CONCON

VOTE 'YES' ON CONCON SO APATHY WON'T COUNT

Ever wonder why election issues are worded so strangely? It's easy, because the Hawai'i Supreme Court interpreted our Constitution to award apathy to the "no" team.

All the Legislature has to do to control our voice is to word an issue to favor a "no" vote to get what they want and keep "our" voice from being heard.

We will never have a fair vote when it comes to change unless a blank vote simply does not count. The lawmakers won't change it because then they lose this control.

It's up to us to vote "yes" on ConCon and then make sure the Constitution is changed so "yes" means yes, and "no" means no, and apathy just doesn't count.

LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS MAY BE THE WAY TO GO

In Monday's paper, we read that the National Education Association has contributed half a million dollars ($350,000 to the Hawai'i Alliance and $150,000 to the HSTA) to lobby against a Constitutional Convention. This action in itself is strong evidence that a convention should be held.

Why are they so afraid of a possible re-evaluation of Hawai'i's Department of Education? If the DOE were providing quality education to Hawai'i's students at a reasonable cost, then there would be nothing to discuss and nothing to fear from a ConCon. Instead, the teachers' associations are running scared — and people who do that have something to hide. It makes one think that the entrenched, multi-billion-dollar organization that is our DOE is more interested in preserving itself than providing the best possible education for our children.

Moving to a local school board system is no panacea — there are states with local boards and poor educational track records.

But the fact that the overwhelming majority of states have local school boards rather than a statewide system is a strong indication that it may be the better way to go.

SHORTEN LEGISLATURE, VOTE 'YES' ON CONCON

Peter Glick proposed that the Legislature not meet for a year in order to let a Constitutional Convention be held (Letters, Oct. 27).

While laudable, the state Constitution does not presently allow this option. However, it does allow for shorter sessions. If an abbreviated session of 30 days or less were held, the savings from the annual legislative budget of approximately $18 million could fully pay for the costs of a ConCon.

I strongly urge the people to vote "yes" for a ConCon.

HIDDEN HOMELESS

KALIHI TREATED LIKE IT IS IN THE THIRD WORLD

The collapse at the Kalihi home reveals far more than "hidden homeless" struggles in Honolulu. It reveals the city's general attitude and response toward the complaints lodged by Kalihi residents.

I highly doubt such unsanitary homeless structures, crowing roosters or piles of rubbish exist in Kahala, Hawai'i Kai or Manoa as they do in Kalihi.

The people of Kalihi deserve the same response as the people of higher socio-economic neighborhoods, and yet are treated like a Third-World population. It is time for change, get out and vote. Ann Kobayashi, you have my vote.

ECONOMY

TAX CUTS ON 'WEALTHY' CAN BENEFIT ECONOMY

Someone needs to educate the many who are chanting about the evils of the Bush tax cuts on "the wealthy."

The reduction of the top marginal income tax rates, taxes on capital gains and dividends, are beneficial to the economy as they increase the flow of money into investments that build factories, create new technologies, and improve worker productivity and the standard of living throughout the economy. These benefits were undermined by the growth in federal spending that simply borrowed back what the tax cuts were supposed to offer to spur economic growth.

The desire to tax wealthy people only makes sense if the taxes are on consumption, not investments. People in high income brackets generally have much more money than they need to live on.

Raising their taxes doesn't change this. It simply means money they would have reinvested into the economy, or given to private charity, is instead to be spent by government bureaucrats.

A strong argument can be made that the government's use of this money will achieve less overall benefit to the community than money that is invested or given to private charities. This is the real consideration when discussing high marginal tax rates.

RAIL

RAIL WILL NOT SOLVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION

What is the main reason for rail? It is intended to solve the rush-hour traffic congestion along the Leeward corridor.

The estimated 10-year, $3.7 billion project will bring commercial development at its 19 terminals. There will be drug stores, restaurants, fast-food outlets, offices, department stores, laundries, supermarkets, mom-and-pop stores and maybe specialty stores. This will bring lots of jobs. But, it will also bring unintended consequences.

The new developments will bring more traffic from surrounding areas like Kapolei, Wahiawa, Waipahu, Kunia, Pearl City, 'Aiea, Waipi'o, Mililani and 'Ewa because of the convenience.

The question is: Will it solve the the rush-hour traffic congestion along the Leeward corridor? The answer is no; in fact, traffic will worsen.

There are alternatives that are more affordable to solve the traffic congestion problem. These alternatives will also bring lots of local jobs.

