Low speed limits can be dangerous, too

I hope Richard Brill's article ("Studies dispute links between speed, accidents," Star-Bulletin, Dec.16) will result in further productive discussion of speed limits.

In trying to be a good citizen, I almost always drive at the speed limit (even slowing to 45 mph on H1 where so posted), unless someone behind on a two-lane road can't get by. But I wonder why we citizens can't do something about needlessly and sometimes dangerously low speed limits?

As one example of a dangerously low limit, if one slows to the posted 25 mph on the hill just before Castle Hospital on the way to Kailua one is at risk of being hit from behind or sideswiped by someone in a hurry to turn right onto Kalanianaole Highway. Experience has made me afraid to go under 35 mph there anymore.

Maybe if we could get speed limits that make sense, people would be inclined to obey them. Getting them to stop for red lights might take a bit more cunning.

Bart Mathias

Patients make holiday ornaments for keiki

This year the Renewal Awareness Patient Program at Siemsen Dialysis is holding a miniature Christmas tree and ornament contest.

The Renewal Awareness Patient Program is set up by Bernadette Lono and James Kealii Fujimoto. It is run by patients for the betterment of patients at dialysis centers in the St. Francis Healthcare system.

The trees and ornaments will be donated to the Kapiolani medical center to spread holiday cheer to children in the hospital during the holidays.

We of the Renewal Awareness Patient Program express our wishes that these children are not forgotten during Christmas, and have hope for a better future.

James Fujimoto

[Quotables] "I believe in having fun. If you aren't having a good time, why get involved?" Micah Kane Hawaii Republican Party executive director, on replacing Linda Lingle as chairman of the party. Lingle announced that she will retire in the spring and asked that Kane replace her. The GOP's 70-person state committee approved the request. Kane calls himself a "moderate and inclusive" Republican. "What kind of vicious person would do this?" Sheri Schnack Owner of Gentleman Joe, one of two thoroughbred show horses killed last month in a stable fire in Maunawili. The other horse, Mulligan, was owned by Becky Rhodes. Police say the fire was deliberately set.

Focus tourism efforts outside of Japan

Japan is officially in a recession, with the highest unemployment rate since the end of the second World War, and Hawaii's government is sending influential community and political figures there to promote tourism?

Yes, take a vacation, folks, and enjoy the islands. We know many of you are unemployed as the condition of your economy continues its descent and jobs continue to go overseas.

Hawaii is in the same condition Japan is. Perhaps a well should be tapped elsewhere.

Tom Evans
Bangkok, Thailand

Gays protected while other students ignored

Chapter 19 of the Hawaii State Department of Education's administrative rules states that public school students will be protected from harassment based on their "race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, disability and sexual orientation." To get this policy implemented, the state created a task force made up of members of the community, which now has 15 members.

Of the 15, how many do you think were put on the task force to represent each protected category of students? There was no one for race, sex, disability or religion and at least 10 for sexual orientation.

Also, of the 8 to 10 hours that we have met to discuss a solution to harassment in schools, we have spent 0 minutes speaking about race, sex, disability or religion, but have spent at least 480 minutes focusing on sexual orientation.

Any attempt by task force members to bring up discrimination or harassment for any other reason besides sexual orientation has been shot down by the homosexual activists on the task force. The state superintendent, assistant superintendent and Board of Education should be ashamed for allowing this to happen.

Devin Bull
Chapter 19
Committee Member

Gambling will prey on residents' weaknesses

If you think politics in Hawaii is bad, just wait until gambling shows up. In time it will change Hawaii's leadership, as organized local and mainland individuals and money become influential by preying on the weaknesses of the people.

Let's help our leadership implement clean solutions to our economic deceleration. Gambling will bring Hawaii's leadership down, and not without negative ramifications for Hawaii nei.

Leonardo Jamias
Wahiawa

Hawaii could profit from out-of-state bets

Many people are against the idea of gambling in Hawaii for one reason or another. There is a way to get around this, and the state can make money at the same time.

The state can open an out-of-state gambling hall so people can make bets on events that are happening in other parts of the United States. For example, if someone likes to bet on football, you can place a bet at the state gambling hall for that game so many hours before that game is played. (Bets on games within the state would be prohibited.)

If you win your bet, the state will pay the odds for the game you played; if you lose, the state keeps your money, which can be used for whatever the state decides to spend it on.

There are many sports to bet on every day in the United States -- horse racing, basketball, football, tennis, soccer, etc.

Once all the rules are outlined (just like in Las Vegas), the state can make money without building a casino.

Norma Burden

Loss of tax exemption will force seniors out

Regarding the story "Senior citizens may lose their real property tax exemption" (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 31): If you keep taking away the advantages of living in Hawaii, which are all too few, more people will move away.

One of the reasons I moved here is the higher exemptions as I age. People move here factoring in this type of tax savings. It is grossly unfair to eliminate them once they have been in effect.

Please rethink this or we will have more people moving away from and fewer moving to Hawaii.

Marilyn Sharpe
Haleiwa

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