Fireworks money could be better spent

While the tsunami victims drowned, the dead rotted and those who survived went thirsty, Honolulu residents blow $261,900 on city fireworks permits, and thousands more for the actual fireworks!

On Sunday, two days after the New Year's Eve fireworks, how many of those same people went to their churches to pray for the victims of the tsunami? At this stage, money will help the victims more than our fervent prayers.

As for our government -- behold the governments of Sweden, France and Germany, where leaders reminded their people that to celebrate New Year's after the devastating tragedy in Asia felt "completely wrong." But just as Nero fiddled while Rome burned, our leaders reveled while people died.

The all-important ball had to fall in Times Square, accompanied by fireworks and confetti.

"Oh, Mrs. Tanabe, you are such a Scrooge!" I say, say that to the tsunami victims.

Seniors should protect Social Security

President Bush will not have a chance to endanger my Social Security as I have reached an age where I am safe from his plans to dismantle the retirement system.

The slim margin of voters who re-elected the president did so out of a Bush-induced fear of terrorism, and not in support for this plan.

People my age have a duty to fight against the announced plan. Just because we were fortunate enough to live at a time of great presidential leadership (pre-Bush), we cannot now sit back and tell the millions who come behind us to fend for themselves to preserve their Social Security. We want them to know that the current seniors stand along side of them in this upcoming fight.

It is fitting that it is winter because a massive snow job is about to start to come from the White House. Millions will be spent trying to persuade the public that what is essentially a massive attack on the stability of future generations and the current work force is actually "a good thing."

In reality, it will set one generation against the next. The slight margin of voters who elected Bush were mislead by the fear-and-smear tactics of the election of 2004. Many of those same people whose own benefits will be cut by this ill-conceived plan may again be snowed by the advertising blitz that will follow.

We commit ourselves to the upcoming battle to stop this nonsense.

New mayor should emphasize ethics

It's 2005, and we have a new mayor. Though I supported and volunteered for his opponent, Duke Bainum, I will stand behind Mayor Mufi Hannemann and hope the best for him.

I hope, however, that Hannemann will consider some of Bainum's ideas regarding raising the bar in our city government and ethics commission because we are knee deep in alligators in every aspect of our city and county bureaucracy.

Good luck, Mayor Hannemann.

Displaced Hawaiians support new mayor

Congratulations to Honolulu's new mayor. Prayers and support go to Mufi Hannemann, to help him keep his strength and integrity while fulfilling the difficult job of Honolulu mayor.

It won't be easy, but I don't think he ran for the position because it would be easy. He ran -- and won -- because he is the best person for the job. He must hold on to that honesty and strength, and know that he has the support of many of us displaced Hawaiians who couldn't vote for him, but prayed for him nonetheless.

Political appointment is one way to get home

We needed to relocate to California in June of last year. Even with all its faults, California is a great place to live. We dearly miss Hawaii and hope to return some day. Our hopes were buoyed after reading about Mayor Hannemann's appointment of John Reed, retired chief executive of BriteSmile, Inc., as city managing director. We have hope that one day one of our friends will be elected to an office and appoint us so we can return to the islands also.

Does this mean city employees will be eligible for discounts to enhance their smiles?

We miss our friends and the islands and are very glad to see it is still "politics as usual" for the Aloha State.

Harris a scapegoat for city's problems

So much negativity focused on outgoing Mayor Jeremy Harris. I believe that Harris did a good job for us as mayor. We will not know the ramifications of how good a job he did until the next four years have passed and we have someone else to judge him by.

Harris might have not addressed all of our concerns, but I believe that he is being made a scapegoat for underlying shenanigans that are going on within the city itself. Politics, politics and more politics, that is the sadness right there.