Gas cap is making prices react to market

What's with all the fuss about the gas gap? Hawaii had the highest gas prices in the country. And with the gas gap the prices go up and down like a roller coaster, like they are supposed to. I think that the big gas companies are price gouging to make a profit, and the gas gap prevents more gouging from happening.The gas gap will work just as long as we give it a chance.

What about my electric bill, senator?

Senator Inouye's Oct. 2 article seemed no more than a thinly veiled attempt to help out his kindred spirits in the state Legislature who can't admit that they screwed-up by enacting a gasoline price cap.

Sure, the oil companies are profiteering. Our gas cap law, the only such law in any of the United States, not only made motor fuel profiteering legal in Hawaii, it made it easy!

If Inouye's frets about what we pay out of our wallets for energy was anything more than political butt-covering, he'd be pointing fingers at what we pay for electricity. As bad as Hawaii gasoline prices are, we have consistently paid mainland prices plus about 10 percent or so. Still do. Yet we consistently pay twice as much -- 200 percent of the average mainland price -- for government-price-set electricity from the HECO monopoly. Hawaii's outrageously high cost for electricity takes a lot more cash out of my wallet than does 30 cents more per gallon of gasoline!

Save harbor for ships, not research center

It is interesting that some believe cargo ships are capable of docking in the environs of Honolulu to off-load their vital cargo, while they also think that the only location suitable for the University of Hawaii's new Cancer Research Center is along the waterfront near to or at Piers 1 and 2.

Honolulu's harbor is vital to our state's economy. The ability of ships to load and off-load cargo expeditiously is certainly more vital to our well being than having its important Cancer Research Center situated near the harbor or even the new John Burns Medical School. The members of the Honolulu Community Development Association think otherwise. They want to build a new center on the precious waterfront land at Piers 1 and 2. Rational minds need to prevail with regard to the use of Honolulu's waterfront and the ability to support waterborne commerce, now and into the future.

Senators were brave to reject Roberts

Senators Inouye and Akaka are to be congratulated rather than criticized for their courageous vote against John Roberts confirmation as Supreme Court chief justice.

We have many remaining questions about how fair he will be in his new position. To quote Sen. Barack Obama: " ... when I examined Judge Roberts' record and history of public service, it is my personal estimation that he has far more often used his formidable skills on behalf of the strong in opposition to the weak.

"In his work in the White House and the Solicitor General's Office, he seemed to have consistently sided with those who were dismissive of efforts to eradicate the remnants of racial discrimination in our political process."

Thank you, Senators Inouye and Akaka, for your continuing work for justice and fairness for all.

Katrina panel should be independent

Apathy among the American people will be the final chapter in allowing poor leadership and illegal activities among all three branches of the U.S. government. The response to Katrina was so shameful and pathetic (although typical, for blacks in endless poverty), that it warrants an independent investigation now.

If America lets this tragedy slip through the governmental "sieve" that has allowed all of the recent choices of the Bush administration, the few allies we have left would lose the slim margin of respect they have for this country. Shame on us all.

Driver cell phone ban would increase safety

I applaud the recent concern with public/pedestrian safety. But I have to wonder, how is it that the recent crosswalk law was passed, but the "no talking on the cell phone while driving" law didn't?

Assuming drivers aren't actively trying to mow down pedestrians in the crosswalk, I would think that driving while distracted is more dangerous. Perhaps the legislators live and work in areas where everyone follows the letter of the law, but from personal experience, I've seen drivers on cell phones run red lights, make turns from the second lane (or even the middle lane in some cases), change lanes without signaling (much less checking to see if the lane is clear) and yes, even narrowly miss hitting pedestrians crossing in the crosswalk.

I know that legislators wouldn't pass frivolous laws to make them look good for the next election, would they?

USC band played on, trampling UH tradition

While I agree with Eddie Hayashi's assessment of University of Hawaii fans at the USC game (Letters, Sept.18) for their hospitable and cordial demeanor, I cannot say the same for the USC band. After the game, it is the UH Warriors' tradition to face their band for the playing of the alma mater. The USC band continued to play fight song after fight song and not give the UH band its chance to play.

In the end, the team had to leave the field adding insult to injury. I think we may have been overly cordial. I hope that the UH band director and UH athletic director sent a note to the USC band director on this obvious display of "no class." Regardless of the score, I am one of the many alumni who stay until the end of each game for the alma mater. Our tradition is as important as USC's.

Harbin should keep open mind in new job

Permit me to welcome state Rep. Beverly Harbin to the Democratic Party. Her will to stay the course shows determination, and the fact as a voter in 1998 she supported Gov. Ben Cayetano showed to me her independence. Also that the former governor encouraged her to seek this appointment carries a lot of weight with me.

She could be an advocate for small business, which is the majority of businesses here. But to assume that she would, "support changes to the state's workers' compensation laws, reductions in unemployment insurance taxes and state tax reductions," is to repeat a GOP mantra that only works when preaching to the choir or on pre-recorded talk-radio shows.

Yet, I take umbrage with Harbin characterizing, public employees and union members, apart from small businessmen and entrepreneurs as no risk-takers. Public employees are yearly at risk of layoffs, furloughs, privatization, managed competition, unduly postponed collective bargaining negotiations, loss of hard-earned benefits or rights by the stroke of a pen and prohibited management practices. I ask her to keep an open mind about public servants during the coming session in 2006.

Relax rules to qualify for affordable housing

It is morally incumbent upon Mayor Hannemann and the City Council to allow developers to sell affordable units to any family who applied -- not just those with households under 80 percent of the median income.

Nonprofits are willing to help developers to "qualify" potential lower-income households for whom the units were intended. The city, developers and nonprofits need to come together to figure out how to make this process easy and effective.

Keeping this 80 percent rule seems inane and a major set back for increasing access to affordable housing for those who need it the most.