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Legislature must listen to non-union members

Legislators might keep in mind, as they watch the public employees union rally today, that there are more non-union members than union members in this state. Many of the self-employed struggle to pay for health benefits for themselves, their families and employees, to say nothing of paying for the overly generous benefits for public worker union members and their families.

It's time for voters to learn who in the Legislature will stand up for much-needed civil service reform.

Alberta Freidus

Will Democrats abandon common man?

Hawaii's people, aided by the old-time Democrats, worked hard to gain a fair share of power, rights and wealth for the common man. Yet the Democrats in office are ready to throw away these hard-earned gains such as a strongly supported public school system, low college tuition, collective bargaining and low-cost health-care guarantees.

If the governor and the Democrats in the Legislature are going to act against the stated beliefs of their party and against the best interest of Hawaii's average man, they had better stop calling themselves Democrats, just or fair.

Richard Y. Will

Market spikes and dips are deja vu all over again

Looks like the stock market has turned into shampoo. Lather, rinse and repeat. Don't forget the conditioner!

Tim Lee

Marijuana is available in synthetic form

Throughout the debate taking place on the use of medicinal marijuana, I have read comments such as "There is not enough research to support the use of medicinal marijuana" or "It's already legal to use marijuana for medical needs" (Star-Bulletin, Insight, April 8).

One fact has been overlooked: The psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, Delta 9-THC, is already available in its synthetic form, Marinol, which any practicing physician may prescribe legally.

In fact, it was recently downgraded from a controlled Schedule II substance (which includes drugs such as morphine, Percocet, Tylox) to a Schedule III controlled substance like codeine, Tylenol 3 and Vicodin.

In order for Marinol to be approved by the FDA, years of research and clinical trials were conducted. THC, in its synthetic form, has helped some who experience severe nausea due to certain medical conditions or the side effects of chemotherapy.

However, many patients have reported that Marinol is not nearly as effective as it is in its natural form. For some, the physiological side effects have been intolerable. Confusion and the inability to think clearly are more likely to occur, and to a greater degree, when using Marinol, than when smoking marijuana.

In approving Marinol, the federal government acknowledges the medical benefits of THC. It is unfortunate that the route of delivery and the need to provide THC in its synthetic form are the result of politics, not common sense.

David Lamborne

Quotables "People can usually track two to 400 things in their heads. We're trying to get them to track 10 times that." Alan Lam WHO HELPED START THE QUORUM, A HONOLULU-BASED PARTNERSHIP OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FACILITATORS TOUTING THE USE OF PDAS On the advantages of owning a PDA or a personal digital assistant "It was built to drain the marshland, so it is functioning as planned. Waikiki Beach would be mud flats without the canal." Hiram Young HEAD OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING BRANCH On long-awaited plans to dredge the polluted Ala Wai Canal for the first time since 1978 and at a cost of $10.35 million

Cayetano should follow up on veterans center

After a hard-fought lobbying effort by Hawaii's veterans and with the support of Governor Cayetano (so we were led to believe), the 1999 Legislature appropriated $2.95 million to build a combined veterans center in Hilo. Although these funds were placed in the year 2000 budget, they have mysteriously vanished. Sound familiar?

The governor also has asked this year's Legislature to lapse those funds, undoubtedly so he can fund another of his pet projects, such as the purchase of the Hemmeter Building for $22 million and which Cayetano calls "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

To Governor Cayetano, I say: "Please justify your statement to the families of the thousands of veterans of Hawaii who gave up their lives to ensure your lifestyle as well as that of all the people of this great state. Please, look those veterans square in the eye who were POWs, wounded and disabled, and convince them that you really support them and care for their well-being."

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Korean War (June 25), what better way to show appreciation for the sacrifices made by all veterans in Hawaii than to allow this project to go forward.

Charles M. Mayes
USN, Retired
Hilo, Hawaii

Henry Walker Jr. was inspirational

I'm shocked and saddened about the news of Henry Walker Jr.'s passing. He was one of my first clients when I arrived in Hawaii. We had daily conversations, with personalized parking stalls next to one another for years at the Amfac Center. We ended up being fellow members when I joined the Pacific Club a few years ago.

I'm a young guy, only 34 now, and met him when I was only a 19-year-old computer consultant. Yet Henry let me into his life, treated me like an equal and taught me a lot about what is important -- family and friends.

My life was blessed to have had Henry Walker Jr. as an influence.

Paul Klink

McDonald's is architectural eyesore

There is a new McDonald's on South King Street that I bet is visible from a low orbit around Earth, given its blinding red-and-white color scheme. Now the shuttle astronauts won't need their instruments to know when they are over Hawaii.

This monstrosity is made even more grotesque by being just a block or so away from the exceptionally pretty First Hawaiian Bank on the corner of King and Isenberg.

Do the McDonald's architects have a social conscience? Or does the corporation simply like to build cookie-cutter designs that save money, despite the visual pollution it adds?

It's a shame there is no city or state "design board" that could have prevented such an ugly building from being built.

James Ko

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