Matsuura deserves praise for firm stand

So Governor Cayetano thinks Sen. David Matsuura should "lay aside" his religious convictions in order to get the physician-assisted suicide bill through the Legislature this year (Star-Bulletin, April 18).

If the good governor had any convictions, he would know how difficult it is to ask someone to do that very thing. Imagine the outcry if an atheist or agnostic was asked to "lay aside" his beliefs (or disbeliefs) in order to get controversial bills passed.

I, for one, vote for leaders with strong convictions and expect them to act on and vote those convictions. I don't expect them to cower to political bullies and compromise those convictions while in office. Bravo to Matsuura, and other legislators, for standing strong and "laying aside" pressure from our state governor.

James Roller

Denying problem won't make it go away

Recently, the state librarian protested mightily about some comments by Sen. Sam Slom regarding several million dollars in uncollected library book fines. As usual, Sam was right!

First, the library system must be sadly deficient in collecting fines if it allowed the outstanding balance to reach $4.3 million, which library officials did not dispute.

Second, due to the initial failure to collect, the library system had to contract with private enterprise to attempt collection ... at a typical "collection cost" or commission of at least 25 percent to 50 percent of the money due the library.

The library needs to establish a computer program to identify and deny further access to anyone with unpaid fines, missing, lost, and/or stolen books.

Sadly, this was just another example of civil servants killing the messenger instead of correcting the problem.

Bud Weisbrod

Full stomachs alone won't end terrorism

In an April 14 letter, Bettejo Dux asks "Can there be one sane and intelligent person ... who believes that by killing or capturing Yasser Arafat or (Osama) bin Laden, terrorism will cease?"

If we go by that logic, we ought not to arrest bank robbers, rapists and murderers, since arresting one of them will not end all robberies, rape and murders. But what any sane and intelligent person can understand is that though violent crime and terrorism can't be totally eliminated, we still ought to be punishing those who commit such acts.

Another problem with the letter is the belief stated that terrorism will end if everyone has food, shelter and fresh air. Wrong! Bin Laden is very rich but that didn't stop him from promoting terrorism. It's the same with dictators like Moammar Gadhafi and Saddam Hussein. Terrorism has nothing to do with poverty and a lot to do with religious fanaticism.

Pablo Wegesend

Humane Society refuses rescues, too

The Hawaiian Humane Society's much-publicized attempt to rescue a dog stranded on a ship adrift at sea is commendable, but I do have concerns. The rescue team has left a myriad of local animal problems unaddressed in the past.

I have been involved in several animal rescues where an urgent phone call to the Hawaiian Humane Society resulted in a busy signal or being put on hold for as long as one-half an hour. After finally getting through, I was informed that the Hawaiian Humane Society would not or could not respond to the animal emergency due to either having no truck available, no staff to respond, or determining that the emergency did not meet its rescue criteria.

If the Hawaiian Humane Society has this kind of money and resources to spend on one rescue, why are so many abused and neglected animals on Oahu being ignored?

Joan Vannatta

Fight to stop drilling in Alaska isn't over

On April 17, the U.S. Senate rightly voted against a bill that would have allowed oil drilling in the Arctic National Refuge of Alaska. However, Senators Akaka and Inouye voted for drilling. This area is the last remaining 5 percent of Alaskan land not open to drilling.

Proponents of the bill claimed that it is necessary to drill there in order to reduce our dependence on the importation of foreign oil. However, even government sources have admitted that the supply would last for only six months and would not even be available to the public for 10 years.

There are better alternatives that would save us much more fuel, such as raising fuel-efficiency standards in our automobiles by only 3 mpg.

Last week's vote to protect the environment is a step in the right direction, but the fight against drilling in this refuge is not over. The House earlier passed a bill to drill, and the two bills have to be merged. On this issue Reps. Patsy Mink and Neil Abercrombie voted for protection.

Ivona Xiezopolski
Kaneohe

Private sector has endured layoffs

Regarding the story on proposed city budget cuts, "Harris warns 146 jobs at risk" (Star-Bulletin, April 19):

What about all of the private-sector jobs that have been lost? They only keep the money engine in Waikiki running. The city and state should learn how to face what those in the private sector have had to, then maybe someone in these self-serving agencies will wake up to the real world.

You cannot tax and spend your way to prosperity. This only shows us that Mayor Harris has no viable economic plan for the state of Hawaii if he becomes governor. He should come to Waikiki for more than Brunch on the Beach and see how the people who are living one paycheck to the next are doing. They could probably teach him a lot about being on a budget.

D. S. Robb

Foes of bottle bill have their own agenda

Who's trashing the bottle bill?

Certainly not Hawaii's government officials and citizens. In fact, a Ward Research poll cited by the Department of Health found that 70 percent of polled residents support the bill. My district is even more supportive, with 73 percent in support, 16 percent in opposition and 11 percent undecided, as indicated by responses to my 2001 Legislative Survey.

The opponents of the measure are members of the beverage industry who make up a coalition with the misleading name of Hawaii Citizens for Comprehensive Recycling (HCCR). While it continually implies that its agenda is representative of the interests and opinions of Hawaii's public, it is truly corporate citizens representing their own financial interests.

The HCCR's recent advertising campaign is filled with inaccuracies and is intentionally geared to sway the public into mistakenly viewing the bottle bill as an ineffective and costly way to increase recycling. In reality, this erroneous description would more appropriately define their own recycling program, which is anything but comprehensive, effective, or inexpensive.

HCCR has suggested a curbside recycling program, which would place an enormous, involuntary financial burden on taxpayers and greatly expand city responsibilities. The bottle bill provides the monetary incentive that curbside recycling lacks. A return deposit will entice those who don't already recycle to participate, as has been proven in 10 other states which have achieved an 80 percent recovery rate through the implementation of a return deposit on beverage containers.

The beverage industry coalition members should be upfront with consumers. They should identify themselves individually as corporate entities, state their case, and stand by it, rather than trying to achieve their goals by misleading the public.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen
R, Kailua-Kaneohe

Bottle bill will create expense and hazard

Recycling and less litter are good ideas. But is the bottle bill meant to affect the wholesalers, retailers or ultimate consumers who use the bottle?

As restaurant and bar owners, we already recycle 99-plus percent of all glass and we already pay 1.5 cents per bottle without a returnable deposit. The desired result already exists with the on-premise retailer. Should the bottles now have value, we will be forced to rent more expensive Waikiki floor space for storage of a dirty, vermin-attracting health problem.

We are asked to store trash in a food service establishment that is valuable enough that we cannot put it outside where it will be stolen.

Will the state Department of Health next fine businesses for violations created by our Legislature? How much must we raise prices to offset the rental space and cover the expense of recycling a product that is nearly 100 percent recycled already?

Must we brow beat business to effect something the public should do responsibly?

Bill Comerford

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