Democrats should quit picking on Djou

It is ridiculous that Speaker of the House Calvin Say and his Democratic elite are giving Rep. Charles K. Djou (R, Kahaluu-Kaneohe), a tough time, trying to stop him from serving as minority floor leader of the House and as a member of the powerful Finance Committee.

This isn't a time to wield political might. Why does Say have to confer with his Democratic colleagues in deciding whether Djou should serve in such a capacity? Hawaii residents are tired of political gridlock. Leave Djou alone and let him serve in a position in which the Republican leadership elected him to serve.

The speaker says this is stressing him out. Well, you know what is really stressful? The Democratic majority picking on a minority leadership that is trying to bring reform to Hawaii. Rep. Djou is a part of a new generation of leadership that will reshape Hawaii government and make the lives of people here better.

John Oram
Kaneohe

State shouldn't touch hurricane fund

Gov. Ben Cayetano's effort to use the Hurricane Relief Fund in order to balance the state budget is irresponsible and shows a lack of concern for all the homeowners who were forced to pay into the fund.

His feeling is that there are ways to garnish funds for hurricane relief should it become necessary. But, in reality, where will such funding come from? Cayetano already has lost the trust of homeowners in wanting to use their hard-earned money -- money they didn't have to spare.

After the Hurricane Relief Fund is exhausted, where will the money come from to cover the next budgetary shortfall? According to Neal Miyahara, Cayetano's state budget director, it is the responsibility of the Legislature to find the necessary funds to balance the next state budget.

It is the fiduciary duty of the state government to responsibly act for the best interest of the people of Hawaii. Raiding the Hurricane Relief Fund now is going against its fiduciary obligation to the people, especially to homeowners.

The Hurricane Relief Fund should be targeted only for hurricane relief, and for the benefit of the homeowners of Hawaii.

It is not the government's money, but the homeowners.' How hard is it to figure that out, Governor?

Drew Kosora

[Quotables] "You will see $39 seats out there." Greg Brenneman Chief executive of Turnworks, Inc., on one of the effects the merger off Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines will have on kamaaina interisland fares. Brenneman is the former CEO of Continental Airlines who is coordinating the merger. "I just feel that politics and water don't mix real well." Norma Piltz Former Maui Water Board member, favoring a proposal before the Maui County Charter Commission that would allow it to set the rules and rates governing water use on the island. The current board is able to set water rates only after obtaining approval from the mayor and County Council.

Voters need help to filter election 'spin'

In this election year many speeches extolling the virtues of each candidate will be presented.

Advertisements will further enhance the "spin" of each potential candidate as bold statements and promises are made.

As the 2002 elections nears, I wonder if an honest politician is an oxymoron?

How do lay people filter the "spin"? Can we know the truth and who is truthful?

Perhaps some politician, political analyst or someone else in the know would share wisdom and provide insight to us voters.

Russell Stephen Pang

It's imperative Lindh gets a fair trial

I'm no fan of John Walker Lindh, and I'll shed no tears if he gets locked up for a long time, but I disagree with Robert Vernon's logic in his Jan. 20 letter calling for Lindh's execution.

First, Lindh didn't "betray" the United States merely by joining the Taliban. At the time he joined the Taliban, the United States had a peaceable relationship with that government. In fact, we had armed Taliban members to fight the Russians, and were providing $100 million per year in charitable aid to Afghanistan.

Second, the U.S. Congress never declared war on the Taliban, tough statements from President Bush notwithstanding. According to the Constitution, Lindh can't be a wartime "traitor" because, legally, we were not at war. In fact, if the leaders of the Taliban had the good sense to follow Pakistan's lead and pledge to fully cooperate with the United States, they'd still be in power and we'd still be turning a blind eye to their human-rights abuses, much as we do with Saudi Arabia. No one would be kvetching about Lindh's Taliban membership.

Third, no one has testified that Lindh ever fired upon a U.S. soldier or citizen. Perhaps he did, but as a U.S. citizen he must be presumed innocent unless such proof is found.

Much as it may dismay Vernon, Lindh is a U.S. citizen and is entitled to the protections of due process. If we permit the military tribunals that certain overzealous officials want, then our military victories in Afghanistan will be in vain, a Pyrrhic victory. We will have lost the fight that matters -- the fight to preserve our liberties.

Jim Henshaw
Kailua

Aloha is draining Hawaiian money

If the merger of Hawaii's interisland airlines isn't a bailout for Aloha Airlines, as Aloha CEO Glenn R. Zander is quoted as saying ("Aloha Air's chief defends carrier's financial health," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 18), then why is Aloha selling "last-minute" interisland coupon books?

That has always been done as a desperate attempt to raise immediate cash. Hawaiian has done the same thing when it was in trouble. Greg Brenneman, who would head the new company, has stated that coupons are a bad thing, that the airlines lose up to 30 percent of revenue by selling them and that he wants to eliminate them. So why the coupon sale?

Zander has said that Hawaiian lost $39.7 million from 1998 through 2000, while Aloha lost $3.6 million over the same period. The fact is, Hawaiian Airlines actually has accrued more than $120 million in cash with almost no debt. The $39 million "loss" was mostly write-down and one-time accounting losses, much like depreciation on your home.

I think that's why this deal is being done. The majority shareholders have figured out a way to drain that money with more than $60 million going to Aloha Holdings or Aloha shareholders.

Paul Gill
Hawaiian Airlines shareholder and employee Los Angeles, Calif.

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