Pro men's golf remains a closed association

You've come a long way, baby. So have you, America. But the Professional Golf Association is an anachronism stuck back in its Royal and Ancient dark ages as far as acknowledging the handicapped and opposite gender are concerned.

Too many PGA members forget that golf in America was a private-club game only for bluebloods and the rich, and caddying was the only entree and level of participation for the masses. Today, still too many PGA members mouth the same words -- "You don't belong" -- that their PGA predecessors heard when they came knocking at golf's door not too long ago.

If the myopic vision of these PGA members persist, the PGA should stop using the word "open" with its tournaments and use "closed" instead or the more familiar, "restricted."

Richard Y. Will

Prisoners' problem is lack of morals

Aaron Escobido-Ortiz' well-intentioned observation (Letters, Star-Bulletin, May 17) that educating prisoners would reform them from their lives of crime is ultimately misguided, since it fails to identify the core problem. The problem is not a lack of academic knowledge, but a lack of moral conviction.

Chuck Colson, former Watergate convict and now a minister to inmates, has developed a voluntary but stringent education program for prisoners that has resulted in an amazingly low re-offend rate. The difference between Colson's and other programs? Colson's is Bible based and teaches the Christian perspective of moral responsibility for one's actions.

Not surprisingly, Colson's program is under legal attack from atheists who object to his partial use of government funds. Colson's program is primarily privately funded, which makes it much cheaper and more effective than any government education program could ever be.

Steve Klein
Kailua

Lakers were done in by their own arrogance

The King is dead, long live the King! As a diehard L.A. Lakers fan you could sense it was coming. They struggled throughout the season and into the playoffs but one thing was apparent: they lacked firepower. They needed one more gunner who could give them 15 to 20 points a game and a stronger bench with more speed and athleticism.

Most of the Laker bench consisted of non-athletic, slow-of-foot plodders and I am mystified that they continue to play.

The teams that went far during the playoffs -- the Spurs, Kings, Nets and the Mavericks -- revamped their rosters during the Lakers' three-year run and now have young gunners who have speed and athleticism, and who can jump a ton.

On the other hand, the Lakers' three-year run of championships ended on May 15, and they had no one to blame but their owners. Call it complacency, arrogance or frugality, but they need a dismantling and a new beginning. They stood pat for three years thinking it would be automatic. They were wrong.

Hank McKeague

State must order reduced gas prices

When world conditions cause the price per barrel of oil to rise, the price at the pump does so, too, literally overnight. But when oil prices stabilize or are lowered, pump prices fall at a snail's pace, especially in Hawaii.

The oil companies fail to show any justification for this or why Hawaii oil prices are so inflated. Throughout Hawaii's history outsiders have taken advantage and it's about time someone put a stop to the outrageous prices we are paying at the pumps.

On Kauai we suffer with gas prices of $2.19 per gallon on average, 20 cents higher then Oahu and 60 cents higher than the national average. Oahu and Kauai are a mere 80 miles apart. Does that justify a 20-cent increase?

We are at the oil companies' mercy, filling our tanks and emptying our wallets simultaneously. It's time serious action is taken to get realistic prices at the pumps. Governor Lingle should reduce our gas pains and show us she's the governor we thought we elected.

John Tobin
Koloa, Kauai