SUPREME COURT

SENATORS SHOULD HAVE KNOWN RESULT OF ALIOTO

On Jan. 30, 2006, Sens. Inouye and Akaka both voted "yea" on cloture to end the filibuster against the nomination of Samuel Alioto to the Supreme Court.

They both subsequently voted against his nomination, but by then it was too late. If they didn't know that the nomination was going to succeed in spite of their "no" vote, they should have.

Now Alioto is showing his colors. In a recent, profoundly appalling, 5-4 decision, Alioto ruled that women have a limited window of opportunity to bring a case of pay discrimination. Never mind that they only just discovered the differential in pay and never mind that it was gender-based.

The woman involved in this case had worked for 20 years at a Goodyear plant. When she learned about the pay disparity issue later in her career, she sued, but then lost in a Supreme Court where women's rights do not seem important to the majority of justices.

It was just this sort of decision that I feared.

Many of us knew that Alioto would reverse the course of civil liberties of our nation. It's more of a pity that the senators didn't.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

KSBE TAXES WOULD ALLEVIATE BURDEN HERE

If Mr. Wagner (Letters, May 29) is willing to pay my taxes, then I am willing to say that Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate doesn't take money from the government and is a private institution.

At least that way the amount of tax that KSBE doesn't pay the government wouldn't be a burden on me. If it were truly a private institution, it would pay quite a bit in taxes. The tax on the interest income alone from billions of dollars would alleviate the burden around here quite nicely.

HOMELESSNESS

FORCED MOVE FROM THE BEACH MAKES NO SENSE

I was amazed at the effort that was put into getting homeless people off of the beaches in Ma'ili so that the community could get it back.

However, did the state put much thought into what was going to happen next? I think not. Come and see for yourself. Now, there are almost 100 or more tents that have been put up in Nanakuli. So what now? Keep moving them until they reach Kapolei?

It's sad because these homeless people should have been left alone. Why force them to move from one area, only to let them relocate in another? It makes no sense.

PASSENGER SAFETY

LEGISLATORS SHOULD BAN RIDERS IN TRUCK BEDS

We are in the middle of buckling up, which is good. But one thing puzzles me: the people who are riding in the back of trucks.

You see them going more than 60 mph on the freeways, sometimes with four or five passengers, sometimes children, in the back of the truck. These passengers face more danger than those inside the truck without seat belts. Why are we still letting this go on? At least they should be banned from major freeways and only allowed on streets with a maximum speed of 30 mph. We have a very good mode of transportation called TheBus.

When are our legislators going to ban passengers riding in the truck bed? I am confused with this Click It or Ticket campaign. Shouldn't we be ticketing those truck-bed passengers — who obviously do not wear seat belts?

JONAH GOLDBERG

COLUMNIST'S CRITICISM WASN'T WORTHY TO PRINT

Jonah Goldberg and his ilk, with a quiescence media, find it much easier to trash a member of the opposition than write a rational, factual analysis of proposals, solutions and suggestions for solving the numerous serious issues confronting this country. This commentary by Mr. Goldberg is unworthy of The Advertiser, and is a classic example of "the assault on reason" discussed in Al Gore's book, wherein Mr. Gore asks, "Why do reason, logic and truth seem to play a diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions?"

The title of this commentary itself is a classic example of this "diminished role." What presidential candidate is not selling the issues and him or herself, so as to get elected? That is what they do. Does John Edwards indeed have a very large house? Who cares? I want to know how Mr. Edwards will solve the problems of global warming, the war in Iraq, healthcare, Medicare, social security, the spiraling deficit and other real issues that affect all Americans.

All Mr. Goldberg is doing is rehashing GOP talking points, aided and abetted by The Advertiser. Your readers deserve better.

SMOKING BAN

CLARIFICATION NEEDED FOR NEW STATE MANDATE

The new smoking law states that smoking within 20 feet of a building entrance is illegal.

Does this mean that just about all of Maunakea Street and Kekaulike Mall are non-smoking zones?

MODEST PROPOSAL

EXPAND DON HO PARK TO OTHER LOCAL CELEBS

A park area honoring Don Ho is being contemplated. Perhaps the city could expand its actions and include a walk of entertainment honorees who have helped promote and bring aloha to Hawai'i.

Placed into the sidewalk by the Don Ho park could be names of other selected entertainers, encircled with a lei. A few come to my mind: Hilo Hattie, Jack Lord, Tom Selleck, Arthur Godfrey, Alfred Apaka, Jim Nabors, Brothers Cazimero, Society of Seven, and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Wayne Harada and Tom Moffatt could be possible contacts for honoree recommendation and establishing selection criteria.

If this city thinks this is possible, expand the concept to Duke Kahanamoku's beach "park." Hawai'i water sports have brought wide attention to the state. Perhaps Fred Hemmings could offer recommendations.

Many bring aloha to the islands. Let's acknowledge a few of them.