POLITICS

VOTERS HAVE SIGNALED THEY LIKE LINGLE'S IDEAS

Thank goodness for great ideas from our governor. She has well-laid plans to address entrenched problems, and I find myself agreeing with her more and more.

While this is hard for a life-long liberal to admit, it is more painful to realize that each proposal meant for our benefit will be shot down by a Legislature intent on making the governor look bad due to her party.

Much like die-hard sports fans, the Democrats of our state march in lockstep, no matter how good the ideas from the other side of the political spectrum might be. But unfortunately, while it is admirable to continue to follow your team through ups and downs, such dedication can be detrimental when it is applied to politics.

When teaching at an inner-city school on the Mainland, another teacher once shared her advice: Not every black person is your friend, and not every white person is your enemy.

For our elected officials in the Legislature: Not every Republican is your enemy. Based on the overwhelming election results, the people of Hawai'i want Gov. Linda Lingle to have the ability to put her ideas into action.

CHRISTIANITY

WHY HIGHLIGHT ARTIST WHO DEFAMES RELIGION?

Regarding your story on artist Karen Kiefer (Jan. 29):

Why is it acceptable for The Advertiser to highlight an artist who openly defames Christianity through her paintings?

If her works included defamatory images of the Islamic faith, would The Advertiser have the courage to highlight this in the article? I'm betting not.

LILLIAN KOLLER

DHS DIRECTOR DESERVES TO BE RECONFIRMED

Lillian Koller should be reconfirmed as the director of the Department of Human Services .

In the Jan. 14 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser, Derrick DePledge chose his words well when he said that Lillian's "results, and her own tenacity, make her formidable."

She is an effective and energetic change agent. Change is always difficult and scary, so some employees object when her management style upsets the status quo. Lillian has supported us during these transition times as she challenges us to achieve better program outcomes.

The momentum for positive improvement is dramatic across all divisions at DHS. However, this momentum could easily stop without Lillian's dynamic leadership. It will take a full decade to rekindle this kind of momentum, dedication and enthusiasm among the middle management and line staff who have taken risks and invested their talent to bring about system transformation.

Many will not be willing to take the risk again if they believe that anyone who challenges the status quo and strives for dramatic quality improvement will be put aside. Hawai'i cannot afford to lose this chance at true system reform, which benefits our most vulnerable citizens.

CONSTITUTION

CONGRESS MUST END TORTURE, STOP SPYING

I wish to remind my neighbors and local leaders that Congress needs to take action by restoring habeas corpus and due process, ending torture in secret prisons, stopping rampant spying on innocent Americans and fixing the Patriot Act to bring it in line with the Constitution.

Congress needs to act in the next 100 hours to do this.

DEMOCRACY

WANT TO REDUCE NOISE? WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR

The people of Hawai'i are bombarded daily by unnecessary noise from a variety of sources.

Noise from illegal loud mufflers on all types of vehicles, aircraft vectored at low altitudes over homes and schools, backup beepers, car alarms, construction, leaf blowers, roosters — we have it all, and a lot of it is unnecessary.

Most unnecessary noise involves an inconsiderate few making life miserable for the vast silent majority.

Recently our new Legislature introduced more than 20 bills that attempt to reduce unnecessary noise by strengthening our noise laws and in at least one case, introducing new law. In the next few days, this legislation will be debated, amended, culled and hopefully some of it will be passed.

Now is the time for all concerned citizens to tell your representatives and senators what noise bothers you.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Get off the couch and on your computer and send an e-mail to your elected officials. They care about Hawai'i, and they need your input to make informed decisions.

You can find out who your representatives and senators are and get their e-mail addresses at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

You can get additional info and join a blog at www.citizensagainstnoise.org.

2008 RACE

OBAMA APPLAUDED FOR RESPONSE TO FOX REPORT

After I read the Jan. 25 article that reported that Barack Obama had vowed not to be "Swift- boated" by Fox News' malicious and irresponsible charges against him, I was compelled to write to applaud his immediate response to the charges from Fox News.

I deplore such journalistic techniques, which attempt to blacken his reputation.

Although I have not decided whether to support him in his run for the presidency, I now intend to buy his two latest books in order to learn more about him and decide what I think of him.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

CAR WINDOW TINTS ARE A DANGEROUS SITUATION

This is in response to Kent Bennett's letter on Jan. 29.

I totally agree that it is important for a pedestrian to make eye contact with a driver to ensure safety.

However, there are too many vehicles with dark film that does not allow one to see the driver.

Isn't there a law limiting the density of this film? If so, why aren't these drivers cited for this dangerous situation?

This is also dangerous for drivers when trying to make eye contact with other drivers trying to make turns against a red light. This is a very serious problem.

CROSSWALKS NEED TO BE PAINTED, MADE VISIBLE

With the recent rash of pedestrian accidents, I think we should make sure that crosswalks are clearly marked.

There are many areas on O'ahu, especially on Kamehameha Highway, and on the Neighbor Islands where the crosswalks are barely visible to oncoming drivers.

Although crosswalks offer no real physical protection to pedestrians, they should be highly visible to ensure drivers can see them, especially at night.

Many crosswalks are in dire need of new paint and should be updated to modern safety standards. If this would save one life, the cost would be well worth taxpayers' money.

TAXES, TAXES, TAXES

STANDARD DEDUCTION INCREASE SORELY NEEDED

For those of us who have started our tax preparation, it's disheartening to see that our state tax codes still take advantage of lower-income individuals and families by keeping the standard deduction so low.

With taxes going up all around us, lower-income citizens are being hit the hardest since they're the least equipped to meet higher tax payments.

Gov. Linda Lingle wants to increase the deduction to around 75 percent of the IRS level, which would save a head of household $2,555 more than last year. I know that would make a difference to my wallet. Imagine how it would help someone who makes less than $30,000 a year.

It's time the Legislature gives tax relief to those who need it most: those paying the greatest proportion of their income to taxes. I applaud the governor's standard deduction increase.

BUSINESS

WHY DO INSURANCE AGENTS GET TAX BREAK?

Recently when I was filling out my December general excise tax return for the State of Hawai'i, I decided to pay attention to "Part II, General Excise Tax — Other rate." It appears that those who work in the insurance industry only pay 0.15 percent on their insurance commissions.

Why are we giving this tax incentive to insurance agents? All the rest of us pay 4 percent (and more, with our January 2007 excise taxes). Isn't it time that insurance agents pay the same rate as all of the rest of us business owners? Will the insurance industry leave Hawai'i if it has to pay the same rate of excise taxes as the rest of us?

Legislators, I know this won't affect you personally, but would you please take this tax benefit away from insurance agents, or at least give it to the rest of us business owners?

ARE DEMOCRATS NOT CHAMPIONS OF POOR?

What is happening? Is the world turning upside down?

Our Republican governor proposes abolishing our super-regressive excise tax on food? The Democratic legislators apparently oppose this major benefit for the poor?

Is this the Democratic Party that has earned the reputation of champion for the poor?

Or is this a Hawai'i Democratic 'ohana — only interested in taking care of each other and retaining control?