FREE SPEECH

STREET PERFORMERS: IT'S ABOUT MAKING MONEY

I'm glad some sort of control now will have more of an effect on the Waikiki street performers.

I admit that many of them, as well as the artists, massage people, dancers and crafts people, are good at what they do, but any lawsuit filed by them or the ACLU regarding freedom of expression will just be an excuse to continue their money-making endeavors. It's not about freedom of expression, it's all about making money.

PROPERTY TAXES

LET US HAVE VOTE ON LEGALIZING GAMBLING

With the skyrocketing property taxes and all other taxes on O'ahu and throughout the state, the citizens of this state can only take so much.

It is to the point where retirees on fixed incomes may be forced out of their lifelong homes; they cannot afford the basics to live reasonably.

And because of the eventual raises in rents, people will be forced out onto the streets, unable to pay the increases.

It is time the taxpayers be given a chance to vote on allowing gambling on all levels, such as the lottery, casino gaming, pari-mutuel betting, horse racing and shipboard gaming as a means of giving us much-needed tax relief.

We pay the highest taxes, we have the highest cost of living, and yet our income on a whole is lower than the national average. It is time for our legislators to stick their necks out and pass laws to at least let us taxpayers vote on gaming. They don't have to be the bad guy — let us decide.

NIXON REDUX

BUSH, CHENEY RENEW IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY

Thomas Jefferson was right: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

As someone who lived through Watergate and the Vietnam War era, I long considered it impossible for anyone to top the Constitution-trampling attitude of the secrecy-shrouded Nixon imperial presidency. I was wrong. President Bush and Vice President Cheney not only ignore the Constitution, secretly authorizing domestic spying on U.S. citizens without a court warrant like Nixon did, they do so brazenly and proudly.

At least Nixon tried to hide his actions.

I was stunned to read in the paper Cheney's assertion that "the president of the United States needs to have his constitutional powers unimpaired, if you will, in terms of the conduct of national security policy." Jefferson must be turning over in his grave.

Mr. Cheney, unimpaired powers defines a monarch or a despot — not an American president operating under the U.S. Constitution. If you need a wiretap, go to court and make your argument. The concept of checks and balances is fundamental to a democracy.

Americans succeeded in enforcing the Constitution three decades years ago. We need to do it again. Speak up. Get educated and get involved in this generation's great test of faith in democracy and rule of law. That's your real "patriot act."

PEDESTRIANS

DESIGN OF ROADWAYS INCREASES THE RISKS

I was saddened but not surprised to see that another person has been struck in a crosswalk on O'ahu, this time with deadly results.

The governor immediately proposed increasing penalties for crosswalk violations. But the problem is not that drivers wish to endanger pedestrians and must be coerced through law not to do so. The problem is that the design of our roadways and crosswalks is inherently dangerous in a number of aspects, and increasing penalties will not resolve this.

For example, a car turning at walking speed behind pedestrians in a crosswalk might be illegal yet it presents no danger to anyone, and may even be necessary to prevent gridlock in the densely populated parts of town. But a pedestrian who begins crossing a street in an unsignalized crosswalk may be blocked from the view of oncoming traffic by parked vehicles and others in the first traffic lane. Drivers are routinely scanning the roadway, noticing the large vehicle slowing and preparing to turn in the side lane, others changing lanes ahead, a traffic signal coming up, bicyclist on the right ... when suddenly the pedestrian becomes visible almost immediately ahead.

At best it's a fearful moment, at worst it's a tragedy.

Due to their training and perhaps even their nature, lawyers and politicians respond to public policy problems by proposing more laws. And if drivers are intoxicated, speeding or driving recklessly, they should be punished.

But the fundamental problem in so many of these needless deaths is not legal but one of design, and unless we improve that design, we will continue to see an increasing number of pedestrian fatalities.

ALCOHOL

MOST PEOPLE WERE AGAINST STADIUM BAN

How do you come to the conclusion that the Aloha Stadium alcohol ban is the right choice when 13 people submitted testimony at the hearing and nine were against it and four were for it?

Of the four people for the ban, two were from MADD and one was from Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai'i. These are worthy groups, but they testify at all hearings concerning alcohol or drugs and are not so much concerned with the stadium issue as they are with promoting their own causes.

They fail to recognize, too, that alcohol will still be sold inside the stadium.

To top it off, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who began this crusade, was not even in attendance, but conveniently submitted written testimony. If it's OK for him not to be there, then it should be reflected that it's the holidays and many people were unable to attend, especially students who go home for the holidays.