Please vote wisely on the rail question. It all boils down to: Do you want development or traffic relief?

CONCON

TIME FOR UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE IN HAWAI'I

The anti-ConCon groups have spent so much money trying to convince us not to vote for a ConCon that it makes me wonder what their true motives are.

They say there is nothing in our Constitution that needs to be fixed that the Legislature can't do itself.

I submit that there is one very large issue that the Legislature is highly unlikely to ever pass on its own — converting to a unicameral, or one-house, Legislature. This move could save the state millions of dollars, not to mention increasing efficiency.

Yet which legislators will themselves out of a job? Only a ConCon could do this. It's time. I'm voting "yes."

HAVEN'T HEARD GOOD REASONS FOR A CONCON

I will be voting against holding a ConCon.

The financial problems locally and nationally are of great concern to me.

The cost of a ConCon will be at least $10 million — and that's money that could be spent more wisely during these difficult times.

It doesn't make sense to spend millions on a ConCon when our state is faced with making significant cuts in the Department of Education, and to critical programs, including health insurance for our keiki.

Perhaps if there were a compelling reason for Hawai'i to hold a ConCon, I'd reconsider. But I haven't heard of any yet, so I'm voting "no."

CONCON WON'T BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS

Normally David Shapiro offers strong insight in his column, but his commentary on the Constitutional Convention (Oct. 29) was way off the mark. The "dishonesty" in this issue comes from those who promise improvements on every problem Hawai'i faces, without even a shred of evidence on how a ConCon would bring about those improvements.

ConCon proponents have said that it will improve everything from education to healthcare to the economy. But this is exactly the problem — there is no public consensus on what issues a ConCon should address or how it should find solutions.

If a convention happens, it will likely be a chaotic meeting with no shared agenda and no common goals. It's not worth spending $10 on such folly, much less $10 million.

Voting for a ConCon is a triumph of wishful thinking. Its proponents make the ConCon sound like a magic wand to solve all our problems. Unfortunately, magic isn't real.

GOVERNOR

AGE-REQUIREMENT EDITORIAL WAS OFF BASE

In response to your editorial on lowering age to run for governor, I disagree with your conclusion.

You argue that "it makes sense for the bar to be set higher for the chief executive post," but I have to wonder how living to see the age of 30 qualifies one to be governor.

Depending on the person, one could accomplish quite a bit more by the time they are 20 or or 25 than another person does by the time they reach 30 or 40. You argue, "of the 50 states, 33 have the minimum at age of 30."

Rather than simply accepting this, shouldn't Hawai'i be a leader in change? Why does Hawai'i have to follow the Mainland crowd?

When voters go to the polls, it should not matter if the candidates are 18, 25, 30 or 80. The people can choose whom they want to lead the state. The law should not discriminate based on age; it is that simple.

HOW DID AGE QUESTION GET ON BALLOT THIS YEAR?

What, where, why and how did the proposal to reduce from 30 years of age to 25 years to be elected as governor or lieutenant governor end up on this year's ballot?

I missed the public outcry that this change was needed.

More importantly, where was the media explaining what this is all about?

Who do they want to run that this change is needed? Where are our media watchdogs?

RAIL

TO EASE CONGESTION, VOTE 'NO' ON RAIL

The city's primary objective is to relieve traffic congestion for us, not create jobs or force us out of our cars.

When the H-1 freeway is closed because of an accident, how would rail relieve that traffic congestion?

Is everyone supposed to abandon their cars on the freeway and walk to the nearest rail station to get home? EzWay would allow us to drive home on three additional vehicle lanes.

If you don't want to drive, you can ride on our world-class hybrid-electric bus system. TheBus will pick you up at your nearest bus stop and get you to your destination quicker than rail along the EzWay.

Rail will take longer to get to your destination because it will require longer walks, additional bus transfers, and multiple stops along the same route as the non-stop EzWay. This would be an even bigger burden for our disabled.

EzWay would cost taxpayers half of the $4 billion-plus for rail. Rail will also take longer to build (14-plus years compared with five years for EzWay).

Please vote for Ann Kobayashi for EzWay and "no" on rail to truly relieve traffic congestion.

O'AHU WILL NO LONGER BE EXOTIC WITH RAIL

Hawai'i is a place vacationers dream of visiting some day. Building a fixed-rail system makes Honolulu just another ordinary city.

Constructing a short leg of the system is only the beginning. Further rail system extensions mean years of noise and disruption on the island.

The rail stations require toilets, concession stands, elevators and/or escalators and parking lots for users at each location. These necessities demand constant maintenance and servicing.

The whole cost of building and maintaining a fixed-rail system (including the acquisition of land) is prohibitive for our population.

We already pay an excise tax on food, sales and all services. How can we possibly subsidize a rail system? Also, tourism may suffer. Vacationers want to enjoy the tropics. They will prefer the many Caribbean.

Let us not lose our unique island flavor by building a transportation system that may not be fully used by our local residents and visitors to O'ahu.

RAIL TRANSIT MAY MEAN HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES

I would like to comment on two Q&A items presented in the "Q&A Honolulu Rail Transit" brochure that was recently distributed by the city.

1. How much will operations and maintenance (O&M) cost? O&M cost for rail system is estimated to be $60 million per year.

2. How will we pay for O&M? Passenger fares will cover approximately 30 percent of O&M.

Comment: If passenger fares subsidize 30 percent of O&M cost, the remaining O&M cost "will be paid out of the city's annual budget."

Since property tax is the city's biggest source of revenue, I fear that property owners will be burdened with a $42 million tax bill (70 percent of $60 million) annually. If the city is unable to collect $18 million (30 percent of $60 million) in fares as planned, property taxes will increase to subsidize the shortfall.

Instead of rail transit, if the planned elevated train-rail line was designed for hybrid buses, the proposed project will be millions of dollars cheaper. Also the city will be saving additional millions by not having to subsidize another public-transit system.

Homeowners have been demanding property tax relief for several years and can't afford additional increase in property taxes. Homeowners should unite and vote "no" to rail transit.

RAIL TRANSIT WILL GET MORE CARS OFF ROADS

I catch the bus to work. It is a straight shot, five miles through town and takes 40 to 70 minutes, depending on traffic.

I could drive. But I catch the bus for the principle. It's the environmentally and socially responsible thing to do. It's one less car.

I support rail because it will serve more people than an elevated freeway would by getting cars off the road. An elevated freeway would do little to ease traffic. There would still be bottlenecks as cars wait to get on and off that freeway. The only way to speed up commutes significantly would be to take cars off the road.

Rail will get commuters through town without dealing with traffic, making it more desirable to riders than a bus. It may not directly serve most taxpayers in the beginning, but eventually the rail can serve many communities as it grows. But it has to start somewhere, and it has to start now before we miss yet another window of opportunity.

The Oct. 26 poll in The Honolulu Advertiser worries me, as it shows that many people think an elevated freeway is a better alternative than rail. I wish more people understood the importance of having a mass transit system in town that did not contribute to traffic. Everyone will benefit in the long run if we look beyond the short term.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

TAX CUT FOR RICH WON'T CREATE JOBS DURING

John McCain's argument for the need of additional tax cuts, especially for the rich, is that this capital is needed for businesses, which will create jobs.

However, when the country is running a deficit this doesn't happen. Every extra dollar that goes into the capital pool from a tax cut is offset by a dollar coming out of the capital pool to cover the additional deficit.

CONSIDER INFANT ISSUE IN CHOOSING ON NOV. 4

I am a political independent, I have been called a "Blue Dog" Democrat, or sometimes a moderate Republican. I have voted for both major parties in past elections.

I have examined both major party candidates. Neither is perfect. However, I will cast my vote for Sen. John McCain.

Why? I am Catholic. My understanding is that Sen. Barack Obama opposes the Born Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002. The act states that all live-born babies are guaranteed the same constitutional right to equal protection, whether or not they were wanted.

I am unapologetically pro-life. While I will admit there are gray areas in the pro-life/pro-choice debate, I am so dumfounded by anyone who would be against the BAIPA that I can not in good conscience vote for such a person.

Everyone has to make choices and live with the consequences. I urge all my neighbors, and in particular all spiritual people, to consider this issue when casting their ballot. Make sure you are able to look yourself in the mirror, and live with the consequences of your selection.

MAYORAL DEBATE

FOUR NEIGHBOR ISLAND CANDIDATES PURE CLASS

Instead of splitting hairs about who has the closer relationship with Gov. Linda Lingle, maybe Mufi Hannemann and Ann Kobayashi should take a lesson from the Neighbor Island mayoral candidates. Bernard Carvalho, JoAnn Yukimura, Angel Pilago and Billy Kenoi were pure class, sticking to the issues and addressing each other with mutual respect.

Don't throw around words like "pono" and "aloha" and then waste precious debate time resorting to character attacks.

Such may be the nature of politics, but Kaua'i and the Big Island have shown us that the aloha spirit can still rise above.