Bush's executive order defies 1978 law

The executive order to suppress and halt access to information from the Reagan and Bush presidential records is in direct opposition to the Presidential Records Act of 1978. Why is the son of a former president bent on concealing the activities of the Reagan/Bush White House years? Why does Bush Junior's executive order suddenly bestow "executive privilege" on the vice presidency when there is no constitutional basis for it?

The behavior of this president bodes ill for the nation. His actions go beyond those issues related to any wartime emergency, and define a regime that does not feel it will ever have to hold itself accountable to the American public now or in the future.

For a man who became president through the graces of a narrow Supreme Court decision, Bush should have a great respect for the law. Regrettably, he does not.

Juliet Begley

God sending a warning to the governor?

Could the message behind the high winds we are experiencing be God whispering to Ben Cayetano to keep his hands off the Hurricane Relief Fund?

Helen T. Carroll

[Quotables] "Every time I looked at that trophy I wondered, 'Where is this guy?'" Pat Thompson San Diego resident who won a dance contest with sailor Jack Evans at Bloch Arena on the eve of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The two recently were reunited after an almost 60-year separation and found out they had lived within 15 miles of each other for 40 years. "He was just a good kid who ended up in the wrong hands." Bill Jones Friend of Frank Lindh, whose son, John Phillip Walker Lindh, fought with the Taliban and was captured by U.S. Special Forces. Family members and friends say Walker had been on a spiritual quest for several years before joining the Taliban six months ago.

Nation of oil junkies funds terror with SUVs

Webster defines "addiction" as "the persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful." Clearly, we are oil addicts. However, even the most addicted junkies usually have enough sense to avoid drug dealers who consistently and methodically rip them off and occasionally try to kill them. Not us. Domestic and foreign oil companies consistently rip us off, and our own money spent on oil winds up funding terrorism.

Our response to this situation? Consumers demand and Detroit happily provides the biggest oil-guzzling fleet in history because Americans have been brainwashed into thinking they "need" SUVs and trucks -- the environment, public safety and oil dependence be damned.

If you want to be a real patriot, take the flag off your SUV, put it on your bike or fuel-efficient car and ride them instead.

If Bush wants to be a real leader and cement his place in history he will announce a plan to rid the U.S. of its dependence on foreign oil in 10 years. Since only a conservative like Nixon could go to Red China, perhaps only a Texas oil man can break our oil addiction.

Terry Revere

Provide incentives for bicycle commuters

A Dec. 3 letter to the editor proposes improving traffic flow by using the bike path between Renton Road in Ewa and McGrew Point in Aiea for cars.

While well-intentioned, this idea champions the dominant paradigm -- that transportation problems on Oahu and nationwide will be solved by building more freeways, continuing to drive cars and drilling for more oil.

Here is an idea to improve traffic flow that is healthier for residents and our island: The government provides financial incentives for employees to bicycle to work. Employers provide showers. Commuters will be healthier, the bike lane will continue to be available to recreational bicyclists and commuters, and the traffic flow assuredly will improve.

Christel Olson

President should drop opposition to cloning

President Bush's opposition to human cloning will not stop its progress. Other countries will proceed. Viewed a decade from today, its progress will be astounding. It will be a gain by other nations and a loss by the United States.

Science will not stand still. Human cloning will move forward despite opposition from the Bush administration. Cloning -- with supervision, restraint, caution and control -- need not be feared. It is preferable to complete opposition, with too much at stake. The Bush administration should reverse its opposition now.

How Tim Chang

Government overtaxes gasoline supply

I was incredulous to read Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga's Nov. 12 letter on gasoline prices. Was it designed to curry voters' favor and flame the conspiracy theorists' hysteria?

Rep. Yoshinaga's figures that claim Hawaii consumers are "funneling" an extra 60 cents per gallon out of Hawaii are preposterous.

I'm sure the industry would be delighted to earn such high profits but in reality, only the government can dream of creaming money like this off gasoline -- with taxes that total 55 cents per gallon, the nation's highest!

If the pump price is $1.80 per gallon and taxes are 55 cents, that leaves $1.25. Industry average crude oil costs run about 40 percent of the retail price, or 72 cents. Subtracting 72 cents from $1.25 leaves 53 cents to cover expenses such as refining, marketing, transportation, compliance, dealers and (hopefully) profit for both dealers and oil companies.

Would Rep. Yoshinaga assist us by showing how to squeeze 60 cents from 53 cents to funnel out of Hawaii?

Previously, Rep. Yoshinaga has proposed bills that would create another layer of bureaucracy to regulate gasoline. Fortunately, knowledgeable government officials oppose such ideas, saying these actions would intrude on the free market and have negative consumer consequences.

Barnaby Robinson

Travel business should offer special rates

We visit Oahu every year -- sometimes twice a year -- to relax and unwind. This trip, however, due to the Sept. 11 attack, the climate is different, even subdued. I said to my wife, while we stood on our hotel-room balcony, "It just makes you want to cry," looking down on a near-deserted Lewers Street.

Why don't the hotel chains and tour packagers offer and subsidize some rock-bottom prices? Return visitors, like us, and first-timers will not be able to resist the price to visit paradise. The principals won't make as much as usual, but they'll stay open and keep their employed working.

Keith Bonet
Henderson, Nev.

---

Letter guidelines The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point on issues of public interest. The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed, must include a mailing address and daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813