EDUCATION

SIGNATURE SCHOOLS A LONG-OVERDUE CONCEPT

The concept of signature schools should have been analyzed by the Department of Education with the public's input a long time ago. Perhaps decades ago.

The description of the proposed signature schools is very similar to magnet schools on the Mainland. Magnet high schools emphasize curriculum such as science and technology, performing arts and music, and/or college preparation. These public schools have challenged, nurtured and, most importantly, more than adequately served the needs of the inquisitive and academically inclined and artistically gifted public students for generations.

While it appears that the education officials are merely looking into the idea of signature schools only as a response to pressures to close or consolidate smaller schools, it is still not too late for the Department of Education, along with the concerned teachers, parents and politicians to act in concert so that ultimately the students of Hawai'i benefit by having the option of attending more academically rigorous schools or schools that better cater to their artistic or cultural needs.

The public schools in Hawai'i need not be inferior to any private school here in Hawai'i.

RAIL DEBATE

CAYETANO SEEMS TO BE OUT OF TOUCH WITH PARTY

It seems that former Gov. Ben Cayetano is out of touch with his Democratic Party and its membership. All his Hawai'i colleagues, from U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye on down, support rail. The majority of Democrats in the Legislature support rail.

Support for rail is widespread and for many reasons: It brings new jobs and helps the economy; it's better for the environment; it will help reduce urban sprawl and keep the country country; it gives people a choice for commuting; and it will improve the quality of our lives.

Perhaps Cayetano is thinking of switching parties and joining all those Republican and Libertarians who are backing the Stop Rail Now effort. Or maybe, since he's retired, he should stick to playing more golf instead of taking political positions on decisions that are not his to make.

TRAFFIC BAD NOW AND WILL ONLY GET WORSE

I've noticed that most of the anti-rail advocates live in the Downtown vicinity or the Windward side.

I can understand the opposition to higher taxes, but if you look at how bad our traffic situation is now, just imagine 20 years from now without an alternative solution for commuters.

The main route for commuting from west to east is roughly 20-plus miles.

During rush hour, roughly half of the 20 miles can be in bumper- to-bumper traffic.

Given the population growth for that time period plus the number of vehicles on the road and new homes built, we are probably looking at 20 miles of gridlock some time soon. This will affect everybody's commute, including people on the Windward side and Honolulu area.

The new term for "gridlock" will be "deadlock."

GOVERNOR, DON'T BE SO WISHY-WASHY ON RAIL

Our governor needs to learn something every good fisherman already knows: Either fish or cut bait.

Gov. Linda Lingle's continued waffling about the rail transit project is not what we should expect from one of our leaders, especially when it deals with something so important.

For four long years, she seemed to support the rail project and the general excise tax increase to pay for it. She never said she didn't and she never said it should be voted on. Then suddenly she says she might sign the anti-rail petition but that doesn't mean she necessarily opposes the project. Even now that she has signed it, she still won't say how she would actually vote if it makes it on the ballot.

Why don't the media and the public demand that she let us know how she would vote if the election was today?

Seems like she's trying to sit on the fence. That's something the mayor never is accused of!

As Lucy would say, "Good grief, Charley Brown! Don't be so wishy-washy!"

LET TAXPAYERS DECIDE IF RAIL SHOULD BE BUILT

Regarding the June 20 letter, "Rail project will bring money into economy:"

Yes, there will be some money coming from the federal government to help fund this project and it will provide jobs. However, where does the rest of the money come from?

The majority (more than $3 billion) will come from us. It's our money that will finance most of this project.

Think about signing the Stop Rail Now petition. Think about how quick you can find the form, and let the people who will pay for the system decide if it should be built.

RAIL WILL BE BOTTOMLESS PIT FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS

So now the mayor is blaming a vast right-wing conspiracy (from the Mainland, yet) for opposition to his commuter rail scheme.

The lady who flagged me down in the Costco parking lot to sign the Stop Rail Now petition sure didn't look like a right-wing conspirator.

No, she appeared to be just a citizen with a beef with the mayor. Her problem was that the rail will be a bottomless pit for our tax dollars, doesn't go where a large majority of people need to go, will not reduce traffic gridlock and will suck up resources that could be applied to common-sense solutions that could do all the above at less cost.

It seems clear to me that the only conspiracy involving rail was the mayor's determination, before any of the feasibility studies were done, to make rail happen, no matter what.

TRAFFIC

HONOLULU DRIVERS PAY TOLL IN WASTED TIME, GAS

Honolulu already has congestion pricing. Instead of tolls based on demand, however, drivers pay in wasted time, wasted gasoline, more pollution and higher accident rates. Because these costs are hidden, however, drivers erroneously assume that using the roads at rush hour is "free."

But a price system is a powerful communication device: Prices tell us which goods are abundant and cheap and which are scarce and expensive.

Low prices encourage us to consume; high prices encourage us to conserve.

Unfortunately, the illusion that roads are "free" sends a bad message to drivers. They chronically overstress road capacity, and most do not bother to investigate various alternatives to a solitary commute in their cars at peak hours.

Tolls would correct this problem and get drivers to evaluate whether TheBus, car pools, flextime, bicycling, telecommuting, walking or relocating closer to their employers would be a more sensible choice with respect to their demand for space on the streets and freeways at peak times.

The current "illusion of free" pricing system obviously fails in this regard.

GUANTANAMO

TERROR FIGHT REQUIRES EXTRAORDINARY MEANS

The women of Afghanistan must've done something really terrible to invite their maltreatment at the hands of the Taliban.

What else is one to conclude from Robyn Blumner's June 23 column ("Guantanamo ruling salvaged national character")? She concedes that literally hundreds of prisoners have been freed from Guantanamo, then she compares the government that freed them to Gaddafi, Robert Mugabe et cetera, et cetera.

She doesn't even attempt to explain why the "resentment fostered" by the Bush administration has led to the election of pro-U.S. governments in Germany, France, and Italy who are working with us in applying sanctions on Iran and sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Nor can she explain why the Sunni Arabs of Iraq turned on al-Qaida and are now fighting with the good guys. Perhaps they enjoy Fox news. Or maybe faced with an enemy that makes snuff films of beheadings, enslaves women and heartily wishes to release chemical, biological or nuclear devices in a major city, they realize that extraordinary measures sometimes are regrettably necessary.

Even something unspeakably awful as electing John McCain president.

PUBLIC SPACES

PET-FRIENDLY DOESN'T MEAN KID-FRIENDLY

One giant leap for Fido; one step backward for Junior.

Unfortunately, the more "pet-friendly" you make a park or public space, the less "kid-friendly" it becomes.

Yes, some pet owners are very respectful and keep their dogs on leashes, but it seems that most don't.

And God forbid you ask them to obey the law.

My kids are now terrified of dogs because our park is overrun with selfish dog owners who don't control their pets.

It's unfortunate, but our public spaces should first and foremost be set up for adults and children to enjoy.

With dogs on the hiking trail, I once again feel as though I need to keep my kids on a leash in order to ensure their safety from other people's pets. That's sad.