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Foley's pardon shows level of state corruption

Gov. Ben Cayetano has once again demonstrated why Hawaii is the most corrupt state in the union. On the mainland they say, "If you drink, don't drive." In Hawaii we can now say, "If you must drink and you must drive, you'd better be well-connected to the state Democratic Party."

Michael Parry

Will police be fined if cameras catch them?

The addition of cameras to our highways is an excellent idea if they cite all traffic law violators.

It is my observation, however, that police officers are the very ones leading the pack in driving violations, though they are never cited. They illegally park wherever they want, run stop signs and speed. I am sure they do these kinds of things because their fellow officers, following the unspoken code of the police force, rarely cite them.

Police officers are not above the law. I hope these cameras and the company responsible for sending out the citations impartially cite officers as they would any other citizen.

Jerome Tabar

Camera traffic fines seem arbitrary

In your Aug. 11 article about Honolulu police installing cameras at selected intersections, the dollar amounts for various traffic fines range from $77-152. How were these figures arrived at? This sounds more like a punitive tax than a measure to ensure traffic safety.

Moreover, the ostrich heads at the state Department of Transportation have set speed limits that are too low considering freeway design standards, not to mention the average speed of most cars. For example, just to stay with the traffic flow on the H-1 from Aiea to Kapolei, you've got to drive roughly 70 mph.

Not listed among the fines was penalizing those who drive too slow, such as going 35 mph in the freeway's left-hand lane. While police propaganda always cites speed as a factor in crashes, it is more correctly "speed differential" -- as in the difference between cars A and B.

Too many drivers on our roads really ought to be riding TheBus instead, considering how slow they go. They block entire freeway lanes because of their obvious inability to look in the rear-view mirror.

James Ko

Vandals are ruining restrooms in city parks

When I became city parks director three years ago, I promised Mayor Harris that we would spruce up our parks and provide clean restrooms for the public. To do this, we raised cleaning standards, improved our methods and increased the frequency of cleaning.

The public applauded these improvements, and we were proud of this new beginning. However, these efforts were short-lived in some parks because of vandalism.

We need to ask, why are these facilities filthy -- with excrement and obscene graffiti on the floor or walls? Who destroys toilets and basins in senseless violent acts?

These conditions are not due to neglect by city staff. They are caused by those who target public property.

It boggles my mind when I see the impact of this violent minority. Their senseless acts deny the public use of essential facilities. This must be addressed by our entire community.

Our department will continue its efforts to provide the highest quality restroom and grounds maintenance. But we need the public to take a proactive role in protecting their parks so that we can all enjoy them.

If indifference continues, our parks will continue to suffer and we will all lose.

William D. Balfour Jr.
Director,
City Department of Parks and Recreation

Quotables "I happen to not like that, personally as a Hawaiian. But what I like and dislike is insignificant in the eyes of the court." Clayton Hee OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TRUSTEE Saying he thinks the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Rice vs. Cayetano paves the way for allowing persons of any racial background to run for seats on the OHA Board of Trustees "My first and only loyalty is to the United States of America." Sen. Joe Lieberman DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Explaining that his faith as an Orthodox Jew would not affect his handling of Middle East matters

Liberals aren't to blame for world's woes

I just wanted to thank C.T. Marshall for his perfectly ludicrous July 31 letter in which he blames "liberal thinking" for everything wrong in the world today. As you may recall, Marshall is a self-proclaimed pro-capital-punishment, anti-gun-control, anti-abortion conservative who's dead set against the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

First, with respect to capital punishment, our government should not be in the business of killing people. Period. As a so-called liberal, I'll never understand why conservatives insist they're pro-life when they're so clearly pro-death.

On the abortion issue, Marshall is hypocritical. While arguing that liberals are promoting a responsibility-free society, Marshall demonizes women who -- quite responsibly -- choose to have an abortion because they are not financially or emotionally equipped to care for a child.

As for gun control, I would simply point out that the framers of the Constitution could never have imagined that the Second Amendment, which was intended to allow each state to maintain its own militia, would be used to permit maniacs in Hawaii like Byran Uyesugi and Peter Takeda to lawfully own firearms.

I do, however, agree with Marshall's stance on marijuana being used for medicinal purposes. But why stop there? Let's ban pain killers and anesthesia, too.

Jonathan R. Peterson

Enough already about maligning UH logo

Aw, c'mon you guys! We gotta support our team, no matter what dumb things the University of Hawaii administration and coaches do. In other words, quit complaining, take the lemons and make lemonade.

So what are we gonna cheer during the games instead of "Rain-Bows," you ask? How about "Warriors...come out and plaaay!" If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to your nearest video rental store and check out the movie, "The Warriors."

Miles Kaneshiro
Pearl City

Accused deserve best defense available

Your well-written, concise editorial last Saturday, on Byran Uyesugi's defense attorneys fulfilling the critically important job of defending the accused, was right on target. Without such defense, our justice system would be a mockery of an individual's civil rights.

Your editorial should be required reading by all Hawaii residents.

David Ward

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