ACHIEVEMENT CRISIS ELICITS LITTLE REACTION

"Crisis." That is how educators in the Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i describe the condition of mathematics education in Hawai'i's public schools ("State's math scores still lag," Aug. 17).

"Pretty shocking," says the executive director of the Hawai'i Preschool to Age 20 Initiative, commenting on the fact that only 16 percent of the students entering the University of Hawai'i system in the fall of 2007 scored well enough to enroll in a beginning college math course.

The DOE's response was underwhelming, far below the magnitude of the problem. It's as if the weather bureau is warning the public that a hurricane is imminent, the wind has already picked up speed, and it's raining hard. But the DOE is continuing to prepare for "mostly sunny, trade winds 5 to 15 mph, and occasional mauka showers."

The truth is that the DOE is creating the hurricane by not educating our children adequately. As a result, most of them will face bleak job prospects when they enter the workforce. This poorly uneducated workforce will be able to support only a weak economy characterized by a preponderance of low-wage jobs.

That is the economic hurricane that is imminent.

John Kawamoto | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

VOTERS, REMEMBER ISLE DELEGATES' ACTION

It is shameful how our Hawai'i congressional delegation is hiding behind e-mails and staff answering phone calls during this important health care debate while the vast majority of congressmen and senators from other states are holding town hall meetings to get their constituents' opinions.

Remember this when making a decision on who should best represent our state as governor and congressional representatives in the next election. Will they truly represent the best interests of the state of Hawai'i or their own?

Craig Meyers | 'Aiea

KUDOS TO LINGLE FOR OPPOSING PROPOSAL

I am writing in response to Jerry Burris' Aug. 12 column, which criticized Gov. Lingle for speaking about the fears and concerns most Americans have about President Obama's and Nancy Pelosi's health care reform proposals.

Americans recognize that the