Residents need higher wages, gas price cap

During her campaign for governor, Linda Lingle repeatedly said Hawaii needs better-paying jobs. She said too many island people are moving to the mainland because of this, mixed with the high cost of living.

Now what's wrong with this picture? Lawmakers want to raise the minimum wage from $6.25 to $7 an hour. But now Lingle says a better way is to give people a tax exemption. I think putting this money in the poor people's pockets now would be more beneficial.

And as soon as she became governor, one of her first acts was to delay the gas cap for two years. All this time people were losing out on millions of dollars they could have been using to support their families. Her reason, she says, is that we need to encourage more competition. But here on her home island of Maui, a discounted gas station proposed for Costco was shut down for political reasons. Like the Marvin Gaye song goes, "What's Going On, Lingle?"

DOE's poor attitude pushes subs away

An article on the National Education Association Web site about substitute teachers' pay and conditions focuses on the lack of qualified personnel and how Los Angeles solved its persistent problem. It says:

"L.A's substitute legion includes former aerospace engineers, curriculum designers and authors. And there are 1,000 more on a waiting list, eager to tackle L.A.'s tough classes.

"Elsewhere, school systems are beating the bushes and lowering standards to find warm bodies to work as substitutes.

"What's different about L.A.?

"Two words: pay and benefits. A day to day substitute in Los Angeles makes $156 a day, or $211 after 21 days. Those who work 100 days a year get full health insurance the following year. ... Respect is another vital condition for getting and keeping good substitutes."

Jeanetta Ma, manager of the Department of Education's substitute teacher program, recently said, "It's not a bad job for what we pay per day." She added that, based on a seven-hour day, when broken down to an hourly rate, they sure wouldn't get that at McDonald's. I guess we now know where the DOE plans on recruiting its substitute teachers.

Ma's attitude toward the job and those who perform it -- an attitude found throughout the DOE -- has created a chasm. They seem to believe that reverse psychology and pay cuts are the way to attract and retain qualified and dedicated people to work as a "critically important" educators. NOT!

Sub teachers can't live on Hawaii's low wages

This letter is handwritten because my computer died, and I cannot afford to repair or replace it. You see, I work as a full-time substitute teacher. As such, I have no medical or dental insurance benefits or retirement plan. I have no credit union, credit cards or financial security. I barely make my monthly obligations of food, shelter and clothing, although I work every day. Today, I am flat broke.

Your recent article on substitute teachers in Hawaii did not report some of the most critical information about our struggle. Our wages have actually gone down over the past 10 years. We were left out of each set of union negotiations and now earn $95 a day at private schools and $112 a day at public schools and $120 at the DOE.

Hawaii's cost of living has increased 17-20 percent each year, while our earnings have dropped. As a single mom, that means even if I work every day I can only bring home $1,000 a month. Could your readers support their families on that? I cannot.

The rental market has gone up 500 percent on Oahu in 10 years. Car insurance, medical and basic needs cost more than we can earn. Even working several jobs doesn't help significantly.

We are there for the keiki when their teacher is ill, at educational conferences, taking advancement courses, upgrading their credentials or just taking a day off. We are told every day how much our services are appreciated, yet on the mainland we would earn $150 a day (or more) with benefits.

I have written to the legislators, the governor's office and the DOE officials who will ultimately determine our future. I pray that we can remain where my children were born and raised. This is our only home.

Superferry dispute belongs in court

Chief Executive John Garibaldi is upset about the lawsuit to require that his Superferry proposal be subject to environmental review.

He was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "It's very troubling that people have to resort to the judicial systems to resolve some things."

Sorry, John, but we live in a nation of laws, where a resorting to the judicial system is the way to settle disputes. Law-abiding citizens shouldn't be troubled by doing so.

EIS isn't anti-ferry, it's pro-information

An Environmental Impact Statement brings out the entire truth about a project. It is not Democratic or Republican, pro-development or anti-development, but instead is simply a factual document that informs the public and legislators of all the pros and cons of doing or not doing a project before the legislators vote on it.

If, long ago, someone had done an EIS on the environmental impact of bringing mongoose to Hawaii, they would have never done it. The EIS would have informed everyone concerned that mongoose eat nene eggs and hence would wipe out the nene if brought here.

We learned the lesson the hard way on the mongoose. But we are smarter now. That is why our state law provides that an EIS is required on major projects, and certainly the Hawaii Superferry is a major project. It is hard to imagine how anyone can be against informing legislators of the facts before they vote. Ignorance is not bliss!

Housing costs' causes should be explored

It's very hopeful that Governor Lingle and state legislators are concerned about Hawaii's housing crisis. Providing affordable housing for those earning minimum wage and transitional housing for those who are houseless is an excellent beginning, but it doesn't address the root causes of the crisis.

We need to challenge the acceptance of the high cost of housing as "just the way it is," that the cost is influenced by forces beyond our control.

Housing costs and inflation increase much faster than the minimum wage and most salaries, which widens the gap between the rich and poor. I don't understand the economics, but I have a deep concern that something doesn't look right about this picture. Economic disparity and poverty can be linked to social justice issues; the housing crisis, substance abuse, crime, health care, education, unemployment, prostitution and others.

The answers to these concerns will require moral courage, decisions based on universal principles and broad community participation.

Schiavo should have opted for divorce

What absurd system of government and judicial law allows for a man five years into a marriage to override the parental right over their offspring?

Whether Michael Schiavo loved Terri is not in dispute, but why not divorce her 10-15 years ago when he moved on with another woman and had two children?

This gut-wrenching saga, played endlessly before the world, could have been confined to a family tragedy, if Schiavo gave Terri "back" to her parents and siblings. That's 4 to 1.

The endless lawsuits, motions and appeals only opened the wound for all to see, without any consensus, and no forward motion for healing and the delivery of Terri to Christ that everyone wanted.