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Excise tax cut would be more egalitarian

In 1998, Gov. Ben Cayetano tried to reduce income taxes by 40 percent and raise the excise tax by 35 percent. The Legislature lowered his income tax cut to 10 percent and killed his excise tax increase. Now he wants to bring the top income tax rate down to 8 percent (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 16).

Cayetano's plan is completely different from Rep. Galen Fox's proposed exemption of grocery, food and rent from excise taxes. Such an excise tax cut helps all of us -- not like the governor's income tax cut, which favors high-income earners.

Jerome G. Manis

Quotables "The trend over the last five years has been on the decline, and we hope that it's bottomed out and on the increase over the next few years." Ben Lee CITY MANAGING DIRECTOR Commenting on the rise in Oahu property valuation "We've called half a dozen people in the neighborhood who had the same increase, and they are also upset. It seems pretty extreme for one year." A LANIKAI HOMEOWNER WHO WISHED TO BE ANONYMOUs Saying he may appeal the accessed value of his home, which went up 39 percent

There's no waiting list to get into public school

In your Dec. 15 issue, Kokua Line started off with a letter on education asking why the Department of Education is so strict in hiring teachers that it passes over well-qualified people who might not meet some esoteric rules.

These same people are welcomed at private schools to teach. I wish to thank you for publishing this exchange. I only wish it had been printed on the front page.

The lengthy answer from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board tells you that the mindset of the public education administrators is such that there appears to be no hope for public education.

It went on to list several manini rules which appear to be inviolable. Many of them were noted in response to why the DOE cannot mimic private schools.

Excuse me. I don't know of any public school with long lists of students trying to get in. But I do know many, many students from private schools who go on to fine colleges and become outstanding citizens engaged in every imaginable occupation. There are students from public schools who also do well, but I am inclined to think this is in spite of rather than because of the education system they must live with.

The answer attributed to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board clearly indicates why our public education system is in such terrible shape. It is going to stay that way until voters decide to make a change.

James V. Pollock

Education budget cuts undermine our future

Why does it not surprise me that Hawaii is ranked 38th in higher-education funding and earned the dubious distinction, along with Louisiana, as one of only two states to have cut higher-education funding for 2000-2001?

I cannot help but doubt the priorities of our political system and community leaders when the rise and fall of economics determines whether young people get a proper education. How can the intellectual competence of our future Hawaii be rationalized in annual budgets of political convenience?

Perhaps the next "broken trust" is that between the adult community of Hawaii and its children.

Dave Miho

Kailua vote supported Waimanalo community

Steve Tayama's Dec. 14 letter to the editor accuses the Kailua Neighborhood Board of minding the business of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, of which he is a former member.

The Kailua board at its December meeting voted to oppose several widening projects from the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization's (OMPO) list of Y2025 projects. Included in this set of projects is the widening of Kalanianaole Highway from the Olomana Golf Course to Waimanalo Beach Park.

We are aware of the Waimanalo community's objection to this project and consequently were supporting its position. Widening of this section of the highway also affects the Kailua community.

We also opposed the cloverleaf overpass at Castle Junction, widening to six lanes the highway from Pali Highway to Kailua Road and widening Kalanianaole Highway from Keolu Drive to Kailua Road, also to six lanes.

These projects have been on the OMPO books for years even though the communities have been opposed to them. We need to work together to ensure that these projects are eliminated from the Y2025 projects.

Faith P. Evans
Chairwoman
Kailua Neighborhood Board

Patients can't afford marijuana permit fee

About the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes: How does the state get away with charging $25 as a permit fee?

The state was taken to court over charges for handicap-parking permits. When is this going to end?

The logo for Hawaii should be the state that charges for EVERYTHING! The people who will be allowed to use marijuana have so much pain that I doubt you could find one who is able to work. So, yeah, stiff him another $25, what the heck.

I still say if politicians and lawmakers were paid minimum wage, life would be a lot simpler.

Linda Liddell
Kaunakakai, Molokai

Let's eliminate R-word and D-word

George W. would like the word bipartisan to become household, especially in the houses of our Congress. I agree but would like it to go beyond a sprinkling of Democrats among Cabinet members and perhaps an equal distribution of Republicans and Democrats on committees. I'd like George W. to ask his followers to eliminate the words Republican and Democrat at least in close proximity to a microphone.

I turn away when I hear one of our esteemed leaders speak of how the Republicans want this and the Democrats that. It places an inappropriate priority on politics. Except for those who vote straight ticket, it doesn't matter.

I suspect there is considerable distance, outside of the Beltway around Washington, D.C., between those who feel that just because one party's view coincides with their own on an issue, that it will represent their beliefs on all issues. If George W.'s followers would eliminate the words, the other party leaders would follow. Imagine the result.

Don Tolbert

A very merry election season

C is for Chads, hanging, dimpled, pregnant -- not.
H for Katherine Harris, certifying votes Bush got.
R is for the recounts, Broward to Miami-Dade.
I is for "Injustice!" claims that Jesse Jackson made.
S is for Judge Sanders Saul, whose ruling Al Gore cursed.
T for Tallahassee, where the ruling was reversed.
M is for the media, spinning news out by the ton.
A for Albert Gore, who still thinks he would have won.
S for the Supreme Court, whose vote for Bush is done.

Merry Christmas 2000, President-elect George W. Bush.

Wanda Kulamanu Ellis Au

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