HPD pension change will hurt retirees

I was sorely disappointed upon reading "Pension change hits cops" (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 6). The article indicates that the bill was passed before a thorough review was conducted regarding its possible negative effects. All Honolulu Police Department officers may suffer a huge loss of their retirement benefits.

Upon retirement from HPD after 10 years and 8 months due to age, I was overjoyed to learn firsthand what the "high three" really meant. Moreover, as a previous military retiree with more than 30 years, I was aware of retirement pay based on a standard scale for rank/grade and years of service; simply put, there was no comparison, particularly as there was no such thing in the military as overtime or special duty pay in the determination of retirement pay.

How this bill was passed with little comment from public employee unions and little discussion among lawmakers completely befuddles me.

Lacking repeal of the bill, I favor adding a grandfather clause at a minimum. This could establish an effective date in the future, such as Jan 1, 2003, which would apply only to future employees joining HPD after the effective date. Many in HPD will recall a precedent for this action as a grandfather clause was adopted in the mid-1990s to a bill that changed the years required to buy back two years of military time, from eight years to 10 years.

Steve Good
Ewa Beach

New dangers require more gun safety

I am confused about what's going on near our nation's capital. My confusion is not with the sniper shootings; it's with law enforcement. It seems that in this age of technology law enforcement officials are relying on luck to catch the shooter.

The problem they are facing is constitutional and therefore so deep that luck is their best option.

The Second Amendment states, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." I do not and will not ever own a gun, but I believe in our Constitution.

I also believe that we live in a time where intolerance is taught more than acceptance. I think this was made perfectly clear on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The nation realized that morning that we needed to change how air travel security was set up. Why can't we see that something needs to change regarding firearms?

I'm sure the statement, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" is flowing like a flooded river as National Rifle Association members read this. Well, the 9/11 planes didn't kill 3,000 people and instill terror in the nation, people did that. But airline security has changed since then. When are people going to realize that something needs to change with guns?

Ted Obringer

Freedom of religion means neutrality

I disagree with Mitchell Kahle's charge that the phrase "so help me God" violates our First Amendment, and sets up a religious test ("God dropped from HPD oath," Sept. 24). There is no such thing as a "separation of church and state" in our Constitution. The founding fathers intended that the government not establish a government-controlled church or a state-church.

They knew first-hand that other countries like France and England had state-churches, and throughout their histories had persecuted people who were in a different denomination or had their own beliefs. Because of this, they wanted our Constitution to protect religious freedoms, and not stop people from expressing themselves religiously.

Also, I believe that putting "so help me God" in oaths is not a test but a religious expression. It should be protected.

I'm a 15-year-old student and would be sad to see God taken out of every ceremony and institution in this country. If that happens, I fear our country will turn into a lawless and immoral place, where no one has any absolute values or religious freedoms whatsoever.

Kekoa Higashi

Hawaii delegates right to vote against war

Thanks to our Hawaii congressional delegation, who all three voted against giving up their constitutional power to start a war, to a president, who wants to attack another sovereign nation. It's frightening, to say the least.

Keith Haugen

Forget party loyalty; show me the pension

Someone recently asked me a question and I have no answer.

He said that there are so many politicians wanting the late Patsy Mink's congressional job for the month left on her term because the winner will then get a pension and full hospitalization, which lawmakers enacted for themselves for the rest of their lives.

Is this a fact? Where can I sign up. I am a Lingle Republican, but I can be moved.

Arnold Van Fossen

Forbes should look at health statistics

While most people in the industrialized countries of the world receive medical coverage, census figures show that 14.6 percent of Americans are without health insurance. This speaks poorly for the United States as a humane civilization.

Hawaii fares better than the national average, with 90.5 percent of people covered. Most would applaud Hawaii's achievement -- except Forbes magazine, which will say it's further proof of Hawaii's socialistic inclinations. If this be the People's Republic of Hawaii, hurray!

Richard Y. Will

Outside money also fuels Democrats

The campaign spending "facts" reported by the Democrats are deceptive and dishonest. One Democratic legislator was reported as saying, "Were seeing more out-of-state contributions, especially in this race ... we're seeing the Republican national agenda overlaid on the Lingle campaign contributions report ... People in Hawaii should control Hawaii's destiny."

I am not a Republican but can see a dishonest political attack a mile off. Linda Lingle's campaign might get nearly 20 percent from outside the state, but Sen. Daniel Inouye gets almost all of his money from outside Hawaii. As the elder Democrat, he represents Hawaii's Democratic Party as a whole.

Earlier this year the Wilmington News Journal in Delaware reported the findings of a nonpartisan research group called Responsive Politics. The report revealed the amount of money congressional delegates received from outside their home state. Topping the list was Inouye, who received 99.6 percent of his campaign funds from out of state.

It is despicable that Democrats would so try to mislead Hawaii's people. Maybe this kind of disingenuous posturing is the reason so many people, including me, are voting Republican this year.

David Riddarskjold
Kaneohe

Feelings of loss spread over Mink's death

I was recently forwarded the Star-Bulletin's lovely article on Rep. Patsy Mink's funeral with the nice photos.

I was shocked by her death. I met her and worked on her campaigns when I attended the University of Hawaii-Manoa, where I received an master's degree in dance ethnology.

I feel as if I've lost a friend even though I haven't had contact with her in years. Please relay through your newspaper my deepest condolences to her husband and daughter. My pain and my love go out to them from myself and all my hula sisters everywhere.

Miriam Pumehana Paisner
Director, Halau Hula o Na Mauna Komohana
Boulder, Colo.

Hawaiians have a friend in Evan Dobelle

Out of Manoa came a converted East Coast kupuna who spoke like a breath of fresh air that settled over the recent Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

"The time has long since passed for the university to walk beside you as a partner in achieving Hawaiian parity." So said this most impressive man, Evan Dobelle, president of the University of Hawaii. He closed his speech with this: "It seems to me that those of you who are battling to define your people according to self-defined terms have a dual citizenship -- of this state, and of a state yet to come into existence.

"Of Hawaii and Ha-va-i'i," he said. "Ha-va-i'i, home of your ancestors, exists now as a state of mind -- and with the University of Hawaii as your partner, the Hawaiian community will turn that into a state of being..."

I am struck by this man's candor, compassion and daring, his "Yes, we can" attitude. The Hawaiian community should run, not walk, to take him up on his offer of a partnership.

Hank McKeague

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