Brainstorm! Challenge

---

Paper oversimplified complexity of ethics

The Star-Bulletin has misrepresented the intent of House Bill 680, requiring ethics training for elected state officials. As I serve as staff to state Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, the bill's sponsor, I want to correct some misconceptions.

In his May 6 column, Charles Memminger wrote that the bill seemed to be "a Democratic political gambit to embarrass Gov. Linda Lingle for letting a private lobby group work out of her office during the development of public school reform legislation."

Karamatsu introduced the bill on Jan. 22, 2003, before Lingle's alleged ethical improprieties occurred.

Your May 8 editorial stated, "'Ethics training' for grownups ... would be the equivalent of toilet training. ... Public officials are presumed to already know and adhere to such standards of conduct."

This simplistic view ignores the complexity of ethics laws and the fine line between community service and campaigning. Ethics and campaign spending laws occasionally change, many times to close loopholes in existing statutes. There could not have been a better time for the Legislature to act on ethics training.

Baron John Gushiken
Kapahulu, Maui

Textbook fund drive was huge success

Thank you to the students, parents, teachers, staff and friends of Moanalua Elementary School who raised more than $48,000 to purchase new textbooks for the entire school!

Children are always being told that if they study and work hard they can achieve anything. That is exactly what the students of Moanalua Elementary did. They should be proud of what they have achieved.

We are grateful to the community. Donations from individuals, businesses, community organizations, volunteers from Tripler hospital, the University of Hawaii volleyball and football athletes, neighbors, friends and parents made it possible.

Thanks to everybody who contributed; every student will start the next school year with a new math textbook.

We are forever grateful.

Lori Shimoda
Parent of a Moanalua Elementary School student

Most contractors are ethical, hard-working

The recent admission by a dishonest businessman in Hawaii that he bilked the government out of $200,000 has left a negative mark on the reputation of general contractors. Sadly, the good work that happens every day by honest, hard-working contractors goes unnoticed and unrecognized. Instead, due the actions of a few bad apples, this group of professionals is left to deal with an atmosphere of mistrust.

This recent incident comes at a time when our industry is working harder than ever to prepare for the upcoming building boom. For that reason, it is important that we highlight the fact that, by far, the majority of contractors are ethical, take pride in the service they provide and make significant contributions to the community. They work fairly and within the system, minding the many rules that govern their jobs.

I urge all individuals and agencies dealing with contractors to give them the credit and respect due. Overreacting to isolated incidents of fraud with new rules and regulations or coming to the table with an increased sense of skepticism will only hurt the industry and Hawaii's economy at a time when teamwork will be more important than ever before.

Bruce A. Coppa
Managing director
Pacific Resource Partnership

Ditch the machines and cast votes online

As we soon enter yet another major election we will undoubtedly be embarrassed by pollsters who remind us that despite living in a democracy where we should cherish our right and privilege to cast our vote, our percentages continue to dwindle.

Getting ourselves off of one or two jobs or away from distractions, be it family, beach or whatever, is not going to happen -- again. Instead of spending millions of dollars each year on new or simpler voting machines and paid staff to ensure that these polling precincts are properly manned, why not get with the much user-friendlier online or dial-up voting as an option?

Sure, we have all heard that voting in this fashion is not "secure." Why do we see yearly growth in online sales, banking, stock-proxy voting and many government services? Because it's convenient! I just read an article today that overseas military and dependents will be trying Internet voting; it's about time! Hawaii should be proactive in this direction and show the rest of the nation how it can be done. In this era of encryption, passwords and privacy, I would think that someone in government could come up with an acceptable online and dial-up voting method.

Timothy Fern
Kaneohe

Bank merger must be bad for somebody

Immediately upon reading the May 17 article on how grandly certain Central Pacific Bank and City Bank executives will be compensated with the merger of the two banks, I thought this story should have been filed in the "police beat" section because somebody's getting mugged -- and I think it might be the banks' customers, shareholders and employees.

One doesn't need to be Nostradamus to predict that to pay for the compensation, bank fees will rise and "redundant" employees will be let go. I hope the merger is worth it, at least in terms of generating more robust competition among local banks, but I'm glad I'm not a customer of either bank.

James Ko
Honolulu

Muslims condemn terrorism, brutality

The Hawaii chapter of the American Muslim Council opposes and condemns the abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison. We oppose and condemn this sort of treatment in every part of the world no matter the nationality, ethnicity or religion of the victim.

In another widely publicized event, Islamic militants executed American Nicholas Berg, a civilian who was in Iraq to build communications towers. The cruel beheading captured on video and posted on a Web site was preceded by rhetoric espoused by hooded Islamic extremists who said the killing was to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers.

We defy and unequivocally condemn these terrorists who say they commit these atrocities in the name of Islam. This is the continued hijacking of our religion and is in no way representative of Islam or of Muslims. Like our fellow Americans, we are shocked and horrified by what these terrorists have done.

Islam does not teach this sort of violence and terror. We pray this senseless brutality does not inflame hostilities toward Muslims.

Ehsan Reza
President, Hawaii chapter
American Muslim Council

---

BACK TO TOP
|

[ BRAINSTORM! ] The ponds at the state Capitol are full of icky green stuff. What, besides holding an election, can we do to get rid of all that scum at the Big Square Building? Or should we just replace the ponds with something else? Tell us what you think, whether you know of a way to clean the ponds or if you'd rather see a remodel of the Capitol grounds. Anything would be an improvement. Send your ideas by June 16 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750