CRIME

TRAGEDY SHOWS NEED TO RE-EXAMINE SYSTEM

Criminals like Peter Bailey should not get early release. I don't know all the details of his release, but the Hawai'i Paroling Authority should have had him serve at least 35 years in prison as it originally ordered for murdering a teenage girl. Now it is alleged he has committed another crime involving a sexual assault.

Inmates who commit horrible, violent crimes must pay the price for their actions. Murderers, in particular, should not be given leniency. From what I have gathered, Peter Bailey should not have been out of prison. As chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I will look at this matter to determine what allowed Bailey to receive an early release. If changes in the law are necessary, I will initiate them to stop this from happening again. Although I support re-entry programs and rehabilitation for inmates, I feel criminals who have committed violent, heinous crimes deserve their time in prison.

TAXES

CONGRESS SHOULD VOTE 'NO' ON NEW EXCISE HIKE

Congress is at it again — they want to raise taxes. The current bill in the U.S. Senate proposes a 61-cent increase to the tobacco tax. Not only is this new tax a bad idea from an economic standpoint, but it negatively impacts Hawai'i by potentially costing the state approximately $9 million a year in reductions to the master settlement agreement.

I urge our Congressional delegation to vote no to this new federal cigarette excise tax.

JOHN A. BURNS

MEDICAL SCHOOL HOPES TO TACKLE MONEY WOES

Thank you for your continuing interest in the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and for chronicling the school's journey, just over two years in the making, to its new Kaka'ako campus.

It is sometimes forgotten that the school is a dream hatched and nurtured just during our lifetimes, by the late Gov. John Burns, subsequent governors, the Legislature and the people of Hawai'i. As such, it is still growing, and the momentous move to Kaka'ako has revitalized the men, women and students of the medical school.

As your article concluded, "To be sure, the medical school has a positive impact on healthcare in the state."

Even saddled with very difficult promises made in the past, the medical school, like the university as a whole, is proud to be on its way toward overcoming financial challenges.

And we have never fallen short in our vital missions training medical doctors, serving the Hawai'i community and performing important research.

GMO FOODS

WE DON'T NEED FEDS TO ASSURE OUR CONTROL

Mark Fergusson of Down to Earth Natural Foods concludes in a letter to The Advertiser (July 20, "Not surprising people want GMO labeling") that "we should be the ones in control, not government". He makes a great point. Yet, earlier in the letter he decries "The lack of required labeling..."

He wants to demand government action to assure "we" are in control?

If Mr. Fergusson thinks he is right, he should sell only labeled food and reject the others and see how that affects sales.

He does not need government to accomplish that and it leaves him and his customers "in control".

If government can demand labels it could eventually demand only GMO foods to be offered for sale. Avoid the slippery slope, Mr. Fergusson.

POLITICS

NOT 'BUSINESS AS USUAL' FOR BARACK OBAMA

Barack Obama stated in the recent CNN-YouTube debate, that he is not about business as usual in Washington. He seems to grasp the real problem we face in America.

We will not solve the problems of war, healthcare, climate change, and so on, without changing the system.

The current system allows for lobbyists, many of whom are ex-congressman, to influence our current Congress with campaign contributions or straight out bribes.

Our representatives at every level of government are more like corporate spokespeople than they are actual representatives of their constituents. We can all see the system is broken, I would go so far to say, that taxation without representation is grounds for starting over with a new system of government.

I will vote for Obama, because he is the only candidate who is saying what needs to be said. But, talk is not enough anymore, if Obama does not succeed, it is on we the people of the United States of America to form a government that actually represents the citizens who pay taxes.

CEMETERIES

'GREEN BURIALS' WOULD SOLVE SPACE PROBLEM

A middle road may exist for both the residents of the Pikoiloa subdivision and Service Corp. International. An alternative model for cemeteries does exist. It is ecologically sound, can help expand conservation lands and is self-financing. It is called green burial.

A green burial prohibits embalming, use of metal caskets, outer burial containers, and large markers. Green burial promotes the rapid return to the earth of one's body, use of a minimal container, and a minimal marker, if any.

Profits do not have to be minimal as many people are very interested in going (out) green and are willing to pay for it. Service Corp. International could give back to the surrounding community by restoring the land to a natural forest setting using income from the sale of plots to finance restoration, erosion, and flood control. With a cremation rate well over 60 percent and burial at sea as another option it is doubtful that O'ahu "needs" another 28,000 burial plots. I encourage both sides to think outside the box and consider green burial as an ecological and economical alternative.

SEAT BELTS

CONTRARY TO BELIEF, THEY DON'T SAVE LIVES

It is unfortunate our legislators are more concerned with representing lobbyists than their constituents, otherwise your recent seat belt article might have caused them to employ a little more integrity and common sense!

People with common sense should realize that seat belts, child restraint, and booster seats, do not save lives but convert human beings into vegetables because even a small accident will funnel energy from that collision to a restrained body's weakest point: the neck.

The myth that "Seatbelts save lives" is wholly founded on police accident reports that bear a pre-printed statement claiming injuries could have been avoided/reduced if the occupants had worn a seat belt.

The legal profession continues making small fortunes arguing whether seats were properly installed, belts properly fastened, etc., whilst the medical industry continues to reap large fortunes.

ENERGY

COMPANY MAKES NO PROFIT ON WIND POWER

In John Scalera's recent letter (July 23), he expresses concern about the cost of buying wind power from Hawai'i Island's new Pakini Nui wind farm, which is owned and operated by independent power producer Tawhiri Power LLC. To be clear, the amount Tawhiri is paid for this renewable energy is the amount that is included in customers' electric bills. Hawaii Electric Light Co. makes no profit on this transaction.

At the time Pakini Nui's owners negotiated their power sales contract, the standard regulatory basis for the purchase price of renewable generated energy was the cost to the utility if it had to generate the power itself. In 2006, the Hawai'i state Legislature passed a law requiring that future contracts de-link the amount paid for renewables from the price of oil. As oil prices continue to rise, that may result in future savings for consumers.

On the Big Island, we are blessed with strong winds that are contributing significantly to our island's energy needs. While those winds are free, a wind developer's investment in the equipment to harness those winds is not. There are also costs to transmit and deliver the power from remote wind sites. While costs in this case may not go down, Hawai'i is still better off environmentally by tapping into this clean energy source.

MEALS ON WHEELS

FUNDING ISSUE LIES WITH COUNTY, NOT WITH STATE

Recently, concerns about funding for Lanakila Meals on Wheels have raised the public's awareness of this vital service. Newspaper articles and television news stories have pointed to a "state funding issue" affecting the ability of the program to serve the growing number of seniors needing assistance.

Media reports left out the point that the state's Executive Office on Aging (EOA) distributes state and federal funds to County Area Agencies on Aging through the Kupuna Care program in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

In fiscal year 2007, more than $1.1 million in state and federal funds were available for Lanakila Meals on Wheels program. State funds included $106,334 from Act 262 passed by the 2006 Legislature. The signing of SB 1916 by Lt. Gov. Aiona (as acting governor) on June 21, provides an additional $475,000 in FY 2008 and $525,000 in FY 2009 to expand Kupuna Care in-home services.

Kupuna Care is a state-funded long-term care program created to meet the needs of older adults who cannot live at home without adequate support from family and/or formal services.

The City and County of Honolulu's Elderly Affairs Division (EAD) ultimately decides how much funding senior services on O'ahu, such as Meals on Wheels, receive. The state will continue to support the City and County EAD in every way possible, but the decisions to allocate funding are rightfully left with the county.