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Fix medical privacy act in special session
It's unfortunate that your July 19 editorial did not find it necessary, as a part of your normally good journalism, to at least attempt to secure information from people who are actually affected by the Privacy Act in its everyday application in property-casualty insurance claims.The insurance industry brings in much more revenue and employs far more people in Hawaii than the longline fisheries or high-tech companies to which you and government have given so much coverage as of late.
While most in the insurance industry agree that the intent of the law is good, its drafting is so vague and onerous that most employers, insurance companies and medical providers have been severely crippled in their efforts to process and pay claims, and communicate with necessary parties since July 1 and for the indefinite future.
I applaud Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono for her courage and leadership in thoroughly investigating the matter. She is speaking bluntly about the effects on carriers, claimants and medical providers whose ability to communicate directly affects the prompt payment of benefits.
She recognizes that adding mountains of bureaucratic paperwork will do little else except increase insurance costs dramatically while adding less than zero value to the consumer.
Rather than passing the buck to the courts to fix up, or simply "reflect on it for a while" as the governor suggests, I implore the leaders of the House and Senate to call a short special legislative session and delay the effective date of the defective but well-intentioned act until the next full session can make some reasonable sense out of it.
Delaying benefit payments, threatening livelihoods in the insurance industry and killing twice as many trees as we do today certainly couldn't have been their intent.
J. Terry Mullen
President
John Mullen & Co. Inc.
State workers deserve raise from surplus
After reading the July 13 article by Richard Borreca, this card-carrying member of the United Public Workers union felt sick to my stomach. According to our governor and budget director, the state has a surplus in excess of $250 million but still can't afford "sweeping pay raises" for public workers. Auwe!I wouldn't characterize a 2.5 percent per year pay hike as a "sweeping" one, especially when a period of years was totally ignored. What I want are my legally earned wages back. I need to pay my bills.
Thomas C. Osterthaler
Correctional Officer
Many are involved in foster-care screening
I understand how a foster-family parent may assume that he or she has the best family for a particular child (Star-Bulletin, July 18). However, it is the job of the Child Protective Services, along with Family Court judges, guardians ad litem and other professionals to find the most appropriate family.I certainly would not like to see a system in which a judge, without a full understanding of the possible alternatives, prohibits CPS from making the best recommendation possible.
I truly appreciate the wonderful response we have seen and the hundreds of Hawaii families coming forward to be foster and/or adoptive families. This community is truly blessed to now have the situation in which there is a choice of families for each child, so he or she will be matched to the most appropriate family possible.
Susan M. Chandler
Director
State Department of Human Services
Judicial system lacks common sense
Richard Turbin wrote a nice essay about the failings of the American justice system in your July 15 Insight section. I'm glad there's at least one lawyer in Hawaii who recognizes when things have run amok in the legal system.I have a solution to some of the judicial system's problems: common sense.
For instance, in the case in which the tobacco companies were hit with a $145 billion judgment, did common sense ever come into play? Didn't it occur to those inhaling cigarette smoke that it would do eventual damage to their bodies? Didn't it occur to their money-hungry lawyers that their clients got exactly what they deserved for lighting up?
Perhaps if the American public -- deceived in the first place by ambulance-chasing attorneys who promise big bucks -- didn't find it so convenient to blame others for their own problems, the American justice system wouldn't be in such a mess.
James Ko
Last Saturday's paper was full of Insight
Sincere kudos for two wonderful pieces in last Saturday's Insight section.First, I agree completely with David Shapiro's observations on reality TV trashing our culture. What junk. Like him, I refuse to watch those shows and the millionaire madness quizzes, too.
And what a great piece on justice for the little guy by attorney Richard Turbin.
I never see good stuff like this in the morning paper. You guys are great.
Sharon Clark
Kapahulu mourns fast and friendly neighbor
July 4 was a sad day for many Kapahulu area residents. A gracious and lovely lady named Priscilla Dela Cruz, manager of the FastStop convenience store for many years, passed away.She was the ideal example of someone with aloha spirit. She always had a smile on her face that was as beautiful as the flower in her hair.
Priscilla was on a first-name basis with most of her customers, and always seemed to happy to see them. Many would stop by just to see her, or to bring her flowers, stew, dim sum or a small gift.
If your spirits were low, you could talk to her; her laughter and kindness could cheer you up.
At her funeral, I realized just how many lives Priscilla Dela Cruz had touched -- family, friends, co-workers, police officers and vendors who cared very much for her. She may be gone, but her memory will always live on in our hearts.
Clark Robison
Unlicensed drivers should have cars towed
It seems illogical that a person caught driving without a license would even be allowed to get back into his or her car and motor away (Star-Bulletin, July 13, "Illegal drivers often involved in fatal crashes"). Why do we let them flout the law like that?Their cars should be towed away, just like we do to illegally parked vehicles on certain streets. Then require someone with a valid license to claim the car and pay the towing charges.
Such a simple solution. Or are we already doing that?
Dorothy Au
Kailua
Quotables
"Obviously, I've been too
independent in my votes." Andy Mirikitani
HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMAN
On being stripped of key leadership posts in a
reorganization of the Council, which Chairman
Jon Yoshimura says is necessary in light of
the departures of two members to
run for other political jobs
"Dog biscuits (are) just meant
for dogs, not for autistic children
or for any human being." Byoung Sun Woo
FATHER OF AN AUTISTIC 8-YEAR-OLD SON
Reporting to the Board of Education that his child's
special education teacher allegedly gave him
dog biscuits to eat during summer school.
State Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu
said the complaint would be investigated.
Cayetano should withdraw brief on disabilities law
If the amicus brief filed by the attorney general helps to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to exempt the states from the Americans with Disabilities Act, Governor Cayetano will have dealt the disabled rights movement a giant setback.It would be better for Hawaii's disabled citizens if the governor withdrew his amicus brief, as he is being asked to do by many.
Governor Waihee promised disabled kids that mental health services would be provided for them in the public schools, but the promise was broken under Cayetano. The state was found to be in contempt by a federal judge. The state hospital is under federal supervision, and numerous lawsuits have shown that Hawaii still discriminates against its disabled citizens.
Adding the overthrow of the ADA to this sad record would leave Cayetano with a legacy most governors would not be proud to have.
Larry Geller
Why is the state afraid of ADA requirements?
Governor Cayetano in particular, and state government in general, should be setting an example for others to follow when it comes to civil rights, including those for persons with disabilities. Hawaii should be out in front, leading the way. Regrettably, that is not the case.Whatever the legal merits of the "states' rights" challenge to the Americans with Disabilities Act, it looks like our government is shirking its responsibility. That sends the wrong message to the community.
After all, if the state is not discriminating, it has nothing to fear from the ADA.
Lunsford Dole Phillips
Kailua
EWC conference deserved more attention from media
I have just concluded five rewarding days. As an early East-West Center (EWC) grantee, one-time student body president and current member of the EWC Association (EWCA), I watched in awe as a great resurrection seemed to be taking place.The EWC -- long bruised and battered from local and national neglect plus internal and intellectual stasis for the past several decades -- demonstrated remarkable vigor through the actions and words of 671 delegates from 31 nations to the EWC/EWCA 2000 International Conference.
The conference included 37 panels and some 150 papers on subjects ranging from human rights, to environment and energy, to international relations and more. Always stimulating and ever imaginative, the panels and participants energized the entire proceedings.
Unfortunately, all the praise and cheers resounding around the conference were somewhat like the sound a falling tree makes when no one is around to hear it. This event, so enthusiastically enjoyed by all participants, received zero coverage by the local media except for a picture of schoolchildren playing Japanese drums.
I trust that our media and community leaders will be paying more attention to the EWC and its achievements from the past, as well as its potential. Those not in attendance missed a truly inspiring time.
James V. Hall
East-West Center,1962-64
Pali Highway drivers haven't slowed down
Your July 19 article relayed that Pali Highway motorists just don't get it, in spite of numerous, obvious warnings of pedestrian movements. That doesn't surprise me. On a recent trans-Pali errand, I set my cruise control to 39 mph in the 35 mph zone, and was the slowest thing on four wheels.The Pali Highway speed problem is not an isolated case. In that same issue, Palolo letter-writer James D. Becker maintained that speeding motorists, not traffic professionals, should decide speed limits. Nowhere did he demonstrate this to be sound transportation policy.
Pedestrians, cyclists and law-abiding motorists live in the community and enjoy using the public rights-of-way safely. Their lives are more important than Becker's desire to fiddle an extra minute before hopping behind the wheel.
With parents terrified of letting Johnny walk or bike to school, and few willing to walk or bike to work, we are undergoing not only an epidemic of obesity but one of traffic congestion, because everyone drives (or is driven) everywhere.
We lose the chance to enjoy nature, exercise, preserve the environment, save open space and live the simpler lives many of us miss. And, of course, we even miss the chance to enjoy our cars. How ironic.
Khalil J. Spencer
Senators value money over human rights
As a Cuban American, I have heard every argument for lifting the trade embargo against Cuba. However, one thing can not be hidden or changed: Every person deserves basic human rights.Human rights violations occur with such frequency in Cuba, I find it hard to believe they could be overlooked by any citizen of this country, much less a U.S. senator like Daniel Akaka (Editorial, July 18).
Clearly, something is blocking the vision of these lawmakers. They are willing to drop the embargo against Cuba, thus ending punishment of a government that abuses the rights of its people and subjects its citizens to an outdated ideology that has clearly failed.
Shame on those who would sacrifice human rights for money.
Julian Tsukano
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