Rene's math test

Do the math: Councilwoman Rene Mansho illegally spends $48,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses. Add the $7,000 in taxpayer money she pocketed for trips already paid for by campaign funds. That's $55,000 in Rene's pocket. Subtract the $10,000 she is required to repay from her own pocket.

If my math is right, Rene ends up with $45,000 in her pocket, proving, once again, that for Hawaii's politicians, crime does pay!

Mike Stetson

Christian blame

Mark Tooley and the Institute for Religion and Democracy ought to think twice before attacking the Rev. Kaleo Patterson ("Independent Hawaii backed in Methodist magazine," March 3).

Patterson is an excellent example for people who are hesitant to join the struggle to liberate Hawaii from U.S. occupation. Patterson has been an uncompromising advocate of Hawaiian independence, yet this does not prevent him from enjoying good relations with, for example, the U.S. Navy (who chose him to perform the dedication for a Pearl Harbor housing complex).

Patterson has criticized the inertia and self-centeredness of Hawaiians who, having "made it" under U.S. occupation, sit on the sidelines in the liberation struggle.

If his critics succeed in muzzling Patterson, that will only further discredit the original Christian missionaries to Hawaii and all their successors. It would only be further proof that where Hawaii is concerned, U.S. churches have repented of nothing since the actions or silent complicity of their representatives in the evil deeds of 1887, 1893 and 1898.

Leilani Akwai

Forget state tax cut

There's been a great deal of verbiage unleashed these past few days about the "promise" made to voters and taxpayers of continued tax cuts.

I'm convinced that gratuitous offers of tax cuts are mainly a response from legislators at election time, when what the public would really appreciate is some hope of higher living standards, stability in the economy and cost of living and increased government efficiency. I must therefore conclude that the state Senate is acting courageously to stop additional income tax reductions planned by a past Legislature, which labored under different circumstances than we face today.

After just one of the three programmed income tax cuts, Hawaii's economy has shown its largest gross state product jump in a decade. While this may be positive, not many feel the direct effect of these numbers. On the other hand, the newfound robust economy has caused a dramatic turnaround already from the stable housing costs of the '90s to the point where inflation once again is the major factor in reducing affordability and liveability in this paradise.

Increasing the liveability quotient of Hawaii requires building a better educational system, kindergarten through college, and making government work better for the masses, while holding the cost of living in check -- none of which will come about through seemingly popular yet counter-productive tax reductions.

Rai Weigel
Aiea

"I would never get a carrier underway to support a DV (distinguished-visitor) embark. We're going to disagree on that." Vice Adm. John Nathman, Saying that the USS Greeneville's Feb. 9 excursion, solely to entertain civilian guests, could not be considered "normal scheduled operations." Nathman is a member of the panel investigating the collision of the Greeneville with the Ehime Maru. "I pity the guy if any of these parents catch him." Gene Mico, Husband of a Linapuni Elementary School teacher after reports of a possible sexual predator stalking children in the Kalihi neighborhood

Ehime Maru solution

The loss at sea of the Ehime Maru men is an emotional tragedy, but we must move forward. Removing the vessel from the ocean floor at a cost of $40 million is outrageous.

Why not offer each of the nine families who lost loved ones $2 million per family, which totals $18 million. Erect a memorial in Hawaii and Japan and budget $1 million for each memorial. This would be a grand total of $20 million.

Surfacing the Ehime Maru will not bring back the men. Why not save the taxpaying public $20 million and take care of the nine families involved and erect two memorials!

Jim Rosen

Put war behind us

I commend the rational view offered on in the March 10 letter by Alfred Jonathan in regards to the USS Greeneville incident.

Jonathan wrote a very good counterpoint to the "Still salty about World War II" school of thought: America's conduct of international affairs in the last century has been equally, if not more, atrocious.

It is not too late for the United States and Japan to apologize for their moral wrongdoings. However the United States needs to take the lead by claiming the moral high ground on these issues, including the Greeneville. The students killed in the Ehime Maru grew up in a Japan vastly different from the fascist empire of World War II. To make them pay for the past is senseless and irresponsible, and it brings out the worst in us.

The strength the U.S.-Japanese bilateral relationship is pivotal to maintaining security in the Asia-Pacific region. It would be unfortunate if our two countries cannot survive this test of our friendship. We should be doing the most to facilitate the healing process, not conjure up evil memories.

Donn Chongsiriwatana

Taking the blame

I'm glad that Rep. Nobu Yonamine's conscience got the best of him and he changed his DUI plea from not guilty to guilty. I applaud him for doing the right thing. Admitting wrongdoing and facing the consequences is what we should expect from all of our community leaders.

William J. McFeeley III

Budget busting

Sen. Fred Hemmings (Letters, March 9) would have Star-Bulletin readers believe that former President Ronald Reagan should not be accountable for his role in quadrupling our national debt because the "Democrat-led Congress spent revenues faster than they were collected."

History tells us otherwise. Even Reagan's budget director, David Stockman, later admitted that the president's deficit-inducing tax cuts were the primary catalyst for the exponential increase of our national debt during the 1980s.

The president initially submits the federal budget to Congress, not vice-versa. And from 1981 to 1989, Congress trimmed an average of $28 billion annually from each budget initially proposed by President Reagan.

However, that shouldn't grant Democrats absolution, because the Democrat-led House approved Reagan's tax cut plan in 1982. But the Democrats didn't hold the congressional purse strings then, because Republicans controlled the Senate from 1981-1987.

Elected officials such as Sen. Hemmings should offer constructive engagement to their colleagues and constituents, rather than polarizing diatribes that leave a bad aftertaste. Otherwise, the senator's stated hope about citizens doing a better job than their politicians will soon become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Donald Koelper

---

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.