Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Uninformed voters weaken democracy

The Kids Vote project was a great way to teach children about the election process. In the very same election, however, too many adults didn't take the time to sort through the confusion of issues in the races for Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Board of Education. Instead, they cast blank ballots.

How sad! It is every voter's duty to 1) understand the pros and cons of issues in an election, 2) come to a decision that is right for them and then 3) act by voting.

N. Gunther
Kailua

Quotables "The interim trustees who lost, if they have any ethics or principles, they will stand down already." Haunani Apoliona NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEE OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Urging OHA board members appointed by the governor and not victorious in the general election to resign or refrain from taking any major action before the new trustees are sworn in later this month "To me, it's just common sense. The people standing in line (at the polls) aren't watching TV." Governor Cayetano Critical of an Office of Elections procedure that doesn't release initial tallies at 6:30 p.m., a half hour after the polls are supposed to be closed, because of concern that the public could be influenced

Bush will rival Clinton in bending rules

It will be an interesting next four years if George W. Bush takes the helm. It'll be the beginning of the end, "Animal Farm" in real life.

All of us barnyard critters received an early preview of the creative interpretations yet to come from the dynamic duo. When Bush was seeking a running mate, the little constitutional requirement that the presidential and vice presidential candidates NOT be inhabitants of the same state was blown off. No problem.

Even though Dick Cheney had legally changed his residence to Texas (certainly not to avoid Wyoming income tax because it has none), he quickly returned to Wyoming and professed to be its favorite son.

If people think that Bill Clinton can twist the system, they ain't seen nothin'. We're about to be led by the gang that believes rules apply to everyone but them -- and those who are like them, of course.

Ray Heath

Double standard on presidential candidates

I was confused by your position on George W. Bush's DUI arrest (Editorial, Nov. 4). On the one hand, you bombard us with claims about Al Gore "lies," even after they were debunked, but then you have no problem with the fact that Bush lied repeatedly about his arrest record, among other things. Why the double standard?

James R. Olson Jr.

Show no mercy to Bush for his past mistake

Your Nov. 4 editorial, "Last-minute attempt to smear George Bush," missed the most important fact and, as a result, drew a grossly erroneous conclusion.

Bush admitted that he is a rehabilitated drunk. Then, with teary eyes, quivering lips and contrite tone, he begged Americans to be understanding about his former DUI incident. He was obviously pleading for mercy.

Remember that rehabilitated woman on Death Row in Texas? Even Pope John Paul II thought she was reformed. That woman begged to be allowed to live out her miserable life in a Texas prison, doing whatever good she might to atone for her crime.

But Governor Bush sneered at her, showed her no compassion and put her to death. Yet now he, an admitted rehabilitated drunk, is begging for mercy himself.

Whether he wins the election or not is immaterial in his relationship with the soul of that executed woman. Perhaps now she will rest in peace.

Joseph A. Ryan

Physicians must stay involved in politics

I disagree with a Nov. 4 letter by William J. King, who wrote that physicians, having spent so much time learning their art (four years of medical school, plus three to five years of specialty training), should concentrate on their medical practice and not run for political office.

Every day, physicians deal with the system that politics has given us, especially policies decided in Washington, D.C. Often, these decisions are made by those who lack the necessary experience or training. This is true even on the local level, like with the Hawaii Medical Services Association.

Therefore, it is vitally necessary for physicians to get involved in the political system, even if we originally went into medicine to treat people hands on.

Walter Young, M.D.

Libertarian candidate was missing from guide

Incredible! In last week's election guide, you left out Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne but included Reform candidate Pat Buchanan. This isn't just another whiny plea for a fringe candidate. Browne was tied in most polls with Buchanan and was way ahead of John Hagelin.

The Libertarian Party has been organized since the early 1970s and has been on the ballot, including Hawaii, every election since. The Reform/Natural Law Parties are Johnnies-come-lately with no coherent organized principles; they will swiftly disappear after this election.

Ralph Nader's late Green entry will, too, since he didn't achieve the threshold for big matching funds from this election.

The Libertarians ran 1,400 candidates this year as opposed to a handful for the split Reform/Natural Law Parties and the Greens.

Browne qualified for federal matching funds but turned them down. Buchanan grabbed $12.5 million in matching funds and, because of his celebrity status, received some 60 times the media coverage as Browne.

George Mason

Only lawyers will win in suit against Xerox

Your Nov. 7 headline read, "OSHA faults Xerox for lacking safety program." I certainly hope Xerox files an appeal on this.

If hindsight worked, we would all be rich, famous, retired take your pick. If this judgment stands, the lawyers will have a heyday.

What would you expect from a bunch of bureaucrats? The people from the Occupational Safety Health Administration couldn't run a successful business if their lives depended on it. It's easy to criticize, harder to do.

R.D. Greenamyer
Mililani

Story on air riflery was poorly timed

Why did your sports section have a story on air riflery in the same issue featuring the Xerox mass murder anniversary (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 1)?

Why feature a picture with someone pointing a rifle at the reader? It was reminiscent of the photo you ran of then-Roosevelt High School rifle team member Byran Uyesugi lying on the ground aiming his firearm at a target.

Steven M. Nakamura
Kapolei

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor?
Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think.
Please keep your letter to about 200 words.
You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com
or you can fill in the online form for a faster response.
Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509.
Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.