Gambling will not solve economic woes

The last thing we need in Hawaii is legalized gambling. We as a people must deal with difficult economic problems, but the "quick fix" of gambling is an illusion.

If we step back and see the long-term, big picture, it becomes clear that social problems will increase if gambling is legalized. Not only will we have to deal with compulsive gamblers, but we also will see an increase in welfare, divorce, abuse, homelessness and bankruptcy. The people who would make billions off Hawaii gambling couldn't care less about our good people.

We are proud of the peaceful aloha spirit here in Hawaii. The last thing we need is for mainland gambling interests to take hold of our leaders.

Write your Hawaii state officials now and tell them not to gamble with aloha.

Rev. Vaughn F. Beckman
First Christian Church
Makiki

Casinos would bring Asians to Hawaii

Your Dec. 14 editorial on gambling said it will bring an increase in crime. In the last decade, gambling has increased tremendously, yet all crime has gone down greatly and is at its lowest level in 40 years.

Look it up: The numbers don't lie. When I first went to Atlantic City in 1979, about 80 percent of the people were white, 10 percent Asian and 10 percent other races. When I was there this August, there were about 25 percent white and 75 percent other races, mostly Asian. My wife is Asian, and all my in-laws used to gamble in their homes; now they do all of their gambling -- every week -- at nearby Atlantic City.

There are 2 billion Asians (excluding India) within 24 hours of Hawaii. If you could entice just 1 percent of them to come here, that's 20 million people. With gambling, you won't have much of a problem getting them here, if you have enough casinos.

Contributing editor John Flanagan (Talk story, Dec. 16) wrote about the demise of jai alai in Bridgeport, Conn. My brother has lived in Westport, 15 minutes from Bridgeport, for 24 years and never has gone to bet on jai alai. He does go to the casino on an Indian reservation in Connecticut, which has expanded numerous times since it opened.

Jai alai and casinos are altogether different animals. Politicians in Hawaii had better heed what Sen. Daniel Inouye said about the base closings and questions about the need for all of the military troops here in the near future. He didn't seem very optimistic.

Fred Cavaiuolo

[Quotables] "I'm leading the money list right now. At least I can say that. When I get old -- I talk to my nephews and all that stuff -- I can can say, 'Well, I was the money leader for at least a week.'" Sergio Garcia Golfer, who turns 22 tomorrow, after winning the Mercedes Championships at Kapalua, Maui, the opening event on this year's PGA tour. The irrepressible Spaniard will be among those competing this week in the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club. "Don't call it a resolution. Call it a goal, and keep it to yourself." John Arndt Former Hawaii Kai optician and now president of Lifestyle Changes Inc. of Santa Monica, Calif., on losing weight. Arndt lost 287 pounds over a 212-year period to his present 190 pounds.

Traffic cameras aren't like armed guards

I had to laugh when I read the letter "Cold War spying come to Honolulu" (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 4). I, too, was in Berlin before the wall came down, and yes, there were surveillance cameras. But the one thing that wasn't mentioned in the letter was that there were numerous guard towers with machine guns placed throughout the city. That is the one thing you will not find in Honolulu, and never will.

Comparing a few traffic cameras intended to catch speeding drivers and people who go through red lights to East Berlin and its armed guards is ridiculous, to say the least.

Alan Cummings
Port Angeles, Wash.

Safety is not the real issue with cameras

Kudos to your editorial staff for writing a fair and reasonable piece on our latest state tax, the traffic cameras ("It's time to consider raising speed limits," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 4). As you stated, speed is not the problem any more than gravity is the problem with airplane crashes.

If safety were all that mattered, we would all drive at 5 mph and no one would die in car wrecks. The question of reasonable speed would have been addressed by more thoughtful people before instituting a measure as draconian as we've seen.

One wonders about the motivation of the people who instituted this mess. Money, clearly, but perhaps other favors as well?

It is ludicrous for the Geico insurance executive to label as "bad drivers" people caught under the current system. He must know that most of these people are likely to have spotless records and will continue to avoid accidents but are now "scofflaws" because they would dare to drive more than 45 mph on a straight, four-lane highway separated by a divider with not a pedestrian or driveway in sight.

The people of Hawaii have the opportunity to pin their representatives down on where they stand on this issue and act appropriately. If not, we get what we deserve.

Brian Mihara

Airline does not need merger to survive

Many of us at Hawaiian Airlines have been following the news of the proposed merger very closely. The sudden announcement now appears to have been pre-arranged with some special help and is on the fast track to close before the true effects can be sorted out. Suddenly, after 72 years of choice and competition, Hawaiian and Aloha will be gone forever.

Fortunately, however, this may not be a done deal just yet. The spin that the two airlines face imminent bankruptcy does not hold water. I'm confident regulators and lawmakers are less concerned about saving face than what's right for the people of Hawaii.

Contrary to what the public and government are being led to believe by the profiteers, in the case of Hawaiian Airlines, massive amounts of money have been reinvested back into the infrastructure, right down to new airplanes and livery. Record profits have been recorded and the company has built up a cash reserve of more than $120 million.

Hawaiian appears to be well poised to weather the current economic climate while positioning for future growth on its own merit.

Robert Scott

---

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