Ewa Beach team's win deserves big coverage

In response to Howard Okada's letter of Aug. 31, "Paper made too much of team's big win": Yes, the events in Iraq and the Gulf area are more serious and tragic and deserve our attention. But what the Ewa Beach Little Leaguers did was a huge accomplishment, and what's wrong with having something on the front page that makes us smile?

The Star-Bulletin printed this story because these kids captured the heart and spirit of the entire state and that deserves the front page. This doesn't make the other events in our lives any less important. Enjoy the moment!

This proves it -- people want bad news

Howard S. Okada's negative spin on the news coverage for the Ewa Beach Little Leaguers' victory (Letters, Aug. 31) clearly demonstrates why numerous attempts to publish a "good news newspaper" have all failed. It's kind of sad that bad news is so desirable to read. While no one can deny the level of importance of disasters being greater that a wonderful success story like this, I personally found it refreshing, and emotionally positive. Bring on the good news.

It was like a nice visit from Hawaii team

Congratulations, world champs! How does that sound? It will take a while to sink in, but that is what you are, and the United States is proud of you!

My family and I just visited Oahu in April. We are still talking about how beautiful Hawaii looks. To us, your championship has a special meaning. Not only did we visit you in April, but it seems that you visited us also. You see, we live only one hour away from Williamsport, Penn.

Thank you for being a great example to future Little Leaguers.

Lawmakers back away from gas price cap

Promoters of the flawed gas cap law failed to address the real reasons why Hawaii gasoline prices are usually higher than the mainland (the highest gas taxes in the country, anti-competitive laws passed by the Legislature and the high cost of doing business here). Instead, they sold the public on a risky political experiment that their own experts have rejected because it could backfire against consumers.

Now, just as it's being implemented, gas cap promoters appear to be backing away from promises that their government price-control scheme would lower consumer prices. "No one can predict whether this will cause the price of gasoline to rise, fall or stay the same," wrote one legislative supporter.

We no longer can buy gas for a song

Sung to the tune of the Beatles' "Yesterday":

Yesterday ... gas was cheap so we would cruise all day
Now the state's gas cap is here to stay
Oh, I believe ... in yesterday

Suddenly ... three bucks for regular is killing us
There's supreme but we'll go bust
Oh, yesterday ...came suddenly

Why ... Ron* ... didn't know, I don't know ... he wouldn't say
My ... car ... can't go far
Now I long for yesterday

Yesterday ... I filled up my tank for work and play
Now I've got no gas, can't drive away
Oh, I believe ... in yesterday.

*(Sen. Ron Menor, Democrat)

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