ECONOMY

WASTEFUL SPENDING FUELS RECESSION

In a Dec. 24 letter to The Advertiser, John Cheever suggests that the government should increase spending as a stimulus to the economy. He says that this was not done by President Hoover nor done enough by President Roosevelt, thus we had the Great Depression.

In fact, federal spending increased by 49 percent under President Hoover in the three years from 1929 to 1932, the greatest peacetime increase in U.S. history. President Roosevelt increased federal spending by another 49 percent in the five years from 1933 to 1938, and the economy was still deep in depression with nearly 20 percent unemployment.

Federal spending increased by 57 percent in the eight years under President Bush from 2001 to 2008, including wartime spending in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are now diving into recession/depression partly because of, not in spite of, profligate and wasteful government spending.

There was no shortage of government spending under Hoover, Roosevelt, or Bush. Political spending did not and cannot "stimulate" an economy out of bad economic times.

On the contrary, such spending causes bad economic times by redirecting wealth from productive investment to unproductive malinvestment.

BUDGET

PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND SALARY HIKES GOOD IDEA

The governor's proposal to suspend salary increases is a step in the right direction. It would be indefensible to use my taxes for pay increases at a time when tax money can be put to better use on infrastructure and services!

This is an issue of fiscal responsibility and all government employees should follow the governor's lead, especially the legislators and the union representatives.

LABOR

SECRET BALLOT KEY TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

The letter published Dec. 26 re: the so-called Employee Free Choice Act spouts hackneyed platitudes about evil, overpaid corporate CEOs but fails to tell us what the proposal actually does. Its principal effect is to outlaw the secret ballot in union representation elections, leaving union supervisors free to watch employees check a card under that unionist's watchful eye.

The secret ballot has long been a cornerstone of our American democracy, and should continue to apply to all elections, including those involving unions. Defeat this misnamed act and ensure free choice in union representation!

BLACKOUT

OUTAGE RAISES ISSUES OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Here we go again. Only 26 months and another islandwide blackout. HECO says the weather may be a contributing factor, but could not say for sure. Makes you wonder because you would think that if any of their equipment was struck by lightening, it would have spiked the meter(s) at one of the power plants. HECO says no loss coverage if it is an act of God. I guess they've got their backsides covered.

And the print and TV media forgot to ask officials, "How much does this affect our homeland security?" I would guess that this has an enormous effect, especially on O'ahu, but the government is not going to admit it. Probably due to homeland security.

VESTS NEEDED FOR HPD TRAFFIC OFFICERS' SAFETY

Last Friday night I had to drive during the power outage. I was amazed at the fast and efficient response by HPD to get major intersections manned and controlled. Mahalo to those fine officers.

I did, however, notice that our officers need a more visible vest or jacket when working in the dark at intersections. If the officers are standing sideways to the traffic their orange vests are extremely hard to see and pose a danger to them.

On Saturday morning I saw the fire department respond to a condo complex near me and they wore a bright green jacket (not a vest) with glow stripes. I am sure a driver would have no trouble seeing them on the street during a very dark night.

Joggers and bike riders are always told to wear light clothes at night. A black uniform with a small vest sure doesn't follow those guidelines.

I just hope my comment is looked into so that no officer is injured or killed because some driver didn't see them.

OBAMA

SON OF THE ISLES REFLECTS HAWAI'I'S ALOHA SPIRIT

President-elect Barack Obama should have a traditional Hawaiian blessing for his inauguration. Barack Obama was born in Hawai'i and is a blessing to this country. His politics are born from the inclusiveness that is the "aloha spirit." Why not also express the uniqueness of the Hawaiian culture and language at his inauguration?

No other place on earth could have produced and nourished the unique human chemistry that created this historic choice for president. Our son of the Isles has united the U.S. and given hope to our world in these troubled times.

Let Hawaiian be proudly spoken, heard, and felt around the world at this very special inauguration. Aloha! Aloha! E komo mai!

IMMIGRANTS

TIME TO RE-THINK U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICY

For decades, people streamed across the border doing work that Americans disdained — cleaning toilets, picking lettuce, working hard in sweatshops day and night with little compensation and lots of pain.

How convenient it was for business, which let the taxpayers pay for schools, healthcare and every other incidental cost, allowing profiteers to keep profits high and wages at bay.

And then when business plunged, the businessmen simply chose to swat the immigrants away, using Congress as their tool, no matter that families were torn apart, parents and children parted, lives wrecked. This frenzied bashing was no longer the exception, but the rule.

Has America become so bitter, that it can no longer be a beacon for the world? When we needed them so desperately, they came in droves. Now, when times are tough, we toss them out as we would slaves, no longer fit to toe the line or wield the hoe. Is this the freedom that we promise to the world, or is it a subtle slavery?

Humanity treated with contempt and not with love and compassion is not America as it should be.

Let us pause before we take another step down this unseemly road.