Legal gambling will ruin Hawaii

Nevada has more bankruptcies and loss of homes from foreclosures than almost any other state. So why does the writer of a Dec. 10 letter think that gambling would be good for Hawaii (”;Gaming issue a sure vote-getter,”; Star-Bulletin)? The steady common sense of our legislators in keeping it out of our state has kept us far safer than Nevada is.

It is true that people love to gamble. The rush that comes from the occasional win and the high that comes from the dream of winning keep the gambler trying again and again. However, most people lose most of the time, which is why the gambling industry could afford to build all those handsome structures in Las Vegas. However, one hears that a large number of those buildings have been rather empty lately.

For our government to legalize gambling so that it can be taxed is fiscally irresponsible. Whether it is a seemingly harmless form of gambling as the lottery, a more enticing form as the slot machine or offshore casinos, the result will be the same. Our citizens will lose most of their money, and so will the tourists.

Planning-days letter disputed

Gerhard C. Hamm unfairly compares public and private schools (”;Planning days not necessary,”; Star-Bulletin, Letters, Dec. 23). In his letter, he states that private schools essentially have zero planning days and yet rank among the top in the nation, while public schools have 11 planning days and rank “;near the bottom of the heap.”;

Mr. Hamm conveniently neglects to mention that private school teachers have planning periods in their schedule daily, small class sizes, state-of-the-art technology and materials, few student disciplinary problems, parent involvement and, many times, their own offices. Naturally, achievement among their students soars in these conditions.

There is no doubt that if public school teachers had the above luxuries, they certainly would not need even one planning day.

Don't minimize crimes by teens

Hey Star-Bulletin, let's not minimize crimes because the offenders are teenagers. Let's call a spade a spade.

It's not a “;computer caper”; when burglars break into Hawaii schools causing related property damage and steal eight laptop computers worth $3,600 in one case and more than $5,000 in another. These are crimes committed by criminals.

HC&S unfairly misrepresented

Why are special interest groups and the vocal minority trying to put the sugar cane industry out of business on Maui? So many times they make negative statements about the operations at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar without ever checking on the accuracy of their statements. Some have even tried to drive a wedge between employees and management at HC&S by contacting some of us and our families and trying to convince us that our company, which has provided our livelihood for so many years, is lying to us about the need for the stream water to remain in business. We know better and don't appreciate these outsiders trying to create a stir.

We can appreciate that they may prefer to see a stream flow freely to the ocean rather than see us hard at work earning a living for ourselves and our families. But we wish they could also appreciate the vast green fields of sugar cane and the contributions of jobs and community support that Alexander & Baldwin and HC&S have provided to Maui and the state.