Get a jump on the market by signing up
Waimea Williams (
Letters, Aug. 6) feels that deployed military troops living in Hawaii who are not born and raised here are "getting a jump on the Hawaii housing market," as quoted from a July 15 Star-Bulletin story. Williams further complains that "local" people are being squeezed out and are homeless because of this.
Since when in our great country do we make differences in home ownership between people born in one state and those born in others? If being in the military gives soldiers a jump in the housing market in Hawaii, then good for them. If anyone else would like a jump in the housing market in Hawaii, all they need to do is go to the nearest military recruiter and jump in. After all, those serving are risking their lives fighting a war.
Eric R. Daido
Hickam Air Force Base
Reducing harm proven to beat prohibition
Rich Figel's
Aug. 5 "Addicted to Life" column was right on target. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed their habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.
With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin. While U.S. politicians ignore the drug war's historical precedent, European countries are embracing harm reduction, a public health alternative based on the principle that both drug abuse and prohibition have the potential to cause harm.
Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs to stop the spread of HIV, marijuana regulation aimed at separating the hard and soft drug markets, and treatment alternatives that do not require incarceration as a prerequisite. Unfortunately, fear of appearing "soft on crime" compels many U.S. politicians to support a failed drug war that ultimately subsidizes organized crime.
Robert Sharpe
Policy analyst
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Trials will show value of medical marijuana
I write in response to Rich Figel's story on overhauling drug policy (
"Addicted to Life," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 5). To tackle this problem head-on, we need to start at the top. I work for MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), an organization that recently won a landmark lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Agency that seeks a license to grow marijuana for Food and Drug Administration IND (Investigational New Drug) trials to determine medical value.
There's one more step in the approval process. Reps. John Olver (D-Mass.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) are co-sponsoring a congressional sign-on letter urging the DEA to accept the recommended ruling. We urge your readers to visit www.maps.org to find out how they can help.
Terri Thatcher
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Ben Lomond, Calif.
There's a better way than the Akaka Bill
There has been much support for the Akaka Bill among Hawaii's congressional delegation, local elected officials from both political parties, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian communities, and even the news media. I have said many times that I personally cannot support the bill due to its watered-down current stature, which can be attributed to Sen. Dan Akaka's quest to appease all parties involved. I think the world of the good senator from Hawaii -- I've always considered him a personal friend who has maintained an open door policy to all of his constituents -- but I cannot, in good conscience, support his bill as written.
Rather than pursuing the Akaka Bill, I believe Akaka, and our entire congressional delegation, should consider amending the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. This legislation has already passed Congress, and is an existing piece of passed legislation. Our local elected officials and Hawaiian Civic Club leaders who support the Akaka Bill should all band together with our congressional delegation to amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, introduced by Hawaii's first delegate to Congress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, in an effort to ensure that Hawaiians get at least the same benefits and recognition afforded to our Native American counterparts on the U.S. continent.
Whitney T. Anderson
Former state lawmaker
Waimanalo
Hawaii eventually will turn against illegals
Regarding "Hawaii refrains from joining anti-illegal alien bandwagon" (
"Our opinion," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 7):
That's because Hawaii has not been hit by illegal aliens, as have California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. It is costing these states hundreds of millions of dollars for millions of unauthorized people in this country. Look out, Hawaii, here they come!
Bill Evansa
San Jose, Calif.
Book 'im -- and get on that Mideast thing, too
Watching a 40-year-old rerun of "Hawaii Five-0" Tuesday evening, I caught a glimpse of a newspaper headline in the background of one scene: "Mideast Peace Talks Fail."
So what's new?
Ted Chernin
Punahou