Changing Act 221

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Satellite City Hall fees would be unfair

I understand that the city is considering adding a $2 fee for services at Satellite City Halls that residents could do online or through the mail, such as paying for car registration or water bills. Isn't it a bit presumptuous to believe that all people have Internet access, or have bank accounts and/or credit cards from which funds would be available for such transactions?

There are people who go to the Satellite City Halls because they conduct their business only on a cash basis. Should they be penalized because they don't have checking accounts or credit cards?

Bernard Judson
Kapolei

When students do well, let's reward educators

I've read with interest recent articles concerning proposed reform to the state's public education system. A key element in these proposals often is "principals who are held accountable for school performance." ("Lingle, House like student funding," Star-Bulletin, April 10).

I find it interesting that the idea of accountability always seems to have a punitive connotation. I don't recall having seen the term used in a laudatory sense.

If we are to hold individuals personally accountable for the failures of schools, ought we not also hold them "accountable" for the successes?

How about a $10,000 bonus for the principal of the high school that has more than half of its seniors awarded honors diplomas. Perhaps a $20,000 bonus should be awarded to the principal of the elementary school whose student scores not only exceed required Hawaii Assessment Program benchmarks in reading for this year, but whose scores exceed benchmarks for the next eight years.

Accountability shouldn't be just a synonym for blame. Accountability should work both ways.

Jim Peterson
Mililani

This teacher is not in favor of GET hike

According to Donald Allen's April 6 letter, teachers support the increase in the general excise tax as a way to ensure their promised pay increases. I am curious as to where he got his information. I am a teacher, and I can tell you that I am definitely opposed to an increase in the excise tax.

Governor Lingle needs to prioritize government projects, fund them in order of priority, and when the money is gone, the rest of the projects should go unfunded and wait until next year. She should also decrease the size of government and have the remaining employees work more efficiently.

I also belong to the teachers union and I have received nothing from the union stating that it wants the increase. Where did the letter writer get his information?

And yes, I did take this letter against teachers personally.

John Wert
Mililani

Tax hike for education is a patriotic act

I support the proposed 0.5 percent excise tax increase for better educational programs in Hawaii. Rather than considering it as an added tax burden, we should instead think of it as a gift of love or an investment for our future.

If we can afford to spend $20,000 in merchandise a year, we can afford to pay an extra $100 in excise taxes to help provide better public school education for the next generation. I am sure that low-income families will gladly pay a little extra tax, knowing that the small sacrifices they make today may help to provide better career opportunities for their children in the future.

Knowledge is power. Our children are the future of this country. The more educated they are, the stronger our country will become. It is every citizen's responsibility to help keep this country strong. So, if we love our country, then we should be willing to support our children to become better educated.

Cecilia Graybeal

Women's commission serves vital purpose

It is my understanding that funding for the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women is virtually eliminated from the budget that Governor Lingle submitted to the Legislature. The Lingle administration should reconsider the decision to cut funding for this worthwhile and effective organization. The HSCSW is important in that it advocates on behalf not only of women's issues but also of policies, programs, services and endeavors that benefit all marginalized populations in Hawaii.

The main mission of HSCSW is to guarantee the equality of women and girls in Hawaii. To accomplish this mission, the agency works to promote positive social change for women through a number of activities:

>> It acts as a direct advocate for women in both public and private venues in Hawaii.

>> It promotes educational opportunities for women.

>> It collaborates with, supports and coordinates activities among other organizations that promote women's issues.

>> It develops programs that foster the well-being of women and disseminates these programs among other related agencies.

The HSCSW fulfills a unique role in Hawaii. It is the only statewide governmental and community resource that addresses the broad scope of issues affecting the status of women in Hawaii. At present, two dedicated public servants (an executive director and an administrative services assistant) staff the HSCSW with a modest budget of $95,000. This is a small cost for a large contribution toward securing justice and equality for Hawaii's women. Please support restoration of funding for this program.

Nan Wond
President, Hawaii Women's Political Caucus

Here's a sure way to pass anti-cruelty bill

It looks like another animal cruelty bill dies at the hands of the Judiciary Committee (SB1518). If the hold-up is cockfighting, then how about if we change the rules; let the birds spectate, put the owners in the ring, one-on-one, each with a sharp knife, and may the best "man" win.

Now, I'd pay to see that! Legalize it, tax it and there's a whole new revenue source. Maybe then we could get an animal cruelty law.

Barbara Ikeda

So far, we've lost war against WMD

We control Baghdad.

We control Iraq.

My question to President Bush and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld is: Where are the weapons of mass destruction?

Finding WMD was the objective. Or were they giving us false information? Who was telling the truth?

In this respect, this war is a total loss.

File Keliiaa
Waianae

Bring out the next 'expert' on war

Like many of us, I have been watching a large amount of the TV coverage of the war in Iraq during the past two weeks, flicking between Fox and CNN. The credibility of these media outlets is seriously eroded by the use of commentators whose lack of credibility was exposed long ago.

Geraldo Rivera's grandstanding was followed by Newt Gingrich and Oliver North. I even suspected that they might try to put on Gordon Liddy ... oops.

Jack C. Morse

Coalition did well by limiting casualties

Kudos to the coalition in Iraq for showing restraint in its targeting, thus limiting the civilian casualties. Had they not, civilian casualties and deaths would have increased dramatically.

When the war is over, the reconstruction of Iraq will begin. There will be a new regime, freedom for its people and the right to choose their leaders. The Iraqis will be grateful, especially to the United States and Great Britain.

How Tim Chang

U.N. is not the best choice to rebuild Iraq

Your editorial advocating U.N. participation in the rebuilding of Iraq is off target for the most part.

I can go along with the United Nations having a role in supervising the rebuilding, but those nations now clamoring for inclusion via the U.N. and who refused to join the coalition should be barred from participating or be given only a minor role. They can't have it both ways.

France, for example, has already done enough damage by supplying the Iraqis with a nuclear reactor, which was intended for the production of nuclear weapons. An oil-rich nation like Iraq had no need for a reactor for the production of energy. France knew what was going on and only winked at the situation. Then France had the gall to rebuild the reactor after Israel destroyed the first one. You might say they had a hand in precipitating the war we are now involved in.

A good idea would be to involve as many Mideast nations as possible in the rebuilding of Iraq. This would build real credibility. It's only greed that's prompting France, Russia and other nations to clamor for what they perceive as their share of the pie.

As for the U.N., it should be relegated to peacekeeping and disaster relief.

Bill Nelson
Haleiwa

Only the U.S. Army has skills to rebuild Iraq

Your editorial that recommended the U.N. lead the rebuilding of Iraq is a mistake. The U.N. should not and must not lead the reconstruction of Iraq. The U.N. lacks the expertise and the ability to coordinate such a project.

The only organization that has this ability is the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army has civil affairs groups for just such a mission. If you want to learn something about this there are two books that were made into movies with the same names. They are "Tea House of the August Moon" and "A Bell for Adano." There is also such a group in the 9th Reserve Support Command in Honolulu.

The U.N. must not take the lead because of so many selfish interest groups in the organization. Simple decisions would take months and major decisions would take years -- just like our Legislature.

To rebuild Iraq quickly you must put one person in charge with an organization that has the skill and authority to do it.

Myles H. Shinsato

U.S. helped create Saddam Hussein

One of the most annoying things about our two Iraq wars has been the U.S. government's failure to take any responsibility for having helped keep Saddam Hussein in power during the 1970s and 1980s.

That's why it is so galling to read letters to the editor claiming that war protesters don't care about the Iraqi people. Human rights organizations, many of which also happen to be against the current war, have been calling attention to the plight of the Iraqi people for decades. It is Bush & Co. who have come late to this cause. Their feigned indignation at Saddam Hussein's thuggish behavior would be laughable if it were not so disgusting. Prior to the 1990s, this same gang was perfectly happy to supply his regime with weapons, aircraft and satellite images. And they were willing to look the other way while he waged chemical warfare against civilians and Iranian soldiers.

Only now that it is more politically and financially economical to do so have they decided that the Iraqi people deserve a regime change or freedom or whatever the war rationale du jour is.

Scott Rowland
Waimanalo

U.S. dehumanizes Iraqi soldiers

"I think they scurried like a bunch of roaches." -- Gunnery Sgt. Sandor Vegh, on Iraqi forces' retreat from reinforced trenches.

The above statement, which appeared in a story on the front page of the April 6 Star-Bulletin, epitomizes the contempt for and dehumanization of the Iraqi people by the U.S. military and the civilians who at present command it. I certainly don't wish to fault Sgt. Vegh alone. He is simply carrying out the orders of his superiors, who are truly responsible for this appalling mentality, implicit in the pre-emptive attack on a Third World nation, despite the high-sounding rhetoric of "liberation" and the code name of the operation, "Iraqi Freedom."

And yet, however revolting Sgt. Vegh's statement is, it's far, far less revolting than the war on Iraq itself. Although U.S. "victory" in this shameful war is surely inevitable, given the overwhelming superiority of U.S. forces, such "victory" actually will be a spectacular U.S. defeat in the court of world opinion, which now justifiably brands the United States as an outlaw nation -- indeed, the true "rogue state."

I wonder what a firestorm of abuse I would unleash if I were to say that I look forward to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Powell, Rice -- and the obsequious Blair, as well -- "scurrying like a bunch of roaches" before the wrath of the peace-and-justice-loving peoples of the world.

Valdo H. Viglielmo
World War II veteran

War has changed feelings for country

The story in the newspaper invited all of us to stand together in support of our troops. I too wished to share with others the fellowship of a unified message of concern for our military friends.

Standing among the waving American flags, the "Remember 9/11" signs, with the jubilant singing of "We will, we will rock you" in the air, an overwhelming sadness enveloped me. I realized I did not belong with the cheering fans and honking horns. For the first time in my life it hit me, I am no longer the proud American I thought I was. I am not celebrating the bravery and heroics of our fine men and women in the armed forces. I am terrified for them. I am frightened by what these beautiful young men and women are experiencing in the cruel realities of war in a desert far away. Images of batteries and cables and a women's cut-up American uniform in an abandoned Basra hospital haunt me. I cannot find the glory in this battle.

I empathize with the families whose loved ones are in this conflict and imagine their worry and uncertainty they must be feeling, knowing their son, daughter, husband, wife, father, mother will be forever changed.

I am disappointed with the representatives of all levels of our government. Those who did not speak from their hearts, who did not uphold our Constitution and who in their concern over their public images allowed our nation to attack another in this unprecedented pre-emptive act of aggression.

I am ashamed of our secretary of defense, secretary of state, vice president and President George W. Bush for in the name of justice calling for the illegal assassination of another human soul, even the likes of Saddam Hussein.

The "liberation" of the good people of Iraq is coming at a tremendous cost and sacrifice that will continue long after the guns are silent.

You may say this is how freedom is won. I can't seem to shake this feeling in my heart that we as an international community were so close and missed this opportunity to win without war that freedom all people do deserve. We failed by not giving the international peace process a respectable chance to succeed.

I love my country. I love my fellow citizens as well as my global ohana. I grieve for all the lives shattered and lost. But I cannot wave my flag and cheer as I once did. For sadly, I have lost my enthusiasm.

Elise Jadrnicek
Kailua

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Pro and con on changing
Act 221 high-tech law

Tax credits aren't the fix Hawaii needs

Whenever the notion of tax incentives and credits is bandied about, one thought is always conjured in my mind, that of the rich getting richer. The state's dilemma over Act 221 is a prime example of a well-intentioned, but poorly thought-out idea gone wrong. This single act has shown little benefit and cost the state millions of dollars in lost revenues at a time when we simply can't afford to lose anything.

Bring on small business, minority business, high-tech business, research and development business, as well as any of the many other assorted tax-revenue-generating and job-potential entities that were targeted by Act 221, not with tax credits, but through the use of business incentives.

A friend owns a manufacturing business that any one of 100-plus cities have offered free use of land and/or buildings, as long as he provides 100 jobs and stays in the community for a minimum of 15 years (better offers in some cities). No tax credits, just the guarantee of an established business that provides well-paying, secure jobs and generates new tax revenues. Omaha (not a desirable place to live or do business) has prospered in the arena of job creation and new business marketing by use of creative thinking and business incentives.

Tax credits ultimately benefit large corporations, law firms, investment firms, CPAs, and those well-intentioned tax credits hardly ever benefit legitimate upstart companies that will grow, create new jobs, revitalize stagnant economies and increase revenue bases.

What we and the entire country really need is across-the-board tax reform accompanied by tax simplification, which would give tax relief and put more spending money in the pockets of the working middle class and eliminate big business loopholes. Best of all, tax reform would eliminate the cruelest tax cost of all, the insipid need to pay law firms and accountants to prepare our yearly income taxes.

Stephen N. Bischoff

Altering law will hurt fledgling industry

I am concerned about Governor Lingle's plans to change Act 221, which offers a tax credit incentive to high-tech companies.

My company, Hoku Scientific, is a locally founded and based technology company. After starting in a home office, we've grown to 12 employees in just two years, with plans to hire an additional three by mid-summer. We expect to be a 20-person team by the end of the year.

Hoku Scientific employs highly paid Ph.D. scientists and technicians. We've enabled several Hawaii-born individuals to return home after being away on the mainland for years. And we've been able to bring in researchers from Canada, Texas, South Carolina and Massachusetts, along with their families, to contribute to Hawaii's intellectual capital pool.

Hawaii residents talk about the problem of brain drain due to the lack of high-quality job opportunities in Hawaii. High-tech companies like Hoku Scientific help to solve this problem by enabling Hawaii's youth to build their careers without leaving the state.

While changing Act 221 may provide a quick boost to address today's budgetary concerns, these changes will significantly hurt the many technology companies that are finally making progress in Hawaii. If Act 221 is changed to make it less beneficial to companies like Hoku Scientific, the state will squash what it has worked so hard and spent its tax dollars to develop.

While I am most certain that the budget decisions the governor is making are difficult, I hope that as a state we do not abandon such a worthwhile and economy-shifting tool.

Successful technology companies take years to build, and I believe that one day Act 221 will be looked upon as the single greatest piece of legislation ever passed in the state's effort to build its high-tech industry.

Dustin Shindo
Hoku Scientific