Isle police drama had great cast, potential
I am really sad to have read about the television show "Hawaii" being canceled (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 19). This police drama was the best drama since "Magnum P.I." I believe this show had a lot of potential and could bring lots of business and tourism to the islands. Even though it was scheduled against other shows such as "Lost" and "North Shore," "Hawaii" had comedy, drama and suspense. I hope that executives at NBC could think about doing another series here with the cast of "Hawaii," which really had great chemistry.Good Luck to the cast and crew of "Hawaii." Mahalo and aloha!
Kaneohe
Proposal threatens immigrants' health
I am writing with deep concern about a proposal put forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which requires providers to question the citizenship and naturalization status of patients using emergency care. The current proposal, which implements Section 1011 of the Medicare and Modernization Act, has potentially massive public health implications. Nothing in the law requires CMS to interpret it in this manner and there are alternative methods for collecting needed information for implementation of the law. Hospitals and advocates are widely opposed to this provision.If the proposal is finalized, fear and confusion will spread throughout immigrant communities, and many people will avoid emergency medical treatment. Immigrants, regardless of their status, will fear that disclosing identifying information will cause their deportation and separation from family members, inability to become citizens and failure to sponsor family members. At a time when our nation is trying to protect its residents from potential biological terrorism and contaminants, it simply does not make sense to hinder a significant portion of our population from seeking health care. Further, health-care providers would face an enormous increase in their administrative burdens.
CMS needs to adopt an alternative proposal in which patients and public health come first. I urge all elected officials to do everything in their power to stop the implementation of this dangerous proposal.
Honolulu
Paper gave unfair advantage to Bush
How very unfair! On Sunday, Oct. 17, with just 16 days left in the most important election ever, you gave George W. Bush a three-quarter page promotional written by George Will -- complete with a large, flattering drawing topped with the White House and "In God We Trust." Will should have lost all credibility when he used President Carter's stolen briefing papers to coach Ronald Reagan in their only debate in 1980. Carter was ahead in the polls before that debate, in which Reagan was allowed to have such an unfair advantage.This article should have been designated "Political Advertisement." In your editorial section, you also had an article about Ralph Nader, but not one article about Senator Kerry, who just won three debates and is getting many newspaper endorsements. If Bush is allowed to wangle another four years, it will be a total disaster for our nation and the world. This is no ordinary election, but a fight for the survival of our democracy and our system of checks and balances.
Honolulu
Street contracts need repaving clause
Regarding the complaint about the repaving of 6th Avenue by Mooheau Street in the Kaimuki area in Kokua Line (Oct. 12): The response from the Board of Water Supply official really was a bureaucratic response. He stated that the paving will be done after the contractor, Okada Trucking, completes all of the work. Temporary paving at 6th and Harding was performed by the contractor more than a year ago, and we poor people have had to endure driving over the bumps and lumps of the temporary paving since then. This is really unacceptable from a public standpoint. Although it may be within the contract between the contractor and the BWS, the public should not be subjected to this type of negative quality-of-life issue.The BWS should include a clause in its future contracts that the contractor will permanently repave the trenched areas within 30 days after completion of the temporary paving. To leave a main street in a deplorable condition for more than a year is inexcusable.
Kapahulu
Electorate should seek common ground
Soon we'll go to the polls and elect a president. Like our country, this election has become highly polarized. Supporters of both major candidates, assured of the righteousness of their cause, describe those on the other side as ignorant, dishonest, unpatriotic or intolerant. Seldom have so many felt so justified in being mean-spirited.Sometimes it seems we've forgotten that it's possible for well-informed and well-meaning people to have honest disagreements. No matter how we vote, about half our fellow citizens will vote another way. That realization alone gives us ample reason to be humble.
Regardless of who wins this election, we each have a choice: We can seek common ground with those who disagree with us and work together for the common good, or we can insist on pushing our own agendas and be obstructive when our opponents do the same. The more often we choose the former path, the better off all of us will be.
Honolulu
To be there or not to be there?
If we stay there, we shall continue to suffer daily American casualties.If we no stay there and come home, there will be civil wars and chaos all over da place.
But whose lives are mo' preshios: hour own or theirs?
Someone said: "No one nation can cure all da ills in this world of hours."
Wonder wat Bushy Head and his side-mouthed side-kick wood say?!
Hilo, Hawaii
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