Only rail offers needed speed, carrying capacity

Why are there so many questions about mass transit alternatives? Rail provides the greatest relief to future traffic congestion by carrying the greatest number of people at the fastest pace. Further, rail is the best environmental solution, providing a cleaner alternative to polluting automobiles. Rail is the long-term, successful traffic solution at all major U.S. cities; Honolulu should be no exception.

Central and Leeward Oahu residents already face terrible traffic, with no alternative. Remember, TheBus is using the same congested traffic lanes as automobiles. Our population is growing, and there will only be more of us needing to get around. Our quality of life is diminishing as traffic congestion grows. Rail will reverse this trend, leaving a vibrant, beautiful island where our children want to live and guests want to visit. We must preserve our environment and keep our air clean; the negative impact of an elevated highway and more cars just is not right.

Rail is the only way to go -- now.

Can we afford to maintain rail system?

We all know how much rail will cost and how much the feds will ante up to help fund the building of the rail system, but the bigger question might be how much is it going to cost to maintain and operate this system and, how much, if any, will the feds subsidize the cost?

This is something that hasn't been discussed much if at all, but is everything if a system is built and we can't afford to maintain or operate it.

We could end up with a giant eyesore and a glaring reminder to everyone how we didn't do enough homework and study to ensure we have a rail system that we can enjoy for years and years to come.

Excellent symphony deserves more support

The Honolulu Symphony deserves plaudits for the Nov. 17 concert at the Blaisdell. What beautiful music and how extraordinarily well the symphony presented it.

Honolulu has one of the finest orchestras in the country. It is sad the low attendance makes it a very real possibility we might lose this great resource.

As Tom Gulick, executive director of the Honolulu Symphony, says, "Our musicians travel across Oahu to perform at schools, and teach and inspire thousands of promising young musicians. These exceptional musicians also continue to enrich the lives of everyone in the community through their varied outreach activities, including chamber music and jazz concerts, and performances in churches."

Please support our symphony with your attendance.

Dems should wield power with wisdom

I loved your Nov. 8 headline, "Democrats take control," locally and nationally. Thanks to the wisdom of the American voters who once again have demonstrated their wisdom to collectively "right" a listing ship of government.

I simply hope the Democrats learned a lesson from their Republican counterparts' loss about the excesses of power, which in turn leads to corruption. Once again the authors of our Constitution have their infinite wisdom validated in providing for the essentials for checks and balances in our government.

Hawaii lucked out for having two senior senators of the same party now in power. Both are in line to head Senate committees or subcommittees to the benefit of our nation and state. Some things have a way of working out for the best after all.

Hawaii needs health plan operated by state

"Health insurance talks increasingly turn nasty." That refers to American health insurance groups described in a lengthy report in the Nov. 19 Business section of the Star-Bulletin. The article describes the conflict over "negotiations between health insurers and health-care providers." Arguments, lawsuits and disruption of medical services are commonplace in the American medical system, the only modern nation lacking national health insurance.

While doctors and patients fight with group health insurers and providers, today 46 million Americans lack any health coverage. Yet, our medical system costs the United States twice as much per person as the average in Great Britain, France, Germany, and many other other countries. Despite those high costs, illnesses and life expectancy are worse for Americans.

The costs of health insurance for business has bankrupted our auto industry, along with other enterprises. Hawaii should join Massachusetts and Vermont with a state-operated health insurance plan until the rest of the nation realizes the needs and the costs.

Pressure brings out racism in Hollywood

I just don't get it. These millionaire Hollywood types, some icons, go berserk under pressure.

Mel Gibson hurled an anti-Semitic tirade against police officers after a DUI traffic stop, and now Michael Richards goes berserk at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood.

Gibson wasn't caught on tape, but "Kramer" was and he'll be bailing himself out of this Titanic career-ender for years to come.

These two can apologize and proclaim they're not racists, but I'd bet a team of psychiatrists would say otherwise.