Stores' open doors waste energy

A few weeks ago Oahu was experiencing very hot weather. Hawaiian Electric released a statement that electricity usage was reaching record levels, threatened rolling blackouts and ran radio and television ads suggesting consumers turn off air conditioners as well as delay laundry and dishwashing to reduce the demand.

I'm sure everyone can reduce consumption by using common sense but it seems a huge amount of energy is wasted in Waikiki, retail centers, restaurants and hotel lobbies where doors remain open while running air conditioning. Waikiki's ABC stores have wide-open fronts with plenty of air-conditioning escaping. At Ala Moana Center, most of the stores keep doors wide open, including Foodland.

This is a terrible waste of power just to make it a little easier for customers to enter. It certainly seems that these businesses should close their doors before I have to turn off my air conditioner or wait to do laundry. Maybe the blatant waste of air-conditioning needs to become a fineable offense so the average resident can wash dishes.

Voters chose to ignore lies of Hollywood elite

While a number of letters to your paper regarding the presidential election results may be shrugged off as just sour grapes, I'd like the writers of those letters to know that neither side had a lock on spreading truth. Both camps spewed lies, disinformation and vicious rumors. Lucky for us, the rational people of this country looked past that and decided they wanted a man who was loyal to the country running the country.

Sen. John Kerry's shameful past came back to haunt him. No one would want someone they didn't trust making decisions for them. It's really that simple. Nearly 59 million voters didn't trust Kerry.

Of the 55 million who cast a vote for him, how many actually voted FOR John Kerry? I suspect there was a large number who voted AGAINST President Bush based solely on the lies spread by George Soros, Michael Moore and the rest of the Hollywood elite. Maybe there will be a poll giving us these numbers.

I have confidence that Bush is the one to continue to protect us. And, like some of you, I sincerely hope that he makes some personnel and personal changes during the next four years.

Now if everyone will at least respect the office of the president, if not the man, and work for the good of the country, we'll all be the better for it.

Americans let themselves be misled

In the aftermath of Tuesday's election results I'm feeling lots of negative emotions. While I'm depressed, discouraged and disappointed by the outcome, my primary sentiment is one of disgust.

I'm disgusted that such a vast number of American voters didn't take the time or make the effort to inform themselves about the issues. I'm disgusted that they allowed themselves to be misled and misinformed by the Bush/Cheney propaganda machine. I'm disgusted by the media, who for four years have failed their responsibility to accurately inform, examine and assess the river of deceptions, half-truths and outright falsehoods that have flowed out of the White House.

I fear for our great democracy. Four more years under the hidden leadership of Richard Cheney and his neoconservative fellow travelers is a recipe for disaster.

Extremists on both sides spread hate

One has to admire the Democratic Party of Hawaii for its faithful body of disciplined reliable voters. This voting ethic and strong party identity is something the Republicans in Hawaii have yet to duplicate. Yet nationally the Democrats have been dealt a severe reprimand. Though politics is a blood sport, the irrational level of hatred projected toward President Bush, starting with the 2000 election and coming to feverish culmination in this year's campaign, only reminds us that extremism, right or left, usually ends up in the same world of paranoid delusions.

Both Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan proved that presidents can maintain their base and siphon votes off from the other party. Hatred is always counter-productive. Hopefully the next election will be a contest strictly about who has the most well-thought-out program for governance of this country in the 21st century.

UH needs competent defensive coordinator

What happened to the old University of Hawaii Rainbows football team where defense was their greatest strength? In the past, the Rainbows would hold very good teams to very low scores and would have an incredible goal line defense. Of course, those past teams did not have a great scoring offense, but the majority of the time doesn't the defense win games?

Now the Warriors have a great offense (except for the Boise game), but the defense gets run over in the June Jones era (past and present) even when the Warriors win. UH really needs to find that old defensive coordinator who held opponents to very few points and a sports trainer to help them stretch properly or have after-game massages so that there will be less injury. Help! We are in desperate need of a good defensive coordinator.

Dogsled race winner inspires isle girls

Quite often, the general public will voice concerns and consternation about the behavior of today's youth, chastising parents and schools for the perceived shortcomings of our students. But there are also many moments where we are able to learn about inspiration and examples of great character.

Allow me to applaud the efforts of Ralph Rosenberg. Rosenberg, himself a pioneer in the court reporting field in Honolulu, took the initiative to inspire young women to achieve their dreams, even in fields where women are still considered pioneers.

The four all-girls schools in Hawaii and Pearl City High School were the benefactors of Rosenberg's generosity recently when he underwrote Iditarod winner Libby Riddles' trip to Hawaii. Riddles is the first woman to win the grueling 1,049-mile Iditarod sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.

Riddles' story of commitment, sacrifice and passion about achieving goals in the face of arctic storms, freezing temperatures and loyal sled dogs inspired hundreds of Hawaii's girls to consider the possibilities and courage needed to reach their own dreams and aspirations.

Thank you, Ralph Rosenberg, for bringing Riddles and her story of courageous womanhood and heroic dogs to our girls.

Sub teachers lose more than their pay

Regarding the 7 percent pay cut for substitute teachers: Imagine your boss coming in and saying your pay would decrease in two weeks, and giving no reason! My notice said the Board of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association negotiated a new salary schedule on Oct. 4. I can't believe the teachers I know would do this to the subs. Did HSTA consult them?

Remember, substitutes get no benefits with their pay. Now it seems, we also get no respect.

Altruistic lawyers are credit to profession

During the Hawaii State Bar Association's annual meeting last month, American Bar Association president-elect Michael Greco urged lawyers to adopt a "renaissance of idealism" and reinvigorate aspirations to public service and community good. A dozen young lawyers and students in the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's AmeriCorps program are doing just that right here in Honolulu and on several neighbor islands.

They are working for minimal pay serving Hawaii's indigent, homeless and those most in need of legal assistance. I've met these altruistic youth and admire their passion and hard work. They give lawyers a good name.