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ADB meeting robs leaders of compassion

Regarding City Council Bill 6: We saw and heard on 'Olelo, during discussion of security for the upcoming Asian Development Bank meeting, eloquent and impassioned pleas made by those who serve the poor and homeless, as well as by homeless persons.

Yet we are appalled by the behavior of the City Council. The Council seems determined to ignore the dangers and showed total disrespect to the most wretched of the poor -- our homeless.

Instead, most of the Council treats our agonized citizens as though they were wild dogs. Money, money, money. When will our Council, our Legislature and even the governor stop being mesmerized by, "What's in it for me? How can I make more money?"

William R. Bailey and Roberta R. Bailey

Let's at least study feasibility of gaming

Besides agreeing that my proposal to form an interim Senate committee on gaming is a bad idea, both daily newspapers paint the effort as a sinister move to persuade residents to accept gambling.

Let's depart from the dramatic for a more realistic look at the facts. The resolution I introduced simply calls for an interim committee to study the whole issue of gaming and to report back to the next Legislature. It is an opportunity to use the time between sessions to more comprehensively and rationally discuss the pros and cons of the subject.

The interim committee, if established, may agree with you in its recommendation to the Legislature. Whatever the outcome, why be so paranoid about the process? Contrary to the Star-Bulletin's opinion, legislators are neither looking for, nor expect to find an easy solution to the fiscal problems of the state. We know the ultimate solutions are long term.

However, there are immediate problems that need to be addressed. Teachers deserve a raise, schools need to be repaired, social programs need funding and legislators need to find a way to pay for it all. Yet when the Senate proposed deferring income tax cuts as a way of raising just a portion of the money needed, you were critical of the proposal.

At this point, it is obviously much easier to write a critical editorial than one with a constructive solution. You did, however, offer us some advice. That was to listen to a government employee in Wisconsin who apparently shares your phobia of casinos. Did he also tell you that the current state budget provides for permanent income tax cuts, direct sales tax rebates and restoration of property and rent credits? Did he mention that in the last four years, income taxes in his state were cut by 18 percent with most of the reductions benefiting the middle class?

The Department of Revenue in Wisconsin administers the Wisconsin lottery, employs 1,309 people and has an annual budget to $277 million. The governor and the Wisconsin legislature have promised to deliver $1.69 billion in tax reductions.

Maybe the politicians and people of Hawaii should at least hear the rest of the story before they make up their minds.

Robert Bunda
Senate President

Quotables "Someone just joked to me that maybe we should put out a sign, 'Careful, Prisoners Crossing,' out there on Dillingham Boulevard." GOV. BEN CAYETANO, Saying he is "very upset" and embarrassed by the recent escapes from Oahu prisons "I think what is going on is an admiral's protective organization." CHARLES GITTINS, Attorney for former USS Greeneville Cmdr. Scott Waddle referring to the role of retired Adm. Richard Macke in the submarine's "distinguished visitor" cruise that ended with the collision and sinking of the Ehime Maru

Hate crime definition should be expanded

Last week's Michelle Malkin column, "Media ignore teen's torture and death at hands of gays," made many good points.

The saddest thing is that if the Arkansas trial had been about two heterosexual men who tortured and caused the slow, painful death of a gay teen-ager this story would have been all over the news for weeks and new laws would have been proposed to protect gays from this form of hate crime.

We need to stop and realize that any crime that results in the injury or death of another human being should be considered a hate crime.

Steven E. Marsh

Longline ban is worth the cost

It's true that the new longline fishing ban will cause much of the fish sold in the isles to be imported and costly. But I'll pay the extra cost to help keep our fishing waters viable.

Bob Devine

U.S. reacted well to sub accident

I applaud our government's handling of the Ehime Maru tragedy. It's a class act of American humanitarianism and shows the high regard the United States has for Japan as an ally in maintaining peace and stability in the Far East.

The fact that Japan has not pursued aggressive military armaments for half a century, and instead has become the foremost provider of foreign aid worldwide, has not escaped U.S. acknowledgement and the profound respect America must have for these peaceful pursuits. Japan's actions are a boon to world peace.

The U.S. responses to the Ehime Maru tragedy therefore have been consistent with what one would expect from a respected ally. The acceptance of complete U.S. responsibility for the accident; the apologies and condolences extended by the president down through the ranks to the Greeneville commander; the prompt convening of the Navy's court of inquiry opened to the public and the relatives of the victims; the decision to investigate raising the Ehime Maru to retrieve the entombed; these are all class peace-time actions of a great country. They make one proud to be an American.

Larry T. Hayashida
Wahiawa

Don't underestimate Mazie Hirono

For all the skeptics who pooh-pooh the gubernatorial candidacy of Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono because she is either too far back in the polls or because "she just can't win," it may be a good idea to consider some recent history.

Remember the 1986 race, in which Cec Heftel was supposed to fly home from Washington and virtually walk right into Washington Place? He led in the polls 55 percent to only 31 percent for Lt. Gov. John Waihee. Guess who lived in Washington Place after all?

Remember also when Pat Saiki was going to make mincemeat of Ben Cayetano in 1994. She led 51 percent to 22 percent nine months before the election, and we all know who won the real poll.

And how can we forget when Linda Lingle had the election in the bag in March 1998, getting favorable ratings of 45 percent to Cayetano's meager 29 percent. The final favorable rating went to Cayetano.

So for those of you who have written off Hirono, let's get our history straight. A lot of people thought this unknown but feisty state representative with no state-wide experience or exposure didn't have a chance to become the second-highest political official in the state. Well, guess who is got elected lieutenant governor twice?

Francis M. Nakamoto

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