ELECTION 2008

LINGLE SHOULD HAVE CAMPAIGNED IN ISLES

Well, we sure had a Democratic sweep in the polls the other night.

Yet there were many good Republican candidates whose races were so close that they only lost by a small percentage. If they had had the support of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, the outcome for many Republicans could have been different.

But Gov. Lingle was nowhere to be seen.

Still, it is a well-known fact that earlier Gov. Lingle took not one, but two trips to support presidential candidate John McCain.

She should have been here to support her own party in Hawai'i. For many Republican candidates in Hawai'i, this could have made the difference between winning and losing. Where are her priorities?

ECONOMY

TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY JUST GOT US MORE DEBT

Tracy Ryan (Letters, Oct. 31) advocates tax cuts for the wealthy as a way to spur economic growth.

Mr. Bush tried just that and now, eight years later, we have 5 million new private-sector jobs at a cost of more than $5 trillion of additional debt. That adds up to more than $1 million of debt per job, hardly a bargain.

TRANSIT

RAIL CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Now that the rail issue is a done deal, I hope the construction company awarded to build it acts responsibly.

My family lives in the Kuli'ou'ou area where the city is conducting sewer work. Six days a week, we are assaulted with extreme noise, home vibration and diesel fumes.

The work needs to be done, I understand that, what I don't understand is the lack of compassion for the families living in the construction area.

It is an insult to have to explain to the construction company that our 1-year-old child can't sleep through the rumblings of earth drilling or the constant pounding of a jackhammer.

I truly had no idea how disruptive city and county construction work can be until we lived with it.

I hope that three groups read this and take note.

First, Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Be aware that your rail project will cause the same life-altering changes for many families along the route.

Second, the construction company doing the rail work. You may be doing your job, but your job uses some of the loudest and most polluting equipment in Hawai'i and there will be families living in your construction area.

And last, the people living in the path of the future rail project. Don't let the disruption caused by construction affect your family.

MAHALO

THANKS WOMAN WHO RESCUED INJURED DOG

I would like to acknowledge AnnaMaria Preston for her act of bravery in rescuing the injured dog from the median on H-1 (Letters, Nov. 2).

I am a dog owner and would like thank her for being a compassionate and caring person.

Good things come to those who help others in need. We need more people like AnnaMaria Preston.

BIG ISLAND

KIM A TRUE LEADER IN VETOING BIOTECH BAN

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is a true leader in vetoing Bill 361, which would have placed an outright ban on biotechnology research on coffee and taro.

He recognized that this bill was flawed and unenforceable. He also recognized that the passage of this bill sends the wrong message to the rest of the world, that Hawai'i is not open to new ideas and technology.

We appreciate the mayor's foresight, which seeks a larger question of what is beneficial for the people of the Big Island and not just who wins or loses.

We respect the cultural aspect of taro and agree that we should seek alternative methods to protect the Hawaiian varieties of taro. However, this bill does nothing to help farmers resolve their production and marketing problems. Instead, Bill 361 unnecessarily divides the community.

We are at a critical stage in Hawai'i agriculture. Major farm businesses are closing or downsizing. We should be spending our valuable time and resources providing positive economic incentives to keep farmers in production.

We urge the County Council to let the veto stand and instead seek a proactive resolution to keeping Hawai'i's farmers and ranchers viable.

INAUGURAL BALL

THE CAZ, KALEIKINI SHOULD BE INCLUDED

Now that local boy Barack Obama has won the 2008 presidential election, I urge Hawai'i residents to ask the inaugural ball committee to extend an invitation to the Brothers Cazimero along with Danny Kaleikini.

They would would be excellent ambassadors of aloha.