to the Editor
Rich voters don't need Lingle's transit system
The fact that a politician from Hawaii Kai is opposed to a fixed-rail mass transit system in Honolulu does not surprise me at all ("Lingle's tax hike idea hits gridlock," Oct. 29). These residents living in a mostly affluent neighborhood do not have to rely on mass transit for their daily transportation.I am very glad that Governor Lingle understands that this system will reduce the amount of vehicles on the roadways, which will benefit everyone traveling through Honolulu.
Michael Nomura
Kailua
Bush's SWAT team intimidated crowd
Recent political demonstrations prove again that the pen is stronger than the sword. Translation: Signs are stronger than swords.Why else would a SWAT team show up in full riot gear at the Hilton Hawaiian Village when President Bush visited? It was numbing to see them coming at us. It made my heart stop.
Is this the way the president of the United States encourages citizens to voice their opinions?
The last time I saw President Bush was when I gave him an orchid lei at the San Diego Republican Convention a few years ago.
This time I was with others standing up for a laundry list of civil rights: women's rights, Hawaiian rights, rights to jobs, rights to fresh air, clean water and peace. Unfortunately, the press didn't record the intimidation of the SWAT team on film or in ink.
Fortunately, other demonstrators knew how to handle the SWAT team. They chanted, "2, 4, 6, 8, no more police state" and we added our voices.
I wonder how it will be the next time I see the president.
Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
Makakilo
Public funding will end 'pay to play' game
The latest campaign-spending scandal involves $319,000 given by R.M. Towill and Co. and its subcontractors to Major Harris' election campaigns during the past six years (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 12). What a great bargain this was for the contractors; they received $30 million in nonbid contracts for a paltry $319,000.The Towill story is an example of how Hawaii's "pay-to play" political contributions system works. Large amounts of money must be "donated" to powerful lawmakers if a company wants to receive well-paying contracts from the govern- ment. If you don't contribute, it's unlikely you will get nice, fact contracts later on.
These gifts end up being paid for by us, the taxpayers. The cost of the projects are inflated to cover the amount of the so-called donation. A great investment for the contractor, but a bad deal for taxpayers.
The only solution to ending the pay-to-play system is to break the connection between special interest money and running for office. A comprehensive public-funding program would allow candidates to run winning campaigns without needing to take money from private sources.
Hawaii lawmakers who say they want to eliminate waste in government should back a bill for comprehensive public funding of election campaigns in our state. The relatively small amount of money paid up front for a publicly funded system would be much cheaper for taxpayers than the "pay to play" system we have now.
Ira Rohter
President
Hawaii Clean Elections Project
West Oahu residents deserve own campus
Board of Regents member Ted Hong's proposal to close the University of Hawaii-West Oahu sends a message to the 300,000 people who live in the region that they do not deserve to have the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree from the state university. Most of these people cannot attend the Manoa campus. Many are single parents, many do not have cars, some have physical limitations. Is Hong saying that these people don't count?I understand the problem with building a new campus at this time. But to go a step further and say that there should be no baccalaureate campus for West Oahu residents is insensitive, uncaring and elitist. Hong's comment that people who have spent their careers at West Oahu made a mistake is outrageous. All the full-time faculty hold Ph.D.s. Many have written books and articles that have made an impact on our respective fields, and several have received the Board of Regents Medal For Teaching Excellence.
I have been teaching at UH-WO since 1986, and I am insulted by his comment.
Many of my students question why Governor Lingle would appoint a regent who is so obviously biased against the continued existence of UH-West Oahu. Hong's motion to close the campus will inflame many people in this region, and I will make sure that this becomes an important issue when Governor Lingle runs for re-election.
The people in the West Oahu region do deserve an education from the state university. They are citiziens and residents of Hawaii, and they matter.
Gary Helfand
Chairman, Division of Professional Studies
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Drop charges against Stryker protesters
Both Honolulu daily newspapers published editorials in support of the "Stryker Brigade Seven" right to protest, and the Army does an about face and allows the group to carry the signs inside and testify quietly.Even Gov. Linda Lingle stated that the private venues for the hearings were a miscalculation on the part of the Army.
I agree with the Star-Bulletin's Nov. 1 editorial ("Don't prosecute Stryker protesters") that charges against the "Stryker Seven" must be dropped. Freedom of speech and expression should not be suppressed even though it might not be a neat and orderly hearing that the Army might expect from its men and women in uniform. A civilian group of protesters and hearing audience are not meant to provide input that is totally one-sided.
Arvid T. Youngquist
Honolulu
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[ BRAINSTORM! ]
Historical markers?Other cities have permanent markers signifying historic sites or locations. Shouldn't Hawaii be equally accommodating to students and visitors? What should such markers look like in Honolulu? Design one! Remember, markers on walls require the owner's permission, but markers in the sidewalk belong to the city.
Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, November 13 to:
Or mail them to:
Brainstorm!
c/o Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin
500 Ala Moana
7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813Fax:
Brainstorm!
c/o Burl Burlingame
529-4750
