Ezra's wisdom needed in Family Court

Way to go, Judge Ezra! By promoting ho'oponopono and delaying federal court intervention in the Hawaiian artifacts dispute, you have saved the Honolulu taxpayers countess dollars (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 6). We need you to transfer to Family Court in order to advocate for alternative dispute resolution in the best interest of families and children ... not to mention taxpayer dollars.

I personally requested ho'oponopono and mediation in Family Court. I was denied. I was further ordered to pay opposing counsel's fees even though I was self-represented. I was then ordered to pay the several thousands of dollars in court fees at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Judge Ezra, the keiki and families of Hawaii need you to move to Family Court.

Benjamin Franklin warned us about this

The more I read about the scope of the National Security Agency scandal, the more appalled I am by the breadth and depth of it, the sheer numbers it sucked in. But when I read in columns and letters intelligent people accepting, even supporting, this action in the name of security, I despair! They must never have considered what Benjamin Franklin had to say: "Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Or sadder, they don't believe it.

Elected leaders do the hustle with tax money

ABC has "Dancing With The Stars"; Honolulu residents have "Dancing With The Pols," aka "The Honolulu Hale Hustle." As the property tax debacle unfolded, we were treated to some unusual performances. We watched the "Council Cha Cha" as members tripped all over themselves proposing various tax relief schemes (as detailed in the Sunday Star-Bulletin) to assuage beleaguered property owners. And the mayor's performance of the "Mufi Moonwalk" took backpedaling to new heights.

Judging by comments I've heard and read, taxpayers are less than impressed by these performances, saying they lack imagination. So, just like on "Dancing WIth The Stars," taxpayers must remember that we can vote off the losers. Come election time, I hope to see several new dancers on the floor.

Which city services do you want reduced?

Of all the people whose net worth increased dramatically as their real estate increased in value and are now complaining about increased assessments, not one has written to you asking for the city to provide fewer or reduced services.

Seems to me there is a big disconnect when the same people wanting tax cuts are calling for more, not fewer, services from the city. That goes for City Council members such as Charles Djou, who seems to want it both ways (implement new things lke curbside recycling while simultaneously cutting taxes).

Movie love story hard to find in Honolulu

Is there a problem here? A number of my friends and I planned on seeing "Brokeback Mountain" and found it difficult to find. I just read that a Salt Lake City, Utah, theater pulled the movie. As someone noted, "It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience." So goes Hawaii? How sad.

Medicare not to blame for cost of health care

Syndicated columnist Thomas Friedman is becoming more and more off the wall. Where does he get the idea that it is Medicare that is going to cause the financial downfall of our country (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 6)? Where has he been? Doesn't he know that it is the exorbitant prices charged by the pharmaceutical companies that makes Medicare expensive and is driving individuals to near bankruptcy? Why isn't he writing about the ways in which it was those companies that produce and sell the drugs who have sold to our government a Medicare Plan D that no one can decipher and that may, as things seem to be pointing out, do little to really help us with the costs of drugs?

Don't confuse the need for health care assistance for our population with the expanding bottom line of greedy drug companies. And the same can go for oil, too.