Don't change a word of high-tech law

Act 221 has provided a much-needed jump start to Hawaii's technology industry. While formal cost-benefit studies have not been completed, there is still ample evidence that the tax credits created under the act are indeed working. To backpedal on these credits now would destroy our hard-won credibility in the industry and sacrifice long-term investment for short-term gain. As an economist by training and a technologist by trade, I cannot support this approach.

I urge our governor and Legislature to reconsider making up the current budget shortfall by selling out our investment in the technology industry. The tech industry provides a combination of high-value jobs and clean industry that we need to foster. If Hawaii is truly "open for business," then this is exactly the kind of business in which we need to invest.

Mike Curtis

Raising excise tax won't fix schools

Some politicians will say just about anything to justify a tax increase. The state Senate has passed a bill that would raise the general excise tax from 4 to 4.5 percent in the name of improving public education. I would support a tax increase for this purpose, but only if there were some assurances that the additional tax dollars would actually result in an improvement in the quality of education in our public schools.

While Hawaii's public schools are clearly failing to make the grade, the reason for their failure has been so clouded over by political rhetoric that it is virtually impossible to propose a solution. Simply throwing money at the problem will not result in the improvement that the people want.

Sen. Fred Hemmings was correct when he observed during Senate debate that the premise justifying the tax increase for education is "fundamentally flawed," and that money is not the problem, the system is. "Putting more money in the education system without changing the system amounts to putting more money in a bucket with holes in it."

Roy Yanagihara
Kaneohe

Where have all the UH fans gone?

As a long time University of Hawaii football fan, like Star-Bulletin writer Kalani Simpson in his March 25 Sidelines column, I have pondered why, with successive winning seasons and an exciting team stocked with local talent, have the fans failed to return to Aloha Stadium. Here are a few suggestions on why this has occurred:

1. We have made it easy to stay home. Pay per view, same day rebroadcast of the game contribute to this.

2. We have made it a pain to go to the game. Parking and traffic are a problem. Then there is the whole issue of the heavy-handed stadium security and the price of food and drink.

3. The Fred vonAppen hangover effect. Many die-hard fans gave up during the vonAppen years and have failed to return.

4. The WAC break-up. We lost our traditional rivals in BYU, Utah, and Wyoming and San Diego State.

UH can address the pay per view issue, and, in time, we can get over Coach Fred and the WAC, but the stadium is a larger issue. Notwithstanding all these issues, UH is our only team and is certainly deserving of our community's support.

Keith Ishida

Elation of Iraqi people instills pride in U.S.

I have never been prouder to be an American as I watched the Iraqi people dance on the broken statue of Saddam Hussein. America is truly a builder of nations and democracies.

I know that some question our government's motive for the war against Saddam and some protest all wars in general. However, it warmed my heart to see the Iraqi people and the international community celebrate the end of Saddam's dictatorship.

Too often, we take our demo-cracy for granted and focus too much on its failures. Although there is much room for improvement, we should take this moment and reflect on how lucky we are to vote for our government leaders and live in one of the world's most generous and caring nation, the United States of America.

Scott C. Arakaki
Waipahu

U.S. 'victory' is all about getting Saddam

If this war was about ensuring that Iraqis are fed, clothed, healthy and secure, hundreds of thousands are still in serious jeopardy. If this war was about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people, we haven't even begun that project.

If it was about removing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, we haven't found any. If it was about reducing the threat of terrorism, we've done nothing -- except perhaps to fan the flames of Islamic fundamentalism. If it was about stabilizing the region, right now there is increased instability.

And if it was about bringing the world together to address threats to our security, we've clearly done the opposite. Only if the war was about taking Saddam Hussein out of power -- and literally nothing else -- did last week's events signal victory.

Marilyn Mick

Right to question is essence of democracy

Dissent in wartime is democracy at work. Our elected leaders must keep asking the right questions -- get and sift answers -- report to the people, give us the "feel" of how things are going.

H. Mal Campbell
WWII veteran