Religion, politics don't mix well

Isn't it amazing that our state House representatives are “;closeted”; in publicly stating the way they voted on the civil unions bill? I guess the fear of being rejected, treated with discrimination and perhaps losing votes keeps them in the closet. Who are they representing if we do not know where they stand?

There have been a lot of disagreements about whether gay people are choosing this lifestyle and want special rights. It has been proven that in the animal kingdom and throughout nature, homosexuality is quite common and normal. Science has backed up this idea.

On the other hand, religion is a lifestyle choice and we grant religious groups special rights, such as not taxing churches. The religious right has used its clout for political stands like the issue mentioned above. I think it is time we start taxing these institutions. It would greatly help our troubled economy.

Funds supposed to deter smoking

Elected representatives, please vote to oppose Part IV of House Bill 2542, Senate Draft 2. I should not need to remind you that these monies were a hard-fought win to deal with the killing effects of tobacco and specifically designated for the health care fallout of smoking, and how inappropriate it is to raid it for balancing the state budget.

Please do not further shortchange our already overburdened health care system and let the sick continue to suffer by raiding these funds. This money will not likely be renewed in the future but, almost guaranteed, there will be state budget shortfalls in the future. Please do your elected duty and show us better fiscal management.

Lingle has spine other pols lack

For personal popularity, dear Gov. Linda Lingle, please cave in and stop the furlough days. Get on the spend-us-into-oblivion and tax-us-until-we-vomit bandwagon on which most of our gutless politicians are riding.

Make sure the outrageous public employee benefits, pensions and health care that the unions extorted from spineless politicians will keep growing, and keep continuing to drive states and cities into bankruptcy.

Callous governor sorely misguided

I salute the parents and members of Save Our Schools who are standing up to Gov. Linda Lingle and sitting in the Capitol or standing vigil at Washington Place.

Lingle has called these courageous critics “;misguided”; and had several of them served with trespassing citations. Capitol authorities also prevented them from using restroom facilities. This is sheer vindictiveness and intransigence.

The governor is badly misguided in her priorities and her callous stances against reasonable compromises fashioned by the Board of Education and the teachers' union. Instead, Lingle stoops to blaming the victims of school furloughs: the parents and students who care enough to demonstrate for education. Lingle seems bent on cutting public services, even, incredibly, seeking to reduce staffing and services to the jobless and those on public assistance.

Her stance seems to be her way or the highway. She has resisted even the slightest of tax hikes—even if such relief is needed to keep our schools running and restore instructional days.

We should stand with Save Our Schools and increase the pressure on all parties, especially the governor, to find a reasonable solution.

Rail-transit critic becoming a joke

Panos Prevedouros' fanatical opposition to rail transit has become a joke. City after city has gone for rail mass transit because it works. San Diego, Portland and San Francisco's Bay Area all have benefited greatly.

Our small island is choked severely by automobiles. How does Prevedouros get around? Anyone who ventures out sees gridlock. We cannot allow the Luddites to ruin this opportunity to cure our current gridlock.