INVESTMENT IN KEIKI DRASTICALLY REDUCED

My father taught me as a child that when it comes to investments, you always pay yourself first. I'm very surprised and disappointed that so many in the state of Hawai'i have not learned this simple lesson.

When you furloughed teachers and cut the school year by effectively one school month, you drastically reduced our investment in our children. These children were already struggling to catch up to the "No Child Left Behind" requirements and now you've lessened their chances at success. In five to 15 years these same children will be entering the workforce far less prepared than they would have been to contribute in an ever-changing and complex world. If our children are not learning to do more and compete globally, then continued economic problems will plague our great state far into the future.

The state of Hawai'i has made a mistake by reducing our investment in our children. We'll all pay for this failure to invest in the decades to come. Shame on every one of you who had anything to do with this!

Jason Garrett | Kailua

HEALTH CARE

STIFLING BUSINESS WILL COMPOUND TROUBLES

A U.S. senator stated that the government should provide health care instead of letting insurance companies make profits. Even our president expresses similar sentiments — very strange and disturbing, because it takes good profitable businesses to fuel the economy, to improve and expand opportunities for owners and employees alike.

Government getting into the health care business is not the solution — it can't even manage Cash for Clunkers, let alone a bankrupt Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Stifling business will only compound our problems — why kill the golden goose?

Neal Ikeda | Kane'ohe

'BARBARIAN PRINCESS'

MOVIE PEOPLE HAVE RIGHT TO FREEDOM

This is the U.S.A., "land of the free." Therefore, although Hawai'i people may feel that the movie titled "Barbarian Princess" and the portrayal of Ka'iulani is racist/unfavorable, the movie people were within their rights. From a commercial perspective, it makes much more sense to slant it toward non-Hawai'i people, because there are way more of them. Even if every single Hawai'i citizen went to or viewed this film or paid top dollar to see it (which they won't because a lot of them will just see it free as part of the HIFF), the show would probably still not break even.

If Hawai'i people agree with Ralph Togashi (Letters, Sept. 28), I suggest that they vote with their feet/dollars and refuse to see the film.

Kendrick Lee | Honolulu

INSURANCE, TAXES

DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE OFF DEEP END

The Democrat party has finally snapped; It announced that it is going to fine or jail people that refuse to purchase health insurance.

It also announced the possibility of a VAT, value added tax. Europe has that tax, and all the people do is ignore it, meaning they sell things "under the table."

It also wants to raise more taxes to fund tier-mad spending by "taxing the rich." Never mind, it said: If you make more than $100 thousand a year, you are rich. I make about that much but I don't consider myself rich.

One more thing: The COLA for SSI isn't going to be included this year. However, the increase for Medicaid is going up still. Thank the AARP for that. It said it took a poll that determined its membership wouldn't mind an increase in Medicaid. I wasn't aware of a poll, were you?

Larry Symons | Honolulu

NATION'S FUTURE

VOTE-BY-MAIL SYSTEM WOULD BE WIN-WIN

They say big changes need to be made to move us into a sustainable future. I have a couple of medium-size changes just to test our capacity to adapt.

I'd suggest mail delivery three times a week nationally. How much gasoline usage and air pollution will that eliminate? I'm sure we can live with our mail every other day. I hope we can find a way to keep postal workers fully employed. This is about saving energy, not costing jobs.

I'd also suggest we move to a national vote-by-mail system for all elections. Not only will that save the gasoline of everyone driving to the polls to vote, but it is a more secure system that leaves a paper trail and results in higher voter turnout.

I know at present local jurisdictions have the right to run elections the way they choose, but some standardization moving forward will assure us of keeping one of our most basic, sacred and important rights intact.

This is a time when national confidence is being rebuilt, and voting is not something we should take any chances with.

Maury King | Kihei, Maui