Legislators failed in time of need

With the schools closed on Friday, teachers and principals out on furloughs, we had the cafeteria workers and the custodians working at the schools. Doing what? Now the Board of Education wants to have Lingle name an economic task force, or economic czar. Well, No. 1, isn't this the job of a governor? No. 2, why has the Legislature over the years kept chipping away to remove such powers of the governor? Three, it is hard to understand why anyone would look to the governor to solve our economic/education problems after eviscerating the office.

We can't address and solve problems with committees or pushing off decision-making to someone else. We need one leader who can be held responsible. Having set up a committee political system in our state, subject to massive union influence and special-interest groups, the Legislature now inherits a dysfunctional, irrational and hopelessly conflicted governing structure where nothing can get done and no one can be held responsible. Where were the legislators when we needed them?

Perhaps Pogo got it right many years ago when he said, “;We've met the enemy and he is us.”;

Climate change is a real problem

Ever since the beginning of the industrial revolution, humans have been pumping tons of crud into the air, and now it is coming back to bite us. Environmental groups are trying to save the animals such as polar bears, but, as usual, too many humans have the attitude that if they are not being directly affected, there is no problem.

You can go along with energy-sector entities and claim their end products are not doing the environment any harm, but just remember that they are in it for the short-term profit and instant gratification isn't soon enough. Science says slow it down. The industry's response is that it's no problem: Global warming doesn't necessarily mean it's getting hotter and hotter; it is a climatic statistical average, and

given the sensitivity of our atmosphere, it doesn't take much to effect change.

I wasn't a believer until I read Tim Flannery's book, “;The Weather Makers.”; He isn't an alarmist; he just points out everything that has been happening and you get to draw your own conclusions.

Rail is best hope to fight traffic

It's sure looking like 2010 will be the Year of Rail. We now have a key piece of federal approval with preliminary engineering. Once the city publishes the final environmental review and gets approval from the feds and state, we can start building our long-overdue rail system. In less than 12 weeks we will launch the biggest infrastructure project in Oahu's history and our best hope for fighting traffic congestion and suburban sprawl. I can't wait for the rail groundbreaking.

Turn rail funds over to schools

I am a longtime resident and voter of this great state of Hawaii. I am very concerned about the poor education that we have here in the islands.

Mr. Mayor, why do we need the rail system now?

We all know that our governor is cutting the budget for education.

Why not turn over funds from the rail to education?

Mr. Mayor, do the right thing. Use your common sense.

Public originally backed furloughs

It seems interesting how the public is reacting to furloughs in the state Department of Education. The governor presented the issue of furloughs months ago. It was the primary reason for public worker contracts taking so long to be resolved. It was interesting that the state's chief negotiator has said that furloughs were the product of the DOE, Board of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Public sentiment at the time backed furloughs. The budget for education was restricted by an additional 14 percent, which is the amount of furlough savings the governor demanded.

While the teachers would like no furloughs it is unreasonable to ask them to work for less pay and less resources. Teachers have done more with less for years: spending their own money, fundraising for necessities and getting very little respect.

Young TV team better plan ahead

As I looked at the advertisement for the freshly combined KHNL and KGMB “;Hawaii Now”; news team, I couldn't help but notice all the young pretty faces. I sure hope these reporters financially plan accordingly for a career after age 40.