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POSTED: Friday, October 31, 2008

GOP resorts to smear against Galuteria

I was appalled to see the Hawaii Republican Party send out nasty mailers in support of Sen. Gordon Trimble. After finding out the “;facts”; espoused in the mailer are a distortion of the truth, I am even more incensed because it is simply an ugly attempt to denigrate Brickwood Galuteria's character.

Because Trimble's legislative accomplishments are so sparse, Republicans have resorted to negative campaigning against Galuteria in a desperate attempt to save one of its members.

Voters ought to be wary of attempts to assassinate one's character like this. Don't assume one party's allegations and base your vote on hearsay. Seek out the truth from Galuteria's campaign before you vote in this race.

Leave ballot blank in Council election

How is it that when Ann Kobayashi filed, on filing deadline day, to run for mayor, Duke Bainum was the only one with enough notice to complete his filing for her City Council seat?

Rep. Kirk Caldwell called Kobayashi four times that day to get confirmation that she would be running for mayor. He did not get a reply from Kobayashi until after his fourth call.

Why wasn't a public announcement made as soon as Kobayashi's decision was made? Why were her constituents left in the dark?

A Web search reveals news articles in Arkansas journals written after Bainum's failed 2004 run for Honolulu mayor and his return to Arkansas to serve as CEO of his family's banking business. In one of these articles, he vowed that he “;was committed to southwest Arkansas.”; He has tried to explain away that commitment by saying he was only helping his family's business and always intended to return to Hawaii. As of Oct. 29 he was still listed as CEO on the bank's Web site. Just where is Bainum's commitment, Arkansas or Hawaii? Whose best interest does he have at heart?

Council District 5 voters want to know. I believe we already do. Leave your ballot blank in the City Council District 5 race.

Does it matter which bat they hit you with?

I've listened with growing dismay to people arguing about why we should vote for Barack Obama or John McCain, as if those are the only choices. Sorry, but when the choice is between a big-government socialist and another big-government socialist, I'm gonna look for an alternate theory of governance.

When someone wielding two baseball bats calmly says it's in your best interests for them to whack you upside the head with one of those bats, the rational thing to do is not to carry on a thoughtful discourse on the merits of maple versus ash for the bat. One really ought to insist on revisiting the hidden premise, the notion that said clubbing is either necessary or desirable.

That's why I'm voting for the Libertarian Party candidate, Bob Barr - because maple and ash both suck.

McCain shouldn't mock women's health

In response to a letter criticizing Sen. Barack Obama's vote on late-term abortion, we note that truth is becoming a rare commodity in this election. Obama was criticized by Sen. John McCain in his vote against a late-term abortion bill. Obama explained his vote against the measure was because the bill did not contain a provision for the health of the mother. McCain ridiculed the health of the mother with air quotes.

I want a president who is not so blinded by ideology that he ignores the health of the mother in a rare medical procedure in order to pander to the most extreme position of rabid anti-choice voters.

On Nov. 4, we get to choose our future. I trust in the voters to understand the complex issues before them and the stark choice they face in the two major presidential candidates. Isn't choice great?

McCain voted against earmarks, not veterans

Lois Faison Cope (Letters, Oct. 18) questions why Sen. John McCain opposed the passage of a bill that would increase education benefits to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. He actually opposed the nonveteran earmarks that were added by other members of the Senate. Veterans currently get $47,556 from the Veterans Administration for education. The individual services also have active duty “;tuition assistance”; programs that provide college education benefits up to $4,500 a year. Participating universities give college credits for military training and experience.

These benefits already provide enough credits and funds for any ambitious veteran to obtain both bachelor's and master's/professional degrees within a 10-year limit after the separating from the military. Anyone can check military.com for these figures. Let's not lie about or politicize military service and benefits for any reason.

Powell turned voters away from Obama

Gen. Colin L. Powell, former secretary of state of the Bush administration, endorsing Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president is a catalyst to block hope for the first black president to be in the White House. This uncalled-for move by Powell caused the white people of America to also vote for a white person to the White House. This is called the Bradley effect. Former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, a black candidate for governor, was way ahead in the polls but he was defeated badly because there are more white people in California than blacks.

The polls are tightening. I will not be surprised if Sarah Palin and McCain are elected.

'Arab' shouldn't be a dirty word, anyway

Barack Obama, the product of a white mother from Kansas and a African father from Kenya, embodies the values of America, as stated in our Pledge of Allegiance: “;One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”;

Eight years ago George W. Bush ran for president claiming “;I am a uniter, not a divider.”; After two terms of his presidency, we find ourselves more divided than ever. Bush's family has extensive business relationships with Arab leaders, including many with the name “;Hussein,”; yet under his administration, “;Arab”; has become a dirty word. Your readers should realize that former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, renowned heart surgeon Michael De Bakey, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, TV personality Danny Thomas, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and even famous surfer Kelly Slater have Arab ancestry.

As one whose ancestors include, among others, Catholics from Armenia, Catholics from Iraq and also Sephardic Jews from Iraq, and whose current family members profess both those faiths, I know that Obama will reverse the divisiveness of the past eight years.

Kobayashi's not the one who's confused

After reading yesterday headlines in both Honolulu morning newspapers, I see now that Mufi Hannemann was wrong in his recent debate comments to Ann Kobayashi - she's not confused, I am, along with every other fiscal-minded taxpaying islander: “;Economic forecast darkens for state”; (from the Star-Bulletin) and “;Tax revenue forecast for Hawaii grim”; (from the Advertiser).

I was already having a hard time understanding how we are going to pay for this ill-conceived steel on steel boondoggle, and the triple whammy news just came with the city's draft environmental impact statement released yesterday afternoon!

“;Rail system to cost more, city report says,”; and the city won't release the entire document until sometime this weekend, not time enough for anyone to review before the election.

“;The system is expected to cost $3.9 billion, adjusted for inflation this year. After construction though, the total comes closer to $5 billion.”;

And this is only the beginning. Annual maintenance is astronomical. Have supporters of this project lost their minds?

I am confused, all right, as to why anyone would vote for rail. I won't be confused on Tuesday when I vote “;no”; to this madness.

Keep rail option alive, vote 'yes' on Nov. 4

Voting “;yes”; keeps environmental impact statement for rail, and alternatives alive. Voting “;no”; aborts rail, and leaves Oahu with only proposals by rail opponents. They had 15 years to make proposals but only spoke up when rail was reinitiated. Their EzWay plan adds two overhead car lanes and one dedicated bus lane, shortening traffic jam length but not time, as buses and cars come together on local streets.

Free enterprise cannot save it because it is not economical to build enough parking garages. Both EzWay and more garages are visually obtrusive. EzWay has a wider stance overhead. More garages destroy downtown characteristics that attract people and businesses.

Rail enables orientation of future development around transit stations, saving farmland and countryside.

A society will be judged by how it treats those at the bottom. The only bullies in this election are trying to deprive us of rail, needed as spikes in operational costs for buses and cars continue to occur. In a time of change, we are fortunate to have an opportunity to initiate a Franklin Delano Roosevelt-type of infrastructure project to better our economy now and in the future.

Rail system will have too many stops

Island voters need to consider potential ridership when they vote on what type of mass transit system we approve. People will want to ride a system that saves commuting time.

“;Express”; and full vehicles with rubber tires can bypass stops, chopping many minutes off trips to and from Honolulu.

The proposed rail system will have trains that stop at every station. They will have an average speed of less than 30 mph, with no practical way of speeding up because of all these stops.

Have you noticed that this 200-year-old snail rail technology is not being called rapid transit? We need a rapid transit system. Vote “;no”; on rail.

Kobayashi's EzWay plan is dysfunctional

I returned my “;Ann Kobayashi for Mayor”; yard sign. I had hopes that she would stand for a meaningful alternative to steel rail.

Ann, you told me at a campaign appearance that you would not let a “;no”; vote on rail transit turn the project into just another highway-widening project, yet that is exactly what you are proposing with EzWay.

By building three new lanes of traffic into town, you will bring thousands more vehicles into the crowded streets of downtown, Waikiki and Manoa. Your plan does not address what will happen to all of these additional cars in town.

Rather than promote energy efficiency and better land use, your plan will just encourage more drivers to bring their cars into town and encourage developers to convert more precious land into parking lots. The plan's so-called restrictions, on numbers of riders per vehicle and miles per gallon, are meaningless and unenforceable. It's just another elevated freeway.

Kobayashi helped preserve Waimea

Recent ads discredit Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi's involvement in the Waimea Valley settlement case. Contrary to what was said, Kobayashi helped to save Waimea Valley.

I was authorized in May 2004 by the Council chairman to negotiate a settlement on behalf of the Council. Prior to my appointment, the Council adopted a resolution to give OHA an opportunity to purchase the property. The intent was to save taxpayers' money.

I worked closely with then-budget chairwoman Kobayashi, whose expertise was invaluable in our meetings with OHA trustees. At that time, OHA was willing to pay $6 million for Waimea Valley.

Bill McCorriston's law firm in November 2005 proposed a settlement for the city to keep 300 acres of land and for the remaining 1,500 acres to be returned to owner Attractions Hawaii. The property would be subdivided into homes and developed into an ecological camp for tourists - a move that was supported by the mayor but opposed by many, including native Hawaiian and environmental groups.

Kobayashi consistently voted against the deal to split and develop the property, and other Council members also were opposed. The mayor denounced the Council's 9-0 vote and reinitiated settlement talks with Attractions Hawaii. In the end, a settlement was reached, but at taxpayers' expense. OHA paid only $2.9 million. The city paid the largest amount ($5.1 million) and received only half of the easement shared with the state, which paid $1.6 million.

The Council hastily approved the settlement at its March 15, 2006, meeting, where the discussion and final vote took all of two minutes - as Council members Kobayashi, Rod Tam and I were entering the chambers.

Kobayashi deserves credit for helping to preserve Waimea Valley and for her consistent opposition to commercial development on the property.

Protect Hawaiian rights - 'no' on Con Con

The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs recognizes that our position and rights as the native people of Hawaii nei are at risk and might be challenged by outside forces that are hostile to our people. The most recent statistics show that more than half of Hawaii residents weren't born here.

Those who might not fully appreciate the legacy and traditions that we would like to pass on to the next generation will be voting on our future. We cannot afford to have what we gained taken away from us again. Imagine losing our gathering rights and other cultural traditions. We must defend and protect Hawaiian rights, entitlements and access to self-determination.

A Constitutional Convention undermines our hard-earned rights and can further erode our culture and values. This is why our association has taken a stand to vote “;no”; on the Constitutional Convention.

Cut legislative session to pay for Con Con

There is a simple way to fund the long overdue Con Con. The 2009 legislative session should be abbreviated and held to 30 or fewer days. The savings from the approximately $18 million budget can cover Con Con. Nothing in our state Constitution mandates the length of the typical regular session. It only sets a must-start date and says it cannot exceed 60 days.

Please vote “;yes”; on the Con Con question.

America has already tested and rejected 'mob rule'

I read the recent op-ed by Ira Rohter (”;Why hold a Con-Con?”; Star-Bulletin, Oct. 12) with great interest. Although I respect Rohter's views on the matter, I felt the need to share some additional information for your readers to consider.

Rohter, a University of Hawaii political science professor, referenced Damariscotta Bay, Maine, in his op-ed. It's important for readers to know that this is a small town of 2,000 residents in a state with about 1.2 million residents (similar in size to Hawaii). The system of county management which is referred to, and which is likened to “;New England tradition,”; is what is called a “;true (direct) democracy”; - otherwise known as “;mob rule.”;

  Mob rule was the more prominent form of government prior to the secession of states to form the union we now know as the United States of America. Section IV of the U.S. Constitution provides for a “;republican”; (one man, one vote) form of government (note our Pledge of Allegiance: “;I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands ...”;). It is known as a “;representative democracy,”; made up of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government as we currently have today.

  As the populace of the newly formed United States continued to grow, the “;town hall meeting”; style of governing - “;true (direct) democracy”; or “;mob rule”; - proved inadequate.

Because the article appears to cite the “;mob rule”; style of government as an example that Hawaii should consider, it's also important to point out that Maine maintains identical executive, legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) and judicial branches of government, not the mob rule form of government Rohter suggested in his op-ed. In addition, since its original Constitution, which was framed between 1819 and 1820, Maine has held only two Constitutional Commissions (their Con Cons), the most recent being in 1961. Hawaii's most recent was in 1978.

  Although the idea of a Con Con appears as a desirable option to many dissatisfied voters and legislators, or candidates who have had unsuccessful bids for elected office, it does nothing that the voters cannot already accomplish through political awareness, political education, political pressure and political action. The problem is not the political process itself or the Constitution, but the complacency of the electorate. Recent and past voter turnout results prove this point. All the desired results proponents seek from a Con Con can be accomplished through voter participation.

  Town hall meetings, as described by Rohter in Damariscotta Bay, already exist in the form of our neighborhood boards and community associations. Get involved in these organizations, learn more about your candidates and elected officials, more than just who sends out the most mailers or who sign-waves the longest.

Demand candidate forums and debates to learn their positions on issues important to you and their level of knowledge on those matters. Hold current elected officials responsible every election cycle. Don't give up on our system, but break the complacency. The power of the people lies in their willingness to exercise that power.

 

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