The following letters are from some members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 108. As part of the requirements for their communications merit badge, they recently wrote letters addressing topics of concern to them.

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I am writing to express my feelings about the rail transit system. I feel that the project should be done if it will allow the people to transport from town or the southeast side of the island to the North Shore. It will create jobs for many people and also make it easier for people to commute. Traffic will decrease and the system will provide another way for transport. If the rail transit system will go from southeast to North Shore I guarantee you the rail system will be popular and money will be flowing everywhere.

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I feel that here at Kamehameha Schools, students leave too much rubbish around the school grounds. Many of my friends do that; I am sometimes guilty of this act of badness, too. I think that there should be a bill or an act because hundreds of students go to this school and are sometimes ungrateful. They say they malama the aina but they don't. Trash increases pollution, and pollution increases the chance of global warming. Our ozone is dying!

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I am writing to express my opinion about my school, which is Kaimuki High School, and that my school needs more help in inspiring the students because they need some educational help about smoking and drugs. Also, when teens in our school ditch classes because of the lack of inspiration from the teacher to the student ... (help) to reduce the number of absentees.

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Prior to the HI-5 law, we received 38 cents to 50 cents per pound on the scrap value of the materials turned in. With the HI-5 law, we get back 5 cents on the 6 cents paid. Who is keeping the scrap value, the state or the recyclers? Instead of raising the tax, the state should use these monies to run the (recycling) program.

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Expenses make cuts hard to take

It amazes me the Gov. Linda Lingle can smugly state she and her executive branch will lead by example and accept two furlough days plus a 5 percent cut in pay. My daughter is a teacher and is expected to pay more than $500 per month for her medical premiums in addition to accepting a 7 percent pay reduction. How is she supposed to do this along with the normal living expenses of a household, such as utilities, rent and food?

Try alternatives to wage cuts

Gov. Linda Lingle's “;counter offer”; to unions is, in my personal opinion, a joke. It proves that she is not willing to negotiate, and only wants to dictate.

In a negotiation, each side listens to the other, and tries to come to some kind of a middle ground. However, Lingle has stuck to her original stance from the very beginning, unwilling to take anything less than three furlough days a month from state workers.

What about single parents like myself, who make around $38,000 a year? Fourteen to 15 percent out of my pay will make it impossible to feed my family. This will ruin many families like my own.

I've heard people say state workers are whining, and spoiled, and unwilling to do our part. False. We are willing to do our part — but why should we have to cover the whole thing? There are alternatives that would make the burden of the deficit bearable for state workers and everyone else in our state, but Lingle is unwilling to entertain any other options.

Be cautious with travel criticism

I understand the concern about our legislators spending taxpayer money to attend a large mainland conference at a time when budget cutting is needed, but I think there are two points to consider: the cost vs. the benefit, and the message we send by criticizing conference travel.

I have attended several mainland conferences and each time came home highly motivated. I also have made many valuable contacts with others in my field which greatly helped in my work. If our legislators come home similarly motivated to better serve us and we benefit from their new ideas and contacts, then the cost may well be worth it.

The other point may be even more important for our struggling visitor industry. We are cutting our own economic throats by sending the message that such travel should be avoided. Hopefully, these legislators spent our tax dollars wisely, and strongly encouraged mainland legislators to attend conferences in Hawaii.

Wienermobile is welcome here

I am outraged that the Outdoor Circle sent an intimidating letter to Kraft Foods regarding the Wienermobile. This sends an anti-business, anti-capitalist impression to the rest of our nation and the entire world.

Don't they have anything better to do? For example, fighting for placing utility wires underground, campaigning for stricter laws against graffiti, or picking up litter from the beaches. They need to get their priorities in check.

Get training to help others

Everyday, everywhere, all around us, are scores of unsung and humble heroes who shift into the next gear under pressure and make a huge difference in the lives of others.

Last Saturday at the Pearlridge Park tennis courts in Aiea, occurred such an example of those who quickly noticed the sudden unresponsiveness of a close friend who collapsed while playing tennis. They immediately checked his breathing and heartbeat vital signs, dialed 911, gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He is now thankfully recovering in the hospital! Thank you Lloyd, Tony, and Andy for using your first-aid knowledge and fast reaction to help an absolute friend to everyone in a time of need.

For anyone who does not know mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR, the American Red Cross near Diamond Head offers courses throughout the year, or can point you in the direction of other training resources around the islands.

Be prepared to make a difference to someone near you by completing these simple training courses. By doing so, you might save someone in the future.