Rushing into rail would be error

I am shocked at the 39 state representatives who have signed a letter asking Gov. Linda Lingle to rubber-stamp the city's still-uncompleted environmental impact study for rail transit. Surely these state officials must understand that the largest public works project in the history of Hawaii should receive careful and thoughtful review.

Perhaps they think that she should act with the same reckless abandon as they did when they passed the 12 percent increase to the general excise tax that has taken away more than half a billion dollars in economic activity to build the yet-to-be-approved rail transit system. Have they not gotten the news that the state government is facing a $2 billion deficit and that the money going to rail instead could go toward restoring state services?

The lone Republican to sign the letter, state Rep. Kym Pine, is surely out of touch with her district and the governor. Fortunately the governor will not be bullied and will continue her review of the EIS.

Teachers union pulled a fast one

The children of Hawaii are our future, but the future of Hawaii is in the bills being reviewed by our legislators in trying to correct Furlough Fridays. The Hawaii State Teachers Association pulled a fast one and now is trying to do it again by not accepting the government's proposed plan.

Tax revenues are down, therefore cuts need to be made and accepted by state employees. They used to be public servants, but now it is the public who serves them.

Old-time teachers were cherished and loved by students and the public. The majority of teachers are still held in high esteem.

In Hawaii we all serve each other — either at work, by being volunteers, donating time to coach, helping at a car wash, serving on a board or just donating money to a good cause. Yes, teachers got a reduction in hours and pay, and that is why Gov. Linda Lingle is extending the public hand to HSTA. HSTA should reach over and join hands.

HSTA should try a new approach

Jim Williams' proposal to create higher tax brackets for Hawaii residents to eliminate Furlough Fridays (”;HSTA proposes increase in taxes to fund schools,”; Star-Bulletin, Jan. 28) is perplexing for several reasons:

» It puts the responsibility solely on others, without taking ownership;

» It is an age-old “;solution”; at a time when the problem is defined by new challenges;

» It's a Band-Aid on the system and not a sustainable solution.

Here's what I suggest:

» When the economy slowed, our company looked inward for ways to work smarter and for new ways to drive revenue. We didn't blame the government, we didn't raise our rates and we found ways to continue to make charitable contributions. There are many other organizations doing the same.

It would be interesting to know what Jim Williams of the Hawaii State Teachers Association is doing to work smarter and drive revenue in innovative ways.

» The game is changing, and new tactics are required in order to flourish. Raising taxes is the same old tactic. Today's issues require new solutions: innovative ways to drive revenue; using technology to gain efficiencies; asking better questions to get better answers; new metrics to measure what's relevant today.

» Leadership. People say it's the system, not the people, who are dysfunctional.

Yes, it is the system, and a great leader will manage the system, tweak the system, look at the system with fresh eyes so “;the people”; will be the solution.

U.S. should get out of Okinawa

The “;Don't abandon Okinawa”; editorial was alarmist (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 6). But Okinawans are alarmed by foreign military bases. In 1945, Okinawans first protested against theft of ancestral agricultural lands. And today the U.S. military “;footprint”; on Okinawa weighs 100 times more deeply than the average for the rest of Japan.

Since 1996, an unarmed Movement to Demilitarize Okinawa has prevented the U.S. and Japan from building another military base in Okinawa.

How did this happen? Women's issues, perspectives and leadership are part of the answer. Fearing sexual harassment and rape, Okinawan women feel less secure in the presence of uninvited U.S. military personnel. Also, the endangerment of protected species by military bases and exercises has stimulated opposition to construction of additional bases.

A retired senior Japanese diplomat just revealed that the U.S. repeatedly broke promises not to bring atomic bombs into Japan. Aside from being an unwilling military target, Okinawans also face dangers of radiation leakage and accidental detonation. When Okinawans have voted directly on the issue, majorities have rejected the bases. The U.S. should leave.

Abercrombie smart to resign

There has been much criticism in both dailies about Neil Abercrombie resigning from Congress early to run for governor. What for? He's not a damn fool, thinking he can run for governor by remote from Washington, D.C. Besides, his thousands of supporters want him home so he can succeed to be our next governor of Hawaii. It's really unfortunate, though, that Sen. Dan Inouye decided to ask Mufi Hannemann to run against him. That was a shock since Sen. Inouye has always tried to stop Democrats from fighting in major races. His decision shows he has no respect for Abercrombie, despite his years of loyalty.

Remember, though, Hannemann once beat Abercrombie for Congress in the primary but lost the general to Republican Pat Saiki. It could happen again this year.

Pets also need help during crisis

According to a recent article in the Star-Bulletin (”;Gone to the dogs,”; Kokua Line, Jan. 23), 60 percent of Oahu households have pets. That 60 percent should be pleased with the job the local Humane Society is doing to ensure people's pets are cared for during a disaster.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, people were forced to evacuate, and since the shelters did not allow pets, people had to leave their beloved pets behind. Many thousands of pets perished; the ones that were rescued were shipped all over the U.S. In the chaos following the hurricane, even if a pet survived, the links to its owner were destroyed, causing great heartbreak.

Congress has since passed legislation that ensures a pet shelter next to human shelters during a disaster. Our Oahu Humane Society (where I volunteer) has a free class once a month that teaches how to manage and/or help in a pet shelter during a disaster. For all those who love their pets, it is a way to learn how to help animals in case of a disaster.

Kudos to the Humane Society.