Let them eat, er ... use (cheaper) laptops

It's amazing that in this time of budget cuts and reduction of service to the public, our state legislators have given themselves state-of-the-art notebook computers. Why?

As Rep. Barbara Marumoto was quoted, "I think it might be handy."

Can openers are handy.

It seems to me that it might be logical to have a defined need for something before the Legislature spends money. In addition, it would be wise not to purchase the most expensive model -- the one with all the bells and whistles (DVD player, 1.6 ghz) -- but equipment that is more suited to the actual needs of the Legislature.

A slower version of the same computer would have cut about $500 from the cost and still would have had more than enough power for any task.

Paul Guncheon
Kaneohe

Dems still behave like naughty kids

The headline on the Star-Bulletin's March 13 lead editorial read "Message to House members: Grow up."

That statement was not the first of its nature that has been made. In a Feb. 26 article ("Inouye blasts Hawaii Dems for lack of leadership), U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said, "My message is always the same: We (Democrats) have got to get our act together."

He added, "We have a party that has evolved into an organization of fiefdoms or baronets."

Did Democratic leaders heed the message behind the statements of the top-ranking Democrat? Nope. Have they since grown up? Nope.

Then you had the message behind the most recent election. Voters, for the first time since 1962, elected a Republican governor because they were fed up with the Demo-crats' decades-long, do-nothing, revengeful and sometimes childish behavior.

Did Democratic leaders heed the message from voters? Nope. Just look what is happening in the House right now. Have they since grown up? Again, nope.

What will it take for Demo-crats to grow up? And what will it take for them to realize that their job is not to make a Republican governor miserable?

Let us continue to toss out the bad apples come election time. As Inouye said in the aforementioned article, "Let's get some new blood in here."

For sake of disclosure, I have always considered myself a Democrat.

Warren A. Kaneshiro

Eight years was quite enough of Cayetano

I am not surprised that our former governor took the opportunity to criticize Linda Lingle's first 100 days in office because throughout his entirely too long administration, he often spoke out of turn, inappropriately, or with a swagger and bull-headedness that confused the real issues.

Former U.S. presidents usually take great care not to overtly criticize their successors. Overall that is a good policy -- one Cayetano should emulate, especially since many of the problems that Lingle faces worsened under Caye-tano's two long and painful terms. Problems in transportation, education and the economy really made no significant progress during his tenure. And, while pressures coming from outside Hawaii surely contributed to the formidable problems Cayetano faced, many were not solved given his leadership style and disconnect with the people of the state.

As one of thousands of teachers forced to strike because of him, I would hope we hear and see little of him for a while, and that he exercise some class and good manners and give someone else an opportunity to do what he could not.

The people have indeed spoken, wanted a change, and those out of office should politely clam up for a while.

Vincent Linares
Kula, Maui

Schools would improve by breaking tradition

I was born and raised in Honolulu. After being away for 15 years, and living on the East Coast, I returned home to live in Hawaii during the winter.

Like most people in Hawaii, I come from two different cultures, Chinese and Korean, both of which respect tradition. It is one thing to respect tradition, but it is also respectful to take a look at viable solutions to problems of this millennium. Trying to solve modern-day problems with old mentalities can be very frustrating for all.

I noticed that as soon as Governor Lingle proposed decentralizing the Board of Education and non-unionized principals, there were a number of negative reactions in letters to the editor and news stories. The negativity was based on tradition rather than an informed opinion. Decentralized school boards and non-union principals do work.

These are not new ideas, but they are tried and proven solutions. Opinions that are based on tradition rather than facts, misinformation and incomplete knowledge appear to be self-serving. Before we are quick to criticize the governor, we should all do our homework.

Sheila Sen Carter

No librarian wants to curtail services

I am amused at how quickly the public library situation has degenerated into name-calling and calls for the state librarian's resignation. Critics are quick to attack the messenger rather than address the message. I know of no librarian who wants to reduce library hours. I know of no library patron who wants the library to offer less than the highest standards of quality library service.

What other services can the library eliminate to meet the 4.5 percent budget cut? Does the public care that many libraries are trying desperately to cover the current library hours with many vacant positions since the hiring freeze was imposed on Dec. 30, 2002? Maintaining the current public hours cannot meet both the hiring freeze restrictions and budget reduction goals. Even lifting the freeze without adequate funding will not allow the libraries to hire and train staff needed to retain the levels of service and materials the public expects.

As a federal documents librarian, I accept the responsibility of ensuring public access to my collection and find extreme difficulty in contemplating options that restrict delivering this information to anyone in any form. As a concerned citizen, I wish all parties would come together to help the Hawaii State Public Library System deliver quality service and materials with an immediate future of reduced staff and operating funds.

Stewart Chun

Human shields showed what cowards they are

These Project Human Shield people are either ignorant or hypocrites. Ken O'Keefe and other human-shield people got kicked out of the Iraq because they didn't agree to what they should be shielding (Star-Bulletin, March 12). O'Keefe wanted to shield food centers, hospitals and other areas essential to the civilian population, but the Iraqi government wanted them at military-type installations.

If these people were truly against war they would put themselves at the front line, but instead they choose areas that aren't normally attacked. The U.S. military would never purposely target civilian installations. That's not to say we're the most moral country; it just doesn't make any military sense to attack these types of targets.

When put in real danger, the human-shield people showed their true colors. They turned Project Human Shield into Project I Didn't Think I Would Actually Die So I'm Running Away!

Every person who signs up for the U.S. military becomes a human shield to protect the citizens of the United States. The only difference is that when the people in the military are called upon to risk their lives, they don't run and hide.

Casey Kamikawa
Mililani

The old adage about war just isn't true

Why do I keep hearing the phrase "war never solves anything?" Can someone explain to me how our nation got our independence? Or how the defeat of Nazism and communism, the ending of American slavery and the freedom of the Afghan people came to be?

The United States has gone the extra mile trying to appease the United Nations. But when China invaded and subjugated Tibet and when Russia committed atrocities in Chechnya, did the U.N. Security Council raise a stink about those issues?

Part of the fear is the belief that if the United States attacks Iraq, then the U.S. will be more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Well, if terrorists will hit us again because we're taking on Saddam, it must be because he is their ally.

If we listen too much and too long to the war protesters, fear, which is already in seed form in most Americans' hearts, will grow into a forest. The fear and negativism that's primarily anti-American is highly contagious.

War does solve things, but you have to win. The U.S. Constitution would be virtually meaningless if not for the wars that America fought and won in the past. No, war does help -- and Iraq will be no exception.

Rich Wilbur

Lawmakers need to get tough on crime

I agree with Rep. Bud Stonebraker's comments (Star-Bulletin, March 11) regarding the need to adopt tougher criminal laws. Why are Rep. Scott Saiki and Sen. Colleen Hanabusa saying this critical issue has political implications? With the constant increase in crystal meth use, crime is out of control. Most property crimes are directly related to it. In addition, many criminals with extensive records, such as Shane Mark, who was charged with killing police officer Glen Gaspar, are committing outrageous crimes on a daily basis to support their drug habits.

Right now, crime is worth the risk of punishment to criminals. For the sake of the communities, law enforcement and tourism, tougher laws must be adopted quickly. Hanabusa commented about the lingering problem of prison overcrowding. Is overcrowding a valid reason to release criminals back to the streets? That seems to be the case in our state.

Ed Bajcar

3-strikes law would prevent serious crime

I do not mind paying taxes if my money goes to those who need it. But I do not like giving my money to criminals who drive $50,000 cars and live in public housing while I work and go to school. I would rather have my tax dollars pay to house these criminals in prison.

There are criminals in Hawaii with more felony convictions than I have had jobs. These criminals just do not get it. Why? Maybe the judges have been too nice, too compassionate. If a criminal believes he may get off easy, then he will continue to break the law.

California's three-strikes law prevents repeat felony offenders from committing another crime again. After a third felony, criminals are automatically sentenced to no less than 25 years to life in prison.

With the recent killing of Glen Gaspar -- a father, a son, a coach, a friend to many and a police officer -- we need to establish a three-strikes law now!

Do not let repeat offenders take another life, steal your money, or rape another victim. Call your legislators and tell them you support the three-strikes law in Hawaii.

Mario K. Macagba

Critic is misinformed on Menor's record

This is in response to Karen Shishido's letter to the editor ("Menor needs lesson in energy efficiency," Star-Bulletin, March 12). Her comments indicate that she is not familiar with my record and may not be aware of certain aspects of the legislative process.

My record on the environment speaks for itself. During the 2001 and 2002 legislative sessions, I passed through my committee and voted in the Senate Chamber for several important environmental measures, which were enacted into law.

One of these was Act 272, which included two key environmental provisions: (1) a provision that allows for the establishment of renewable portfolio standards, making the utility companies accountable to reach certain benchmarks in terms of their renewable energy production and purchasing and (2) another provision that allows for "net energy metering" for homeowners and businesses to contribute their own energy from renewable sources to the utility grid.

Another environmental law that I helped pass was Act 176, the "Bottle Bill," which requires the payment of deposits on beverage containers to encourage the recycling. In addition, just last week, I voted to kill SB 1532, the measure that would have allowed the location of refuse collection sites over drinking water aquifers.

Shishido is also critical of my perceived position on several Senate bills introduced during this session. Contrary to her understanding, one of those bills relating to net energy metering is still very much alive, since a virtually identical bill was passed by the House and crossed over to the Senate (HB1492, HD2). If the bill is passed to my committee, I will schedule the measure for a hearing and consider the bill on its merits, evaluating the costs and benefits it contains.

Concerning the other Senate bills mentioned in Shishido's letter, many of my legislative colleagues have concerns about them, including the potential negative impact on consumers and rate payers; the lack of adequate resources for the Public Utilities Commission to implement these measures; and the fact that these measures raise complex legal and technical policy issues.

Similar concerns were expressed by the State consumer advocate, who, by Hawaii law, represents the interests of consumers on regulatory matters.

Furthermore, it should be emphasized that my House colleagues share these concerns as evidenced by the decision of the House committees, including Rep. Hermina Morita's Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, to hold or defer House bills identical to those cited by Shishido.

Both Morita and I agree the best way to resolve these issues is through legislative resolutions, and I look forward to working together with her on these resolutions and other pro-environment measures this session.

Sen. Ron Menor
Chairman
Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing

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