the March 18 letter from Roger Sharp and March 24 letter from Russell Oshiro criticizing June Jones and the University of Hawaii football team. It's obvious they have never played football at the college level and know little about the sport.

What Jones did was miraculous because the players he had to work with were not recruited by him. Furthermore, they had to learn a new system quickly. It's astounding that Jones was able do what he did under those circumstances. Logically, one would expect it would take three to four years before a good coach could turn such a program around.

The University of Texas was afraid to go to Hawaii and play UH because it had nothing to gain and much to lose. Because UH is not a football power, Texas could ill afford to even allow the Rainbows to get close. And if they beat UH, so what?

Clayton Ching
Pasadena, Calif.

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