GOV. LINGLE

WILL CAMPAIGNING BE IN OUR BEST INTERESTS?

It's hard to believe that Gov. Linda Lingle would authorize a state employee (other than herself) to campaign for a presidential candidate in six states on anything than their own personal time.

Will her campaigning really represent Hawai'i's best interests? Will the few words she'll be able to get in have any real impact on Hawai'i's welfare — or even be memorable? Or will her campaigning really serve her own, personal political ambitions?

If Hawai'i were clearly lobbying for McCain/Palin — which we're not — even that fact wouldn't mitigate the self-serving devotion of time to anything other than her gubernatorial duties — and responsibilities as an employee of the state.

If she wants to go, let it be on her vacation time, not on ours.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

ASSURANCES ARE NEEDED IN RETURN FOR BAILOUT

Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson is asking for $700 billion. That's $2,333 from every man, woman and child in the United States.

In exchange for that money, Paulson is unwilling to accept any demands to make markets more transparent or assist homeowners fighting foreclosure. The sole purpose of that $700 billion is to bail out Wall Street and only Wall Street, but not to fix it or our larger economy.

He is asking to be unbound by any law when he spends that money. Here's a sample of the language the Bush administration is proposing:

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

Here's more language that allows the Fed to hire anyone and give them any status, and not only can no one do anything about, no one will even know about it:

"The Secretary is authorized to take such actions as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the authorities in this Act, including, without limitation entering into contracts, including contracts for services authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to any other provision of law regarding public contracts."

Does this sound like a bad deal to anyone else? If the U.S. taxpayers can put up more money to bail out Wall Street, we should at least receive some assurances in return.

PUBLIC MUST FACE NEED FOR ENTITLEMENT CUTS

It's too early to tell yet, but we may have just dodged a bullet with the federal government's bailout of the U.S. financial structure.

This crisis was brought upon us by the greed and corruption at all levels: homebuyers and speculators who took on far more than they could afford, mortgage brokers who stoked the flames for commissions, over-leveraged investment banks and, most shamefully, by politicians of both political parties who either looked the other way or actively fought attempts to limit high-risk home mortgages and rein in out-of-control financial institutions.

So now the festival of blame will begin, but almost certain to be ignored by our elected public servants is the literal tsunami that will hit this country when the staggering, unsustainable costs of Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs reach critical mass.

Unless we institute a range of entitlement cuts and caps, payroll tax increases, and strict limits on all federal spending, we, in the not-too-distant future, are going to see a much-greater credit collapse. There will be no one to bail us out from what is coming.

Assigning blame then will be easy. A glance in the bathroom mirror will do the job for the American electorate, because we, as voters, will have allowed our country and our children's birthright to be destroyed in exchange for our politicians' promise that we can indefinitely go on living and spending beyond our means.

E-MAIL CONTROVERSY

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO JOHNSON IS

I am writing because I want to tell people about my father, Rex Johnson. The way he has been portrayed on the news lately is not the person I know.

Those people who are portraying him as a racist or sexist, it's pretty obvious that they don't know him. Never in all my 13 years have I seen him look down upon someone because of their race or gender. All my life, my father has taught me that no matter what your race, we all have the right to be treated equally and that we shouldn't judge people, especially ones we don't know. This is something I have learned from him.

My father made a mistake and he has admitted, apologized and has taken full responsibility for his actions. This is what he has always taught me to do.

He has been reprimanded and penalized. I have made mistakes, apologized and been forgiven. He taught me that the most important thing is that you learn from your mistakes and you don't repeat them again.

I am proud of my father; he is a good, honest and hardworking person. There is no reason to have this drag on and on. It's just plain mean.

Everyone should stop and look inside of themselves to see what their true motives are.

GOVERNMENT DEFICIT

HOUSE WILL LEAD ROLE IN STATE'S BUDGET CRISIS

Your editorial of Sept. 16, "Deficit strategy to test Lingle's leadership, mettle," makes some good points about the state budget "crisis," but lays the burden on Gov. Linda Lingle to lead us through the projected shortfall.

The House of Representatives also will take a major leadership role and has the political will to make the tough decisions necessary to balance the budget, even if unpopular with segments of the community.

During the economic downturn of the late 1990s and early 2000s, we approved such controversial actions as reforming the public employees' health benefit system, instituting a public employees' payroll lag, and requiring the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to be financially self-sufficient through fees and charges imposed on regulated industries.

The House leadership is well aware that the budget will be the major issue facing state government. In responding to your Voter's Guide question of "what's the No. 1 piece of legislation you'd work to pass in 2009?" my response is: "I would work to pass an executive budget bill that is balanced yet provides sufficient resources for public health and safety and public education without imposing new taxes on residents or businesses."

Majority Floor Leader Blake Oshiro's response is: "A balanced budget that ensures and provides for the needs of my community."

House Finance Committee Chair Marcus Oshiro's response is: "A balanced, two-year state budget that prioritizes education and healthcare above all other important and essential services and government functions."

Vice Speaker Pono Chong's response is: "Tax reform. I want to adjust our tax system to more fairly treat local taxpayers."

The House of Representatives will take a leadership role, jointly with the governor and Senate, to enact a balanced budget that maintains essential public services and avoids a deficit.

HAMAKUA MARSH

FOCUS ON PROTECTION OF NATIVE SPECIES

I read with both encouragement and disappointment the Sept. 20 article, "State defends wild duck shootings at Kailua marsh."

I am encouraged that people are emotionally invested in the survival of animals in Hawai'i. Yet I am disappointed by which animals people often choose to support — invasive species rather than native species.

Hamakua Marsh is home to many native and endangered birds: the 'alae 'ula, ae'o, and the 'alae ke'oke'o. As we know (and kudos to the Department of Land and Natural Resources), invasive species out-compete native species for survival.

Rather than feeding, petting, and defending invasive ducks, maybe the concerned residents could learn more about the natural environment in which they live.

Maybe residents could even channel their affection for (invasive) animals into creating a community group focused on the protection of native birds in the area.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

JOGGERS SHOULD BE ON SIDEWALKS, NOT STREETS

Now that the Honolulu Marathon is almost here, there has been an upsurge in runners on their training runs — especially over the route in Kaimuki, Diamond Head and Kahala.

I saw three runners in the center of a lane nearly get run over by a car as the sun was rising on a recent morning.

Runners, stay off the street! The Honolulu Marathon is not on yet, so there are no police or motorcycles to protect you. You are not invincible, and you definitely should not be running on the street when there are sidewalks available.

Sometimes you will see whole packs of runners filling up an entire lane while nonchalantly jogging along. These runners also blithely run through red lights.

It's only going to get worse as we get closer to the marathon. So, joggers, for your safety and the safety of drivers, stay off the streets and stop at red lights.