Oceanic should make it up to game viewers

Regarding Dave Reardon's column concerning the cable TV outage during Saturday's University of Hawaii football game (”;Oceanic's answer: Not our fault,”; Further Review, Star-Bulletin, Oct. 7): I was a frustrated viewer trying to call with no success on Saturday. It might not be Oceanic's fault but when you partner up with someone to provide a product for a fee, regardless who is at fault, you must take responsibility. Like Reardon mentioned, they should throw in a basketball or volleyball game to make up for this problem.

I also wanted to say that Reardon is doing an excellent job in his new capacity as a columnist. I keep telling my friends to check out his columns. I will always be one of his biggest and most loyal fans!

HECO cares about profit, not customers

I enjoyed Dave Reardon's column yesterday (”;Oceanic's answer: Not our fault”;). I had a similar run-in with Hawaiian Electric Co.

For more than a year, I've noticed that my electric bill is much higher than my neighbors'. I'm trying to survive on a small disability check and am constantly trying to find ways to save a dime so I'm not afraid to ask my neighbors how their bills are.

I live alone, use the CFL bulbs (only one at night), do very little laundry, don't cook and turn off the water heater for the majority of the day.

When I contacted HECO and told them that neighbors with larger homes and large families were paying less or about the same as me their reply was, “;We don't like people to compare bills. Your usage is low. ... That's just the way it is.”;

When I asked for someone to come to my home and show me what I'm doing wrong, they said, “;We don't do that.”;

I asked for a new meter and they said they'd only do that if the meter was running too slow. In other words, for their benefit, not mine.

Their best suggestion was that I leave my water heater on and see if that makes a difference.

Mostly I'm still bugged by the statement, “;We don't like for people to compare bills.”; Doesn't that tell you something?

Anyway ... keep on questioning the monopolies.

If we lose in Iraq, it might turn out OK

What would an American defeat in Iraq mean? Sen. John McCain has sounded the warning, pointing out how America was defeated in Vietnam because of a lack of will, an absence of perseverance, a waving of the white flag when we could have won. That's why victory in Iraq is so vital.

Had we gone on to victory in Vietnam, we would now have bilateral trade relations with that country, Vietnam would belong to the World Trade Organization, American companies would now be investing hundreds of millions of dollars over there, we would have an ambassador in Hanoi, American warships would be visiting that nation, McDonald's would be planning on opening a franchise in Ho Chi Minh City ...

Of course, that's all happening even though we lost the Vietnam War but, as McCain well knows, it's the principle of the thing that counts.

Palin-McCain resort to smear tactics

I see that vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin claims Sen. Barack Obama once consorted with a domestic terrorist - a claim not based on fact. I once shook hands with President Reagan. In Palin's simplistic logic, that probably makes me a Republican.

If Palin-McCain can't win on the issues, maybe character assassination will carry the day. I hope voters don't fall for the Swift Boat tactics this time around.

Take steps to prevent aggression in dogs

In light of the dog attack that reportedly claimed two-month-old Iopeka Liptak's life on Sunday (”;Dog that killed infant euthanized by request,”; Star-Bulletin, Oct. 7), I urge residents to help prevent future tragedies by following these lifesaving dog-bite prevention tips:

» Spay or neuter. Unaltered dogs of any breed tend to be more territorial and more aggressive, which makes them three times more likely to bite. For the nearest low-cost spay/neuter clinics, call 1-800-248-SPAY (7729).

» Report cruelty to animals right away. Dogfighters and those using dogs as “;guard dogs”; often beat, starve and taunt dogs to make them aggressive - and more likely to attack.

» Never chain or cage dogs. The lack of socialization and inability to escape perceived threats makes chained dogs nearly three times more likely to attack. Chained dogs kill more children than falls from trees and playground equipment and fireworks accidents combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more ways to have a safe and happy dog, visit http://www.HelpingAnimals.com.