Giving to the poor has ups and down

I am writing you concerning the election of our new president, Barack Obama. I believe he can make a difference in the world for good. The downside is that most of his ideas might not be as efficient as he thinks.

He believes that our country should give billions of dollars to the poor of our country. The thing is, they are poor for two reasons: either they are lazy or they are unfortunate; otherwise, the economy might get better, but will go back down because of their carelessness with the money. That is just my thought.

Thank you for listening.

Inauguration crowd was an amazing sight

Last Tuesday, I watched the inauguration. This was the first inauguration that I watched in my life. It was quite a sight to see. It was very interesting. I thought the oath would be much longer. I was amazed at how many people were there. The crowd was past the Washington Monument. It was easily 1 million people.

I think that Barack Obama will be a good president. He is really respected. Everyone seems to like him. I really hope he can make a CHANGE!

High prices are driving tourists elsewhere

Hi, folks. As an outsider I can tell you why your tourism is failing: Airline tickets, food and lodging are too high. Who has at least $3,000 for a couple to come here? I'd rather pay a lot less and go to Cancun or the Caribbean. Compared to Texas, Hawaii costs 90 percent more to live here and eat here. This island is too employee-friendly, and you rely too much on tourism. Why would a business want to come here?

You used to blame President Bush, now you have a new one to blame, and I do hope his socialistic plans fail.

Letters show breadth of dog misinformation

It's very telling to read the two dog letters yesterday: one from an educated reader who uses fact-based arguments versus the misinformation perpetuated by the other writer. First of all, the dog parks Carolyn Blackburn references were not paid for with taxpayer dollars. Instead, loving, caring, responsible dog owners recognized - as she even says in her letter - that dogs need play spaces and exercise. So these volunteers raised the funds to open parks in their neighborhoods. And by the way, the city manages our parks. The state manages the schools. So the Department of Education cuts have nothing to do with our city parks.

In Honolulu's ever-growing urban environment, the idea of simply banning large dogs is shortsighted. Metropolitan areas across the country - and especially in Europe - demonstrate the success of caring for animals despite smaller living conditions.

Suggesting that people shouldn't even own pit bulls contributes to the hysteria about that breed. All of Michael Vick's pit bull fighting dogs, except one, were rehabilitated and adopted to loving homes. One is even a therapy dog that visits the sick and elderly.

Don't blame the breed. Blame the owner.

'Clean cars' act deserves green light

Hawaii has a chance to make its future cars go much farther on a gallon of gas. This week, President Obama issued a clear directive to his Environmental Protection Agency to move forward on allowing states to adopt higher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. California and 13 other states have adopted “;clean car”; standards in an effort to push automakers to further improve fuel efficiency. A bill is pending before Hawaii lawmakers to adopt clean car standards here.

Following California's lead, Hawaii's bill would require automakers to cut emissions by nearly a third by 2016 - the equivalent of boosting the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 35 mpg from the current average of 27. This is a smart measure for Hawaii - it helps us achieve our clean energy goals without spending a dime of taxpayers' dollars.

Clean cars are better for the environment because they emit less pollution. They are good for our state's security because they lessen our dependence on foreign oil. And they are good for the pocketbook because they let you get more miles out of your gasoline budget.

Legislators should give clean cars the green light.

Display of bodies shows lack of humanity

I strongly agree with the sponsors of legislation concerning the exploitation of human bodies for commercial display, and hope it passes (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 28). I found even the advertising for this exhibition to be offensive. It is disgraceful to exploit the remains of the dead in a commercial manner. It is disingenuous to claim this was an “;educational”; exhibit - if you want this kind of an education, get it at the University of Hawaii, not at the mall. I boycotted Nordstrom because this exhibit was next to the store.

It is astounding to read the comments from those who condoned this incredibly tasteless commercial exploitation. I have no quarrel with the science community, which needs to work with donated human bodies (particularly those donated willingly by people before their deaths) for their work. But this ... this was not about science or learning. This was about making money and demeaning humanity.

Just take a stand one way or another

While we are thinking of legalizing gambling, why stop there? 'Yo eleven! It seems whenever our state has budget problems and woes, it considers profiting on the sins of its citizens, which is a surefire way of needing a bigger police force and more human services support, not a good thing with Department of Human Services director Lillian Kohler's possible budget cut.

Hawaii, why stop with gambling? Why not legalize the hundreds of highly profitable “;parlors”; surrounding our city that are nothing more than houses of ill repute? The moral issue is one thing, the blind hypocrisies are nothing more than an intellectually deficient Third World mentality that originated way before the John Burns administration - seriously, there is just no reason for this thought process to still be in place. What is the deal with the blind eye to existing prostitution taking up retail space other than they pay taxes?

Legalize the girls or close them down but please make up your mind, get a backbone. Then there is always the issue of medical marijuana. I hear Hilo has one heck of a crop this year.

No 'party-line' House vote on stimulus bill

In yesterday's New York Times article “;House passes stimulus,”; the subheadline reads, “;President Obama's economic recovery plan wins the day on a strict party-line vote.”;

Patently false and misleading. There were 11 Democrats who voted with the Republicans against the bill.

I might be picky, but someone has to be.

Also, the House bill is the worst of the worst. Hopefully, the Senate will hit the reality button.