Service agencies need condensing

We read in both local newspapers that about 50 social service programs and agencies will receive funds from the rainy day fund, the hurricane relief fund, etc. When we read the list of the fortunate recipients, the first thought that came to mind was, Wow, how come so many? Every one looked deserving just by reading their title or name, but then we wondered how many were duplications of effort. Couldn't some be merged with another or others? Is an already established existing agency doing the same service?

When you add up the total funds appropriated, it is also staggering—but is it essential? Perhaps an experienced auditor like Marion Higa and her team could perform audits of them for purposes of efficiency and reduced overall costs. The results would make interesting reading.

My family has always donated funds or goods to selected service agencies and churches, but with so many deserving social service programs, how can we pick and choose realistically from so many? No wonder our legislators have a difficult time, too, since they must decide who gets and who doesn't.

Teachers union playing politics

The teachers union won't budge while the whole state is being forced to make personal sacrifices in this down economy.

Yet Gov. Linda Lingle gets lambasted for asking teachers to volunteer their time to end the last three Furlough Fridays?

When will the teachers union stop playing politics? It's about time it did something for the greater good.

Dig at Democrats was hypocritical

Jeff Pace's letter about the Tea Party was just a partisan dig at Democrats and is an injustice to the movement (”;Tea Party signals sweeping change,”; Star-Bulletin, Letters, April 24).

If the health care reform recently signed into law is just more of the same impossibly expensive, ineffective entitlement, then what does he call the Medicare Part D benefit passed by the previous “;regime”;? Was Mr. Pace awake when Vice President Dick Cheney told us that “;deficits don't matter”;?

Airline customers need bill of rights

One of the most significant recent changes in our lives, particularly in the lives of travelers, is the erosion of airline service.

I used to look forward to flying, but it has now become an ordeal. Recent examples of this erosion include one airline trying to charge for carry-on luggage and proposing the installation of seats that do not recline. Where will it end?

I believe a framework of an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights should:

» Allow at least one 44-pound piece of free check-in luggage. Airplanes were designed to carry this much.

» Require free meals on flights of more than five hours duration. Some airlines are even charging for water.

» Require that a one-way flight cost about half as much as a round trip.

» Eliminate price gouging on monopolistic routes. An example: Flying to American Samoa, which is a one-airline route, now costs about $1,300, while a flight of similar distance to the West Coast costs about a third as much.

» Limit penalty fees for changing flights to 5-10 percent of the ticket cost. It costs the airlines very little to change a reservation; why should airlines take advantage of passengers who, often for no fault of their own, have to change flights?

» Require airlines to show the actual ticket cost at the beginning of Internet transactions. To list pre-tax prices is an obvious attempt at deception.

» Establish a public airline rating website, where things such as meal quality would be evaluated.