ACCOUNTABILITY IS REASON FOR NEW RULES

I have always had a problem with people who object to rules and regulations which are necessary to protect our country. The theme seems to be that "they" shouldn't have to conform.

The new Arizona law to curb illegal immigrants has come about out of necessity. The illegals who are doing such terrible damage to Arizona need to be held accountable. Any honest citizen should not object to showing proof of American citizenship.

What kind of "racial profiling" is this, really? These days it seems to be a necessary "evil" to protect the law-abiding citizens who are being taken advantage of, by having to pay for the everyday needs, medical care, etc. of the illegals, not to mention educating their children at the expense of our own American children.

Then there is the matter of how this is so fiscally burdensome to all states' budgets. These illegal "takers" need to be sent back to their respective countries, and if it takes racial profiling to get it done, then so be it.

A WASTE OF TIME

CANDIDATE TELEPHONE CALL WON'T EARN VOTE

I'm on the national Do Not Call list, which is a federally mandated registry so telemarketing organizations cannot lawfully call you and monopolize or waste your time.

This list apparently does not apply to political candidates who now regularly call and interrupt to expound all their political virtues and overqualifications.

Frankly, it's often difficult to tell the difference. They all assume you are interested, have something to sell you and, of course, have nothing but their own self-centered interest at heart.

Attention candidates: Quit calling and wasting my time. My vote is earned — not given away. In politics, as with so much else in life, actions speak louder than words.

SPECIAL ELECTION

WHO'S REALLY BEING 'TOO AMBITIOUS'?

In a recent congressional debate, Charles Djou decided to slam fellow candidate Ed Case for being "too ambitious."

Djou might want to think through the consequences of that argument. If he wins the special election, he will need to resign from the City Council without completing his term.

This will either necessitate yet another special election (and cost the city money) or leave his constituents unrepresented. Djou could have simply run for Congress in the regular election this fall, but apparently his own ambition triumphed over the principle of finishing his term.

CASE'S 'NEW' IMAGE DOESN'T RING TRUE

Thanks for all the recent newspaper coverage on the "new Ed Case." The "old Ed Case" that I remember was the guy who stood up at a Chamber of Commerce forum several years ago and spoke in opposition to our poorest workers getting a raise in the federal minimum wage. He thought it was bad economic policy to give these workers a few dollars more per hour.

And I am almost sure that the old Ed Case also thought it was a good idea to go into Iraq. Billions of dollars wasted for nothing and he supported sending our troops there.

Since I remember the old Ed Case I will simply approach this election as "Case: closed."

RESTROOMS

DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE FEW PLACES TO 'GO'

House Bill 1862 addresses a problem that shouldn't exist. It is always easier to pass a law than solving a problem.

In Hawai'i, public urination and/or defecation is a problem because of a lack of restrooms downtown.

Private office buildings usually restrict use of their toilets; restaurants only allow customers, and now state office buildings are starting to restrict access.

In large public areas, such as shopping malls, parks and sports facilities there are public restrooms, but not downtown Honolulu.

Children, elderly, adults, tourists and others who visit Chinatown may not know where there are hidden toilets available.

Instead of spending money to arrest violators, why not spend to build a few public facilities downtown?

It's a messy problem that will not disappear because we passed a law.

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

OBAMA HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO DECIDE

Locating Barack Obama's presidential library does not have to be a zero-sum game — a fight between Hawai'i and Chicago to be the sole site.

Obama could and should set a new precedent by choosing two sites, one in each of his home towns. Each library could have its own special function or emphasis. Those details can be worked out when the time comes.

The important thing today is to change the thinking from winner-take-all competition to cooperation and innovation.

GOVERNOR'S RACE

ABERCROMBIE WILL BRING BACK CIVILITY

One of the more significant but less discussed results of The Advertiser poll was the larger number of respondents, identified as Democrats, who preferred Neil Abercrombie over Mufi Hannemann. By a margin of 45 percent to 34 percent, Democrats picked Abercrombie over the mayor.

Is this an indication that Democrats, who may know both candidates best, are being turned off by Hannemann's bullying, in-your-face tactics with anyone who dares to oppose him?

It doesn't seem to matter whether the target of the mayor's outrage is a Democrat, Republican or independent. If you dare to challenge or disagree with the mayor, you are subjected to intimidation and insults, rather than an effort to find common ground or an attempt to resolve the dispute.

For that reason, more Democrats and non-Democrats appear to be concluding that Neil Abercrombie offers our best hope to return civility, cooperation and actual problem-solving to state government, rather than perpetuating the gridlock that regrettably typifies our dysfunctional state government. Furlough Fridays are a prime example.

RAIL CONSTRUCTION

CAN CITY BE TRUSTED TO GET RAIL STARTED?

Both the mayor and the City Council have failed to handle a simple $10 million contract for shipping garbage to the Mainland. This has been an ongoing fiasco since last October.

Therefore, how can the taxpayers of O'ahu expect them to handle the construction of a multifaceted rail system with a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars?

Personally, I have no faith that the rail construction can be managed properly when our local leaders can't even handle garbage.

Let's stop rail now before it puts the taxpayers in the poor house.