Ban on cell phones would be too broad

The proposed new ordinance (Council Bill 4-2009) that would restrict the use of mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle will add hardship to volunteer emergency workers and small businesses on Oahu.

Although the likely intent of the ordinance is to curb dangerous wireless texting while driving, the bill as written also would prohibit taxis from using their mobile data terminals, truck and delivery drivers from communicating with their dispatchers and volunteer amateur (ham) radio operators from serving their communities. This would add considerable hardship to businesses already struggling to cope with the economic downturn and serve the community.

City Councilmen Rod Tam and Donovan Dela Cruz should immediately amend or withdraw their proposed ordinance as it is poorly conceived and overly broad.

Let's think of ways that really improve public safety.

How and why did falcon come to Hawaii?

“;Wayward peregrine falcon under care of Honolulu zoo”; was an article in the Star-Bulletin last Friday. The bird was found tired and thirsty and had its upper beak broken and its keel, a bone in its chest, had been cracked. It had flown about 2,500 miles from North America.

Assuming that the bird could average 30 miles per hour, it would have traveled 720 miles per day, needing three and a half days to reach Honolulu.

It is beyond scientific explanation how a bird could find the stamina and endurance to accomplish such a feat.

Traveling that distance without eating, drinking or resting, and how it could navigate to find such a small dot as Hawaii in the vast Pacific ocean, is a phenomenon beyond logic. It is an inexplicable, uncanny “;instinct.”;

I'm puzzled and dumbfounded.

Cuts in services can have devastating effect

When you open the paper, all you see is news about more cuts and less help. At the same time, legislators want a raise, people in Wall Street want bonuses ... how about the people who just want jobs?

Cutting social services will cost more later.

It seems like the real poor people are being forgotten. As the economy worsens and more people need help, the assistance that is available out there gets cut.

On the mainland, after a murder-suicide of a family of seven, all because the parents had lost their jobs, the mayor comes on TV and says help is available, that it doesn't need to get to this point.

What is the help that is really available? There are cuts in welfare and mental health services, all in a time when more people need more help. Look at the increased numbers to Aloha United Way. I understand that cuts have to be made, but are we cutting in the right places? What will be the price to pay?

There's too much pork in Hawaii, too

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to restore the public's faith in government. To that end, he worked with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to push the Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 in Congress - or the “;Google Government”; bill, as it is aptly described.

Hawaii legislators should enact similar legislation at the state level. Some will be surprised to discover upon reading the Grassroot Institute's “;Hawaii Pork Report”; that in spite of an economic recession, bureaucrats continue to spend their hard-earned money on items such as a $200,000 glass mural at the Kauai Judiciary Building, two $500,000 sculptures at the Burns School of Medicine and Hilo Judiciary Complex, $2.4 million on substitute custodians in public schools (versus $800,000 for substitute teachers) and $6.9 million for an elephant facility.

Gov. Linda Lingle declared in her State of the State address that citizens will face reductions in wages, benefits and services - “;not because we want to, but because we can't afford business as usual.”; Business as usual has certainly been unaffordable and extravagant. If waste is cut in the right places, citizens will not have to sacrifice more for less.

Obama brings good attitude to the job

As everyone knows, President Barack Obama was inaugurated on the 20th of last month. I think that America will be a great nation again. If he can experience the islandwide blackout with us and walk away with smiles, that shows us something.

Let's just hope he performs as well and better in the White House.