[ OUR OPINION ]
Compromise should
guide legislatorsSTATE legislative leaders have given encouraging signs of their willingness to work with Governor Lingle in addressing some major issues in their new session, but in opening-day speeches they sounded disappointingly intransigent on others. They agree with the Republican governor on some methods of combating the use of the dangerous drug crystal methamphetamine, and she has agreed to support a prescription drug plan she initially opposed. However, the Democrat-controlled Legislature needs to be more receptive to education reform and a rapid-rail transit system for Honolulu.
THE ISSUE
The Hawaii Legislature has begun its 2004 session, focusing on improving education and fighting the use of crystal methamphetamine.
Legislators seem to support a change in school funding that takes into account such factors as family income, special education, language barriers and special talents. However, they frown upon Lingle's proposal to replace the state Board of Education with seven school boards having control over how money is spent within the new districts.
House Speaker Calvin Say told his colleagues in his opening-day speech that "more school boards will bring more bureaucracy and reduce already strained resources in our classrooms." Senate President Robert Bunda did not directly address the issue but derided Lingle consultants who he said "are having a field day advising school districts on how best to achieve reform and student success."
Say promised to "make education reform a reality," but he was less than clear about what that means, other than "to make sure our teachers and principals have the tools they need to get the job done and then just get out of the way." Bunda would agree only "to take the time to investigate any idea thoroughly before we make a decision." Those statements don't sound like a commitment to real reform.
The battle against crystal meth provides an opportunity for compromise. Both Lingle and the Legislature agree on the importance of treatment rather than incarceration of users. However, legislators have opposed her proposed constitutional amendments to enable police to "walk and talk" with suspected drug traffickers at airports and to allow wider wiretap laws.
Legislators should authorize police to use wiretaps on suspected drug dealers, a tactic that federal authorities use on a regular basis. The "walk and talk" tactic is aimed mainly at users, not smugglers, seen in areas under federal jurisdiction. Local police don't need it to pursue traffickers.
Say is flatly opposed to allowing the city to use an increase in the general excise tax to help finance construction of a light-rail transit system on Oahu. If his view prevails, the much-needed transit system will not be built.
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Obesity epidemic
needs sharp reversalOBESITY has become a serious problem not only in Hawaii, across the county and in other industrialized nations but in developing countries where families cannot afford more healthful foods. Improved eating habits and exercise need stronger promotion in the United States, but more international food assistance is needed in poor countries.
THE ISSUE
The obesity epidemic has spread, bringing what a new study says are high costs for treatment of related diseases.
A state-by-state survey two years ago found that 14.9 percent of Hawaii's adults are considered obese -- at least 30 pounds more than normal -- and half are overweight -- about 10 pounds more than normal. Other research has concluded that 19 to 25 of every 100 Hawaii public school children are overweight, compared to 4 to 6 before 1980.
A new study published today in the journal Obesity Research found that Hawaii spends $290 million a year on health costs connected with obesity, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer and gallbladder disease. That amounts to 4.9 percent of all medical expenditures in the state, placing Hawaii at midrange nationally. The study estimates the national expenditure on obesity-related diseases at $39 billion.
"It is a tremendous cost to society," said Dr. Linda Rosen of the state Department of Health. She places much of the blame for what some call an obesity epidemic on "the dramatic decrease in physical activities." Hawaii uses funds from the tobacco industry settlement to promote healthier lifestyles among the state's residents.
The World Health Organization is proposing that governments push manufacturers to make deeper cuts in use of sugar and fat and force changes in advertising and tax policy to promote healthier eating. U.S. officials have criticized a WHO study used to draft the strategy, contending that it gave short shrift to an individual's responsibility to balance one's diet with physical activities and unfairly singled out specific types of foods rich in fat and sugar.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson persuaded the WHO executive board to give government an additional month to comment on the plan. "I want to make sure that what we're putting out is the best science," he said.
