AFFORDABLE UNITS

DEMAND WILL ALWAYS TOP HOUSING SUPPLY

Discussions of "affordable" housing miss an important consideration.

How many people freezing in Indiana or Kansas (for example) would move here tomorrow if "affordable" housing were available? They certainly wouldn't have a problem getting a job.

I seriously doubt we want to spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize more people moving here from the Mainland. But there is no way to restrict subsidized housing to those already here.

The hard truth is there will always be more demand for below-market-priced housing than any program, private or public, can possibly supply. That's just Economics 101.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOE DEEPLY FLAWED, AN INFLEXIBLE SYSTEM

"Schools can't succeed in an inflexible system that is deeply flawed" was your headline for Rep. Roy Takumi's Island Voices (Feb. 2).

How exciting. Finally, a legislator is telling it like it is about the Department of Education.

Then I read the commentary and realized it was really an attempt to divert the attention from the "inflexible, deeply flawed" DOE to the No Child Left Behind Act.

One of the biggest lies perpetrated on the people of Hawai'i is by the DOE. Its mantra is "give us more money and we will do a better job."

The truth is we have given the DOE enormous amounts of more money every year and it continues to produce one of the worst results in the nation. This was true before the No Child Left Behind Act.

I know the spin doctors at the DOE will find excuses, but the facts are we spend more than $2.3 billion a year on the DOE, with a declining enrollment of about 179,000 children. That translates to an average of more $12,000 per child per year.

Let's work together to fix our deeply flawed and inflexible education system here in Hawai'i.

OUR ROADWAYS

IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY BY ENFORCING THE LAW

During the past few weeks, I have read differing opinions on the pre-eminent way of creating safer roadways for Honolulu's citizens.

I have what I think might be the solution: What about enforcement of existing traffic laws? Not only would the streets become safer, it would create a windfall of revenue through the collection of fines. The additional revenues could be used to help sustain our police force.

Here's another one: Double or triple the fines for commercial vehicles. Some of the most frightening drivers on the road are behind the wheels of the buses and taxis transporting our visitors and residents.

Let's throw in one more idea, just for good measure: In some states it is illegal to drive a vehicle while talking on a cellular phone. This one could save lives and reduce injuries caused by drivers multitasking when they should be paying attention to the road.

And lastly, please don't throw me a shaka after you've cut over two lanes of traffic to get in front of me. At the moment, I'm just not feeling the aloha spirit.

WATADA CASE

SOME SHOW A DISTORTED VIEW OF THIS WORLD

Recent letters to the editor in support of Ehren Watada all seem to repeat the same allegations that the Iraq war is both illegal and immoral.

Military action against Iraq's regime was authorized via Public Law 107-243, which was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 296-133 on Oct. 10, 2002, and in the U.S. Senate the following day by a vote of 77-23.

As for its immorality, it is irrational for people who constantly raise the loss of Iraqi lives as evidence of the war's immorality to advocate leaving in power, in perpetuity, at U.S. taxpayer expense a brutal Stalinist dictatorship that by its very nature violently consumed the lives of Iraqi citizens all on its own and which constituted an open-ended security threat to the region and the U.S.

Errors in strategy, tactics or execution are clearly fair game for criticism, but allegations of illegality and immorality reveal a dangerously distorted view of the world.

MIDEAST

OUR DEFEAT IN IRAQ WILL ONLY HELP TERRORISTS

All Americans should keep in mind that we can run from Iraq, but we cannot hide. The terrorists know where we live. They are increasing the violence there hoping we will leave and allow them to resume their war of terror here on our soil.

Al-Qaida members have stated that if democracy survives in Iraq, they have lost. They have pledged to fight to the death to force their form of theocracy on every individual on Earth. They are convinced they will succeed, and are certain that our efforts to stop them will continue to be timid.

Every American life lost in Iraq is a major tragedy but pales in comparison to the devastation that can be wrought by those who are willing to give their lives to achieve "death to America." An American defeat in Iraq will enhance their recruitment of many new terrorists.

The world is at a crossroads. We face a challenge as least as great as Hitler's fascism or Stalin's communism. I hope future historians will record that 2007 was the year that growth of the theocratic extremists was reversed — not the year that it metastasized throughout the entire world.

Our withdrawal from Iraq ends a battle but enlarges the war and brings it to the home of every American.

LINGLE PROPOSALS

TAX RELIEF WILL HELP STRUGGLING STUDENTS

Tax relief is something most people look forward to since living in paradise comes at a cost.

Tax increases are a particular problem for low-income families and students, who struggle with Hawai'i's high cost of living and who must start paying loans after graduation.

As a student, I'm thrilled to hear Gov. Linda Lingle's proposal to eliminate the general excise tax on essential foods. This will make an important difference in my monthly budget.

I'm also looking forward to the raise in the standard deduction. The governor's proposal will not only make a difference for struggling individuals in the short term, but also in the long-term.

KAILUA

TIME TO SOLVE VACATION RENTAL ISSUE FOR GOOD

With regard to the letter from Henry Eng, director, city Department of Planning and Permitting (Jan. 9): I would like to thank Mr. Eng for his conscientious efforts to resolve issues surrounding the vacation rentals on O'ahu. As a taxpayer who has to live with the increasing vigilante activity on the Windward side over a dysfunctional zoning ordinance, 1 1/2 years of waiting is long enough. It is time for you, Mr. Eng, to move forward or at least announce a deadline.

You are forgetting those of us in the middle of this issue. We do not have a short-term rental and we are neutral toward them. We are the majority.

Ever since B&B owners requested permitting, your department has dedicated countless work hours to the investigation of complaints by a few vocal residents who clearly want to shut down every vacation rental, one by one. You have neglected important DPP issues to appease them, and too much of our tax money is being wasted on these investigations.

Let us get down to basics. It is time to form a workshop with reasonable people on O'ahu who want to update an archaic zoning problem.

KIM TAYLOR REECE

LAWSUIT IS AN AFFRONT TO ARTISTIC TRADITION

I read David Shapiro's column last week with great interest.

Having built a successful career focused on stylized hula positions, I find Kim Taylor Reece's lawsuit an affront to artistic tradition as well as to the aloha spirit on which he has capitalized quite handsomely.

His claim that Marylee Leialoha Colucci "copied" his work in her stained-glass depiction of the 'ike movement does not withstand even casual inspection

This is not the first time that Reece has threatened to sue artists who also depict hula in their work. Given his stature and resources, he's used to getting his way. This is the first time that one of Mr. Reece's targets has shoved back, and it well may be overdue.

WAILEA

DUST, DEBRIS, NOISE NOW MAJOR PROBLEMS

To prospective buyers in the Wailea area: Wailea's official name is Wailea Resort, but it should be named "Wailea Industrial Park." Why? Because there are dozens of pieces of heavy construction equipment and dump trucks operating all day every day.

Almost every million-dollar condo/home is within 200 yards of a jackhammer, skiploader, etc.

Consequently, your million-dollar home is likely to have noise levels between 50 and 100 decibels on a daily basis, dust and other debris blown through the property on the tradewinds, not to mention the sight of gigantic orange Caterpillars behind your back fence.

A friend who has lived on Maui all his life is moving to New York City because it's quieter than Maui.

Please remember the saying "caveat emptor" before plunking $1 million or more on a home in the "Wailea Industrial Park."

ADAIR CARTOON

'BARBARO'S PASTURE' A WONDERFUL MESSAGE

Our local newspaper, The Carroll County Times, Westminster, Md., printed Dick Adair's "Barbaro's Pasture" in today's edition. What a wonderful message to convey about this beautiful, magnificent, determined animal. Barbaro has reached into the hearts of so many of us.

Have you thought about making prints of "Barbaro's Pasture"?

IRAQ WAR

ARMED FORCES DESERVE OUR SUPPORT, NOT SCORN

I find it rather unfortunate that Gerhard C. Hamm has allowed his aversion to the war in Iraq to cloud his better judgment (Letters, Feb. 3).

We have an all-volunteer Army, and despite what some in the anti-war movement may believe, the men and women who serve in our armed forces do not get to choose their battles.

Our soldiers honorably serve out of duty to their country, irrespective of their personal views and opinions on the war.

It is both presumptuous and disrespectful for one to conclude that they have been "duped" into service simply because they are following orders.

Our service members deserve our support, not our scorn or defeatism. The sacrifices made by these brave men and women and their families should be acknowledged rather than dismissed.