Elevated rail is logical solution

A picture really does tell a thousand words. I didn't really understand why an elevated rail would work in Honolulu until I saw the photo of the Phoenix rail in last Sunday's paper.

In the picture, Phoenix's train runs on a surface street with an eye-popping six traffic lanes, plus an extra-wide lane for the train. That is a total of about 7.5 traffic lanes. I tried to visualize any place on Oahu where we have the available space to build a train like that. I couldn't, especially in particularly crowded areas like Pearl City, Kalihi and downtown.

That's when I realized that the train needs to be elevated because we don't have the roadway area needed for a surface street train. We're a small island, and we have to use our land wisely. That means an elevated rail system.

Cut regulations that are outdated

Now is the time to look at rules, regulations and laws made long ago that cause extra expenses and may not be needed now.

Maybe the regulation or law might have had a reason long ago, but now, with new technology, it may be unnecessary or obsolete.

Too many laws are not enforced and are not in the best interest to all except to cause unnecessary cost.

There is too much paperwork, red tape and government bureaucracy, which slows building permits needed to have more jobs.

Respect for law is a necessity

“;We live on an island, people,”; said Councilmember Ikaika Anderson during Tuesday's hearing on illegal vacation rentals. He is right. However, he is wrong about what that means. Because we live on an island, respect for our laws is a necessity. The Council, however, has rewarded, not punished, those who flagrantly violate the law. In doing so, it has encouraged, not reduced, illegal behavior.

The Council began down this path 20 years ago when it responded to violations of residential zoning laws by caving in to violators. By failing to enforce its laws, the Council created the situation that troubles our community today. If residents complain, there is no government enforcement. If they sue, there is no enforceable judicial remedy. If we testify before our lawmakers, our words fall on deaf ears.

By failing to enforce the law, the government has left the community vulnerable. We may live on an island. However, we may no longer live in a community where the law matters.

FreedomWorks loose with facts

Looks like the Pied Piper took gullible folks from town hall meetings and got them to march to Washington, D.C., protesting health care reform. The Republican advocacy group FreedomWorks has been using right-wing television and radio spokesmen to convince their audiences that President Barack Obama's health care plan will be covering illegal aliens and abortions, which isn't true.

FreedomWorks, with close ties to the health care industry profits led by a former Republican congressman aptly named Dick (generating his own misguided) Army, further claims government death panels will decide who lives or dies. But it's the health care insurance companies that are pulling the plug on grandma, denying her claim. Obama's plan provides an option to keep your current coverage or affordable government plan that puts an end to the current health care insurance death panel policy of denying coverage to those in need.

Boycott firms that back Beck

Glenn Beck is hardly an ethical journalist. He is a sensationalist who plays on fear and ignorance. His reporting is not factual and he does not represent Americans who believe in democracy and civil discourse. His comments are polarizing, his rhetoric fosters separatism, he misinforms the public, and he is an extremist who should not be tolerated. I will boycott any product or paper that carries his message or endorses his show.

My computer and me — BFF!

My computer crashed the other night, and I couldn't sleep thinking about life without it. The thought of not being able to read my favorite newspapers in the morning, downloading photos, talk on Skype, e-mail and surf the Net had me stressed and derailed.

With the computer down I actually found myself calling people on the phone, which I hardly do anymore. It was kind of nice talking instead of scrolling on the keyboard, although I do prefer the keyboard.

No longer will I take my computer for granted; my computer and me — BFF, best friends forever!