Mansho impeachment effort appropriate

I agree with the headline of the Star-Bulletin editorial on Council member Rene Mansho ("Effort to impeach could be a useful test," Jan. 28), but I want to correct your erroneous understanding of our position.

We have not argued that "any City Council member caught breaking the law ... should resign or be forced out." If a camera caught a Council member speeding or leaving the scene of an accident, this would not be the basis for impeachment. But any significant illegal activity connected with official duties, or as the City Charter defines it, "malfeasance, misfeasance, and/or non-feasance in office," would constitute grounds for removal.

Mansho misappropriated city resources to raise campaign funds. She then used those ill-begotten campaign funds to benefit herself and her family and friends. Ironically, she was then allowed to pay the bulk of her fines out of her campaign funds.

Finally, the editorial seems to question whether it is appropriate to undertake an impeachment when Mansho has "only" one year left in office. We trust the Supreme Court will act swiftly on this important case and that it will be resolved, based on her own admissions, very quickly.

William W. Saunders Jr.
Attorney
Petitioners to Impeach

Rene Mansho

Unions provide worker stability, protection

Donald Allen suggests unions have outlived their usefulness (Star-Bulletin letters, Jan. 24). I think a careful examination of unionization shows it provides a key resource for working people, allowing them the strength to expand our democratic ideals to the workplace.

Most individuals don't have the money or political contacts to represent themselves against the wealthy and well-connected. This is especially true at work, where being fired could destroy a family. Therefore, people collectively protect themselves; that is, they form a union. For the past hundred years, unions have provided workplace democracy, a decent standard of living and a blue-collar middle class.

I recently served on the board of directors of University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. I am aware of the system's warts, and there is definitely room for improvement. However, I'm now working at Los Alamos National Lab and find myself unofficially giving advice to a young scientist who has run afoul of the system. There is no recognized collective bargaining agent here, and he feels he has nowhere else to go. Neither do I, if anyone resents my helping him.

The world is not a perfect place. People get taken advantage of and have the right to protect themselves. That's what unions do for the working Joe or Jean.

Khalil J. Spencer
Los Alamos, N.M.

[Quotables] "It was an overwhelming loss. It was like watching TV, but it was me in it." Troy Richardson Maui resident, standing in the doorway in the above photo, whose rented Lahaina home was flooded after heavy rains soaked the area. Richardson and his wife, Rebecca, were married five weeks ago; when they returned home Tuesday, they found their wedding picture floating in the living room in two feet of water. "That's really disappointing for the parents because I've been paying taxes all my life." Cecelia Camp Kihei resident whose two children attend Kihei High School, on legislative actions that resulted in a 40 percent cut in funding to the charter school. Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said the amount of money schools receive is determined by the total budget of the DOE divided by the number of students; a smaller school generally costs more per pupil because of fixed costs such as the principal and administrative staff.

Eventually we all need long-term health care

I would like to say why a state-sponsored, long-term care program is important. Because I have had polio, I am sure to need some type of long-term care eventually, although for the present my wife and I are OK. All people will need some form of long-term care sometime. The scope of the care needed will vary.

Without long-term care available, the next option is death with dignity, or doctor-assisted dying, when the money is gone.

Wally Johnston
Kailua

If it's that important, put it to a vote

I support the proposal by Gov. Cayetano and Senate President Robert Bunda for holding referendums on all major legislation. Many of our representatives hear only the aggressive vocal demands of the minority and appear intimidated. We, the working majority, have little time to lobby our representatives. We therefore would like to see controversial policies affecting our livelihoods on the ballot in November.

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City

Driving is not a right, it's a privilege

A recent letter to the editor compared voting and driving as being similar rights we all have. Well, not quite. Qualifications and restrictions discriminate by virtue of ability. This type of discrimination is not covered under our beloved Constitution, making it legal, thus driving is a privilege and not a right.

A "free representative democracy" is called a republic, which is what we have, and it's not to protect rights. It is to defer our voice to our elected officials, and they, not you or I, determine our public policies -- including those rules regarding who may drive.

So vote accordingly, but don't complain if you don't vote. That is a right as a U.S. citizen, unlike driving.

Craig Watanabe

How about getting junk cars off the road?

Now that the Department of Transportation has most of us speeders in check, will it now go after the almost 30 percent of illegal and abandoned cars with no insurance or safety checks that clutter and clog our streets?

Alvin Wong
Pearl City

Newspapers sharklike over Harris allegations

The new year is here, so let the campaign games begin.

We're starting off with a bang with the newspapers filled with stories of allegations against Mayor Jeremy Harris. I can't believe the shark-like media frenzy.

I just hope the people of Hawaii can see through all of these games, and not be affected by rumors and gossip. The American way is that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Let us not strip that right away from someone just because he is brave enough to run for office.

Robert Owen

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