VOTING

REALITY TV DUMBING DOWN THE ELECTORATE

In response to Gary Fuchikami's letter, "Do your homework, check on candidates" (Oct. 7): Yes, it is sad that people are not reading about candidates' stands on political issues via the Internet. People are voting according to TV, newspaper and radio ads because that is what fits their lifestyle.

How can you expect the population to decipher and weigh political options when there are hours of mind-numbing reality TV to watch?

With the way that these unscripted, brain-sucking shows are dumbing down our society, it's amazing that anyone votes.

A VOTE FOR LINGLE IS A VOTE FOR RIGHT'S AGENDA

If Hawai'i wants to send a message of support for President Bush, the Iraq war and the Republican right-wing agenda, vote for Gov. Linda Lingle. I won't.

'MORAL COMPASS'

MANY SUPPORT TROOPS AND THE WAR ON TERROR

I found the letter by Chuck Cohen asking why more "normal" people didn't attend the "peacenik convention" on Oct. 5 very amusing.

It seems the writer is quite confused, asking six times, "Where were you?"

It's very simple. I and the other "normal people" were going about our day supporting our troops and the worldwide war against terrorism. We were also discussing our fighting this war against religious fanatical madmen bent on destroying the free world and your right to "rally."

As far as "losing the moral compass" concern? This question should be asked of those who have been attacking us for more than 20 years, killing thousands of innocent men, women and children. So, Mr. Cohen, when we were attacked on 9/11 and as thousands of people were undergoing "real" torture, or being beheaded over the past several years, "where were you?"

Oh I forgot, the attacks and beheadings are the fault of those evil democratically elected Americans.

TRANSIT

CITY PORTION OF RAIL MUST BE UNDERGROUND

In the urban areas of Honolulu, the proposed rail mass transit must be installed underground, as are most major world cities' mass transit systems.

Every building downtown and in Waikiki has a basement, usually for parking. Many times, they go down several levels.

Therefore, rail can be and should be installed underground for aesthetic and practical reasons.

The installation of the rail mass transit will be forever. If we're going to do it, let's do it right.

FOOTBALL

UH NEEDS TO MOVE BEYOND HAWAI'I BOWL

I will consider the University of Hawai'i football season a so-what season unless they earn a birth in any bowl that was not created just so UH can be in one.

The Mainland laughs as UH plays in the only bowl they can get an invitation to with a 7-5 record.

Hawai'i taxpayers pay a lot of money for a football team and highly paid coaching staff.

Playing in UH's own bowl is not acceptable anymore.

'AINA HAINA

CITY IS NOT IGNORING COMMUNITY CONCERNS

Ms. Chien-Wen Tseng (Letters, Oct. 6) presents a one-sided and distorted portrait of the proposed cluster in 'Aina Haina. I have personally spoken to her several times and exchanged e-mails to discuss her concerns.

She urged that the city Department of Planning and Permitting grant an extension to the review time for the application so that the landowner could continue discussions with the community. The applicant requested a stay of decision and agreed to waive the time limit for a decision to be made. The department granted this request. She was informed of this.

The department has also received a number of written expressions of concern from other residents. As in all applications of this type, the comments will be considered along with our technical factors and reports submitted with the application.

The department's decision will be based on a careful and thorough analysis of all these factors, as required by the Land Use Ordinance. While community concerns are considered, our review of the project is not a popularity contest.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and I take our responsibilities seriously, especially in the area of safety. That is why we have codes that must be complied with. Just because we did not attend the meeting does not mean that we are ignoring the concerns of the community.

ENERGY

STATE MUST ASK IF SUGAR BEST CROP FOR BIOFUEL

Your excellent article concerning the adequacy of water for sugar cane and ethanol production (Oct. 8) points to the need for a systems analysis approach to our energy needs.

There are many alternatives. Is sugar cane the best crop to grow? At first glance, soybeans or another oil-seed crop would be better because they can economically supply biodiesel for both buses (critical public transit) and power generation.

Also, why put lots of energy into converting sugar to ethanol when it might be better to burn the biomass more directly in power generation?

Of course, we must remember the power of markets guided by smart, policy-driven tax incentives, sort out some details and save us from "paralysis by analysis."

WILCOX STRIKE

HOSPITAL PAYING A LOT FOR REPLACEMENT RNS

I received an early morning phone call offering me a six-month registered nurse travel position at Wilcox Hospital. There are more than 80 positions available. They are the striking nurses' positions.

As a member of the Hawai'i Nurses Association and a striking nurse, of course I turned it down. The travel nurses are offered a comparable wage plus $2,000 monthly housing allowance! Imagine how much the agency is making. Imagine how much Hawai'i Pacific Health is spending to bring in these nurses rather than settle the strike! Do the math HPH, settle this strike.

FRUITS, VEGETABLES

HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH SHOULD BE AN OPTION

This is National School Lunch Week, commemorating the 60th anniversary of President Truman's signing of the National School Lunch Act. More than 28 million children in 100,000 schools and child care facilities participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program.

Unfortunately, the lunch fare is made up largely of USDA's surplus meat, milk, and cheese commodities, which contain excess protein, saturated fats and cholesterol, and account for the epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease afflicting our children. Moreover, most nutrition education materials are provided to schools by the meat, dairy, and junk food industries.

According to USDA's own surveys, 90 percent of children consume excessive amounts of fat, and 15 percent eat the minimum daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. These early dietary flaws become lifelong addictions, contributing to an escalating public health crisis.

Not surprisingly, 5.3 million American children are overweight, 25 percent have high cholesterol and blood pressure, and 30,000 suffer from Type 2 diabetes, once limited to adults.

Change is on the way. Hawai'i, California, New York, and Florida legislatures passed resolutions asking schools to offer a daily vegan or vegetarian option to every child. National health advocacy organizations and local parents groups have mobilized to improve school food quality.

Parents and others who care about this critical issue should work with their PTAs in demanding healthy plant-based school meals, snacks, and vending machine items. Additional information is available at healthyschoollunches.org, asfsa .org/nslw, schoolmeals.nal.usda .gov, and choiceusa.net.

BOTTLE LAW

RECYCLING PROGRAM IS NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY

The recycling program for beverage containers is not very customer friendly.

If you turn in more than 50 containers, they are subject to being weighed rather than counted.

They claim to be giving us an option of going to one of those machines that receive the containers one at a time. I don't have the time to feed a machine empty soda cans one at a time. I usually wait until I have about 600 containers, then go down to the nearest facility, which is Reynolds. There is no facility that accepts containers individually near where I live.

The state needs to evaluate the system, and figure what needs to be done to pay out what was paid in.

The state has no problem collecting 6 cents per container from me. In order to get back 5 cents per container, I have to go through an obstacle course. Does that seem fair?

JOIN OUR TEEN EDITORIAL BOARD

No Child Left Behind. Low test scores. Civic engagement. Job creation and economic diversification. Hawai'i's higher education system.

High school students — our state's future — should have a say in these issues and more.

We invite you to do just that in The Advertiser's newly formed Teen Editorial Board.

We're looking for a team of high school students to offer insights on key issues and news of the day.

The board will meet occasionally throughout the school year with some members of our in-house editorial board and with key decision-makers in the community.

Interested?

To apply, send us an e-mail with your name, address, age, school, and a sentence on why you would like to be a participant. Send your e-mail to our editorial assistant, Stacy Berry, at sberry@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Questions? Call us at 535-2414. You will be notified if you are selected.