Let homeless use dog parks at night

In response to ”;Homeless people need sleep just like we do”; (Letters, Sept. 28), the writer points out that “;After all, we have designated dog parks for dogs!”; This incited a brainstorm for me. Dog parks are not used at night since the dogs must be accompanied by “;we”; and “;we”; the “;homeful”; are in bed. Therefore, why not allow the homeless to camp in dog parks to get their sleep? Some of “;we”; complain about problems with human waste, but dog parks provide plastic bags (helped with donations) to dispose of same.

McCain wasn't trying to answer questions

Regarding Friday's debate between presidential candidates Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama: It appeared that McCain was simply trying to “;get through”; his two minutes at every turn as opposed to actually giving a straightforward answer.

Paying Sunnis not to attack is an outrage

The problem I had with the first presidential debate was with Sen. John McCain repeatedly claiming the “;surge”; of sending more U.S. troops to Iraq has resulted in less violence and a more stable Iraq.

Paul Craig Roberts, former assistant of the Treasury in the Reagan administration, reports that President Bush is giving $800,000 of taxpayers' money daily to pay Sunni insurgents to stop their attacks on U.S. troops and seek out al-Qaida.

Voters have a right to know what is going on in their name. While we appreciate the sacrifice our brave troops under fire, the taxpayers should know that they have played a major role by providing an additional “;surge”; of cash to insurgents so they won't hurt our troops.

It's sort of like what went on in the last century when the Mafia extorted protection money from taxpayers. Imagine how expensive it could be if McCain committed the U.S. to stay in the Mideast for 100 years. It's more than $29 billion!

Our future doesn't have to include rail

Something needs to be done about the Leeward traffic problem, but rail is not the answer. No one will ride it, especially because it won't be much faster than the present bus system. The fact is that everyone needs to drive. So what do we do?

During the summer, while classes are out at the University of Hawaii, traffic is not so bad. So, let's move UH to Kapolei. Enough talking about it. Do it.

We will still need to do something about traffic to and from Honolulu. Panos Prevedouros has a great plan for a double-decker freeway. True, it would be just as ugly as a rail. But let's take it one step further. Allow only buses and electric vehicles on the top deck. The buses would be going faster than the rail, and there would be less need to transfer. By the time it's built, electric cars will be going 45 mph. They will cost a lot less than gas-guzzling cars, and they will cost way less to operate.

People on the Leeward side would start buying electric cars like crazy. Honolulu would be on her way to being the greenest city in the world, a great example for the rest of the world to follow in these times of looming global-warming catastrophe. Think about it, Mayor Hannemann. What will be your legacy? A big, long, graffiti-ridden white elephant or having been the greenest mayor in the world?

Compadres was much more than a business

Hawaii's Compadres Bar and Grill closed Friday, but memories and examples owner Rick Enos established here for charitable giving over the past 24 years live on. The walls of Compadres restaurants were adorned with photos of many charity events and media covered hundreds of such events over many years.

A test-for-success Compadres scored “;perfect”; on was being there first for community, patrons, employees - before profit. It's a wonderful business philosophy, but it only works IF those patrons keep coming through the door. Business survives with patronage. Charities survive with supporters, contributors.

We should all patronize the businesses who continue to help charitable causes - even in these challenging economic times.

Mahalo, Compadres, for all you did for our community. We miss you and we will never forget you.

Aloha 'oe.

There's a better way to recycle books

I was happy to see your recycling article Sunday, but was unhappy about the awful suggestion about books. The suggestion was to tear the covers off of hardcover books and to just toss paperbacks in with recycled material. Say what?

Please, books are much too valuable to destroy in this way. They can be sent to places that are in dire need of books. Here they can be given to the Friends of the Library. McCully Library has a table where books and magazines are left and picked up by others on a daily basis. Please, do not ever destroy books in a recycling bin. They are much too valuable to others.