Will Superferry endanger marine life?

While the interisland Superferry seems like a marvelous idea, it is unfortunate that it is going ahead without an environmental impact assessment. Knowing that it was just a small twin-engine boat that sliced up the back of the baby whale depicted on your front page last week, I wonder what the effect of the ferry on the whale and turtle populations will be?

Clean Elections well worth the small price

Bravo for your coverage of the Clean Elections bill moving through the Legislature, and reporting that office holders themselves want change. Rep. Brian Schatz's refreshingly honest op-ed "Time to change the way campaigns are financed" (Star-Bulletin, March 6) acknowledged that we have a system where the "unmonied voice falls on the political hard of hearing."

The article by B.J. Reyes (March 5) quoted Kauai Sen. Gary Hooser's observation that the existing system is "out of control" and the cost of elections is so high that it edges good people out of running for office. Ira Rohter, president of Hawaii Clean Elections, stressed again conflicts of interest currently present in our Legislature. For example, they are stopping the regulation of cruise ships dumping their sewage into island waters, and Hawaiian Electric is slowing down bringing Hawaii's plentiful renewable energy sources on line, so we can lessen our dependence on fossil fuel.

What would it cost to reduce the influence of special interests on the Legislature and return trust in our government? About $5.40 per year for every Hawaii citizen would fund a Clean Elections program that would cover the campaign costs of candidates for the House, Senate, governor and lieutenant governor. Isn't giving the average citizen a voice worth the price of one bento a year?

We need to be better protectors of children

It saddens me to see in recent times children getting hurt, from a toddler falling off an apartment ledge to a 10-year-old girl found with life-threatening injuries. It makes me wonder what the parents, adults and community are doing to protect our children. Too often parents are too busy and leave babysitters, schools and daycare centers to raise their children.

We all have to realize that our children need help, guidance and protection. Where does it come from? It starts in the family. The family should be a place where a child can feel safe, get help and guidance they need. Parents have to take the time to spend with their children and start leaving a legacy with them. Parents need to teach their children right from wrong, how to respect authority and how to be good citizens. We have only one chance at raising our children right. Let's do the best we can.

Bush has solution to age-old problem

Government for the rich by the rich. Surely the Christian fundamentalists are familiar with "it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle" (Matt.19.24). George Bush has an answer -- a team of bio- nano-technologists in Iraq is working to produce tiny camels and a presidential decree will be issued for the manufacture of needles with large eyes.

Justice wasn't done in Suzuki case

Well, it's "de ja vu" time again as another crooked politician gets off with a soft sentence ("Suzuki gets 3-year federal prison term for tax fraud," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 24 ). Suzuki got fined only $10,000, not the $250,000 he faced, and only three years in prison, not the five years he earlier was reported to get. And yet his lawyer said his sentence was too harsh. Baloney, it was just a slap on his wrist.

Other crooked politicians have gotten the same soft sentences in the past.

What really is sickening is every time a high public official is found guilty, letters of support come from friends and acquaintances. Ed Case and Ben Cayetano had the audacity to write in his behalf.

These judges are sending the wrong message to other politicians. "Whatever the crime, you'll be out in short time."

Schools hurt by lack of core curriculum

Star-Bulletin reporter Dan Martin quoted the assistant state schools superintendent for curricula extensively in his recent report that efforts to restructure 24 schools will start by aiding groups unable to meet test standards ("Reforms target struggling students," March 9).

Would it be possible to find out how this assistant superintendent for curricula spends her time? As a public school teacher, I would give worlds to know. After all, there is absolutely no common core curriculum of any kind that has been established by the Department of Education.

Absent a common core curriculum:

You don't suppose the total disconnect between teaching and testing has anything to do with the number of schools DOE breathlessly points a public finger of blame at year after year as "failing," do you?

Naaah! Must be a coincidence.