GOVERNMENT

NO FINANCIAL PRESSURE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY

I would like to respond to the comments by Debbie Soares (Letter, March 13) about taxes and government efficiency.

Ms. Soares observed the hardships being imposed on Honolulu taxpayers by the current tax burden. She cites some obvious examples, such as vehicle registration fees, spiraling sewer fees and the ever-increasing real property taxes. There are many others.

Ms. Soares then goes on to comment on the obvious inefficiencies in government.

I suggest to Ms. Soares that government is inefficient because it can be. There is no financial pressure to increase efficiency. The city is awash in revenue, largely due to windfall tax revenue associated with the real estate boom.

We complain, and the city dithers while pretending to seek real property tax relief. The obvious answer — cut taxes — is inconceivable for them. Tax relief just doesn't happen. And all we can do is complain more.

The reason government can be inefficient and wasteful with our money is because they are not accountable.

Taxpayers have no recourse. If we want to petition the city to reduce taxes, the City Charter denies us that right. We can petition the government, just not on tax issues. So our city government is insulated against official taxpayer action concerning taxes.

BEATING CASE

DISPARAGING TERM IS RACIAL AND DEROGATORY

I was born and raised in Hawai'i, and I am Caucasian.

I disagree with the following statement made by attorney Todd Eddins in the Pa'akaula case. He said, "I think anybody who has grown up here in Hawai'i realizes when somebody says somebody is acting like a f------ haole, it's not necessarily directed specifically at that person, but more as a generic type of definition of behavior."

Normally, the statement is not "you are acting like a f------ haole," it is "f------ haole."

No matter how you say it or where you were born and/or raised, it is derogatory and racial.

CITY COUNCIL

TRANSIT SYSTEM ROUTE NEEDS COMMON SENSE

The City Council's heavy rail route, which excludes the airport and University of Hawai'i-Manoa, lacks vision and practicality.

More people work around the airport than downtown. Then, of course, there are the thousands of tourists and residents who go to and from the airport for flights. Salt Lake is near the airport and it seems a morning and afternoon shuttle service could connect those residents to an airport train station.

If the airport exclusion were not bad enough, to leave UH out of the plan borders on farcical.

Let's face it, the whole plan is suspect to begin with. Ridership projections are low; but to leave out what would certainly be the two largest stops turns the whole project into a bad joke.

Nonetheless, the bureaucrats drove forward to appease the developers, unions and bankers. I imagine the UH students who showed up in droves to support the mayor must really be feeling good right now.

Hopefully the feds will see just how unworkable this thing is and refuse to fund it or demand some common sense changes.

BIBLE CLASSES

SEPARATION OF CHURCH, STATE VERY IMPORTANT

In response to Stephen Prothero's commentary, "Bible knowledge important for our civic life" (March 16), how typical it is for a religious man to call the need for Bible classes for every public school child not Christian in nature.

How convenient it would be to require teenagers to spend an hour a day being force-fed the Bible during what should be an impartial environment, school.

The amount of religious propaganda individuals in general, let alone impressionable youths, have to wade through in order to go about their daily business is amazing.

It is of the utmost importance to remember there is a world out there filled with billions of people who don't think like you might.

In order to be fair and just to all, there is little more important than the separation of church and state.

BIBLE IS IRRELEVANT IN U.S. POLITICAL RHETORIC

In a commentary on March 16 ("Bible knowledge important for our civic life"), Stephen Prothero makes the case that the use of biblical references is inevitable in political discourse in this country; therefore, we should all study the Bible, preferably in public schools.

He argues that only by understanding the contents of the Bible can you really understand what the politicians are saying.

There is another and more effective solution. That is to simply ignore references to the Bible.

The Bible is an effective reference because it can be used to justify anything.

What we should teach in schools is that the Bible is irrelevant in political rhetoric.

If we simply ignore every reference to religion and sacred writings, we can get down to the business of running a secular country.

Just because 90 percent (Prothero's figure) of our elected representatives are Christian, it does not make us a Christian country.

We have a fine Constitution; let the politicians refer to it instead.

NAACP LEADER

AUTHORITY MUST MATCH JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

As a former 1st vice president of the local NAACP chapter, I had the privilege of meeting the national NAACP President Bruce Gordon and the iconic board chairman Julian Bond.

Like Donna Brazile and most black Mainland leaders, I was shocked to learn that Mr. Gordon had resigned after only 19 months on the job.

While there were obvious philosophical differences about the organization's mission solvency and degree of political activism, I was surprised to hear that Mr. Gordon found the board too "meddlesome."

As the NAACP struggles to regroup and recover under the leadership of Mr. Bond and his interim president, there could be a lesson learned.

In a primarily volunteer group, it is especially important to disagree without being disagreeable.

Assuring that the next leader's authority is commensurate with his or her responsibilities is of equal importance to the future of our oldest civil rights organization.

ROOT OF PROBLEM

THE CONGRESS SHOULD IMPEACH BUSH, CHENEY

Alberto Gonzales is dedicated to President Bush. Scooter Libby was dedicated to Vice President Cheney.

Both are being used as sacrificial lambs to their superiors, whom they are protecting. It's unfortunate that both of them are being brought down and not their superiors.

Going on the theory of chains of command, everyone in the chain is responsible and should be punished accordingly.

Congress should get to the root of the problem instead of just cutting off the branches.

Instead of wasting time, stop the war by impeaching President Bush and Vice President Cheney. They are the root of the problem.

GOVERNMENT

UNICAMERAL SYSTEM WOULD BRING OPENNESS

The principal reason given by state House Speaker Calvin Say to avoid openness and transparency in legislative decision-making is that there are too many issues to tackle during a 60-day session; just not enough time.

To obtain an open government, the voters should have the right to change our form of government to that of a unicameral government.

By having one legislative chamber, which would operate full-time and year-round, we would need fewer elected politicians. That would reduce operating costs and provide quicker action on public needs, such as emergency appropriation bills in time of disasters.

A full-time unicameral government can be more effective in solving problems, discussing new ideas with public input, and planning and implementing the actions necessary to achieve goals that will benefit the majority of the people of Hawai'i.

ACHIEVEMENT

KAUA'I HIGH SCHOOL WINS TRIAL TOURNAMENT

Kaua'i High School won the state title at the Hawai'i State Mock Trial Tournament on March 10.

I would like to thank all of the teams, parents, and coaches involved. The participating schools were Hawai'i Baptist Academy, Hilo High School, Kamehameha Schools (Maui), and Kaua'i High School.

Mock Trial is a club, where students take part in a fictional case playing the parts of witnesses and attorneys. Mock trial is incredibly team driven; members form their own legal theories, themes and examinations. It teaches students how to speak well in front of others and communicate ideas more effectively, persuasively and confidently.

Kaua'i High will be traveling to Dallas during the second week of May to participate at the national competition.