President's vacation matches state workers

President Bush's vacation perks are only slightly better than those of the typical state or city and county workers, who receive two months off from the date of hire -- three weeks sick leave, two weeks vacation and two weeks of holidays -- and whatever they accumulate from that day forward.

Add to that all of the half days around the holidays that the governor provides for the oppressed and overworked public employees to keep them voting for you-know-who on election day, which just happens to a paid holiday for public workers in Hawaii.

No wonder so many of us moved to Las Vegas.

Robert Gray
Las Vegas, Nev.

A droplet saved is a droplet earned

In 1971 when I was stationed on Okinawa we had a severe water shortage that began in the spring.

On the Navy base were barrels placed outside offices and filled with water. Whenever one needed to use the restroom, he dipped a bucketful of water and carried it to the restroom for flushing. At home, we would have water turned on for 12 hours every other day; before I left there it was turned on every third day. Everyone would fill up bathtubs and every container that you could lay your hands on would be used to save water.

A coworker lived at the top of a hill and said it took six or more hours for the water to reach his home so he had water for six hours or less.The authorities even tried seeding clouds but by the time it rained the clouds would be out over the ocean.

This condition continued throughout the summer; it was no fun and it made us believers that it is worthwhile to conserve water.

John Heatherman
Kailua

Intelligent life outside the university

The vast majority of Hawaii's people believe there is a supreme intelligent being who designed and created this world and all of life.

The University of Hawaii professors who proudly displayed their atheism in the evolution controversy made it clear that they consider the spiritual views of Hawaii's people with disdain.

If these scientists and teachers think that the rest of us are just fools, maybe they should look elsewhere for their paychecks. It is we stupid, superstitious fools who believe in the existence of God who are paying your salaries.

Shelly Bowne

Consuming vegetables leads to healthy life

Once again, science has shown us that lifestyle intervention is the safest and most effective weapon against disease. On Aug. 8, the National Institutes of Health released a study concluding that a low-fat diet combined with modest exercise is more effective than the leading anti-diabetes drug Glucophage at helping people lower their risk of developing diabetes.

On the same day, Bayer AG withdrew Baycol, its highly profitable cholesterol-lowering drug, from the world market. The company reported that some patients have died while taking it, because the drug caused an unusual condition in which muscle tissue broke down.

The prestigious NIH panel estimated in May that 65 million Americans should reduce their dietary cholesterol intake by cutting back on consumption of animal fat and meat. More than 60 million Americans suffer from heart disease and nearly 500,000 die each year.

Collectively, diseases associated with consumption of animal fat and meat account for 1.37 million U.S. deaths annually, or nearly 60 percent of the total.

Our supermarkets provide us with a rich variety of raw and processed plant-based foods, including soy-based meat analogs. All we need now is the resolve to remove animal-derived products from our shopping lists.

Laurelee Blanchard
Haiku, Hawaii

[Quotables] "I'm hoping to find more ways you can really learn stuff." Makana Bender, Student at Kihei High School, a new public-charter school on Maui that stresses high technology. "That was the most severe punishment available to me, because there was no evidence of criminal negligence." Maj. Gen James Dubik, 25th Infantry Division commander, concerning a letter of reprimand given to former aviation company commander Lt. Col. Paul Disney following a fatal accident involving Army helicopters six months ago on the North Shore.

Spend tax rebates on public education

In a few weeks, many of us will receive $300 from our nation's government and the $300 will disappear without lasting effect if spent conventionally.

Recently, the public heard that the governor needs millions to meet the pay raises of the public school teachers but can't justify the needed money. A lawsuit or strike is in the works. Television's Leslie Wilcox continues to raise money for school supplies via the Lokahi Program effort. Teachers have dipped into their pockets to supply their classrooms, many tapping their credit cards to do so.

I propose calling forth and enlisting 100,000 citizens to place their $300 refund into a general obligation bond worth $30 million (100,000 times 300).

I suggest we do this by having a public drive, much like the World War II war-bond efforts, bringing people together. If it could be done then, it can be done now.

By working together, citizens and leaders alike can do what no other state or foreign country has done. We can and will:

1. Help our teachers receive their promised pay and avert costly litigation.

2. Help our government avert costly litigation or strike.

3. Help the schools receive needed supplies.

4. Help ourselves, the citizen-lenders, by saving and lending rather than by spending.

5. Help our public school children show our leadership as adults.

As a citizen, I propose this sincerely.

Mitchell A. Chun

Folks really are happy to get tax refunds

The Star-Bulletin unwisely and unjustifiably sows seeds of discontent in its heavily editorialized July 29 article, "Tax refund no cure-all in Hawaii."

Are people really so unhappy with their refunds that they would rather have nothing at all? Is higher taxation the path to your brand of bliss? We know that's what the old-style union bosses want.

The refunds we receive will lighten our financial load. True, the money I get will go to pay bills, but I am relieved to have fewer debts. My finances are improved.

Taxpayers can calculate the amount of their expected refunds using the formula provided. The pitiful example of a man grousing about getting only $298 instead of the full $300 proves nothing.

And the young man who got $94 just isn't paying attention: You must have paid the taxes to receive the refund.

Have you ever listened to the radio and heard the squeals of delight as someone wins $100 in a contest?

Out of 37,000 refund checks thus far mailed to Hawaii's taxpayers, you couldn't find anyone with anything good to say about receiving cash in the mail?

Michael G. Palcic

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