Letters to the Editor
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UH FOOTBALL
FREE LIVE TV BROADCAST WOULD BOOST FAN SPIRIT
It's disappointing that we can't watch University of Hawai'i Warrior football live.
I understand that pay-per-view generates revenues for the football program. But this policy also takes away the spirit from Hawai'i fans, who look forward to watching the game each Saturday but can't afford it or live on a Neighbor Island and can't purchase a ticket.
Getting Hawai'i fans excited about UH football or any other UH sport means broadcasting the games live and for free. This would also boost merchandise sales, because the notion that Hawai'i might win is enough to get people to put on their UH colors and get involved in team pride.
It's hard to get excited about UH football if the game is already over.
You can get highlights on the news or you can watch the delayed broadcast and pretend you didn't see the score. But most would agree there's no fun in that.
Aric TanimotoKealakekua, Hawai'i
FINANCIAL CRISIS
CONGRESS IS ALSO TO BLAME FOR THIS MESS
In his Oct. 5 Focus section column, Sen. Dan Akaka tried to paint a nice picture of why the Senate and later the House approved the bailout that will ultimately be thrust on the American people.
There are at least two problems with his explanations. The first is that he tries to make it sound like he and his colleagues on the Banking Committee first learned about the fragile credit markets last month and then "knew we needed to act quickly." I find it very hard to believe that no one on the Banking Committee or in Congress could foresee the ramifications coming from the subprime lending long before this.
And assuming they did know (shouldn't the Banking Committee have been doing oversight on all of this anyhow?), then neither party should be pointing fingers.
To blame the Bush administration for lack of regulation is hypocrisy. Congress on both sides is to blame for this mess too, along with all the other suspects. Speak the whole truth, Sen. Akaka.
Let's get our power back. The time has come to start voting out the incumbents. We have the perfect opportunity this election year so vote out the incumbent politicians.
Marie HouselKane'ohe
RAIL
PEOPLE SHOULD ASK IF O'AHU CAN AFFORD RAIL
I truly hope people are not being swayed by the TV commercials about rail (steel on steel) creating jobs.
No matter what mass transit system is built, it will create jobs.
The big questions people should ask themselves are:
Remember, our children, grandchildren and probably our great-grandchildren will end up paying for this steel-on-steel rail.
Kenneth IkenagaPearl City
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
VOTERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT COUNTRY'S FUTURE
During last week's town hall debate, one of the candidates for president of the United States, Barack Obama, made the stunning claim that Americans have a right to healthcare.
Rights, as outlined in the Constitution, specify what the government cannot take away from the individual without due process — life, liberty, speech, worship, etc. Nowhere does it give the individual a right to specific goods and services.
Courts have subsequently ruled that the accused has the right to legal counsel (a lawyer), but that was done to assure effective due process.
If Americans have the right to healthcare, then why not other essential goods and services, such as food, shelter and clothing? That line of reasoning, of course, ends in communism, a system of government that has failed wherever it has been tried.
Voters should think about the future of our country before casting their votes next month.
Rhoads Stevens, M.D.Hawai'i Kai
HAWAII SUPERFERRY
INSPECTORS DEDICATED TO RESOURCE PROTECTION
Along with my fellow inspectors, we are disturbed after reading Mayor Charmaine Tavares' comments about the Superferry inspections we conduct.
Mayor Tavares and the people of Maui have no idea of our comprehensive and ongoing training and our dedication to protecting our environment and natural resources.
We thoroughly inspect all vehicles and passengers, confiscating illegal goods and reporting our discoveries to state personnel.
If we didn't have passion for our job, we would not have endured the court battles, public protests and sign waving from those opposing the Hawaii Superferry. This island is close-knit and it would have been easier to seek other employment than put up with such negativity within our own community.
Consider the positive impacts of Hawaii Superferry. We can travel inexpensively for doctor appointments, visits with family and friends, UH football games, and shopping and selling at the Honolulu swap meet. Our wheelchair-bound residents can travel with their own ADA vehicles; those who can't fly can now visit O'ahu. Local businesses, such as Homemaid Bakery, Tasaka Guri Guri, Kula Lavender Farm, Tedeschi Winery can sell their goods on O'ahu. Despite the closure of Aloha Airlines, Love's Bakery still delivers freshly baked goods to Maui five days a week.
Hawaii Superferry employees are keeping our resources safe, providing an alternative means of travel and giving our local businesses new economic opportunities. We take our jobs seriously and are fully committed to protecting our islands.
Corrine Dutro-PoncePort utility inspector, Hawaii Superferry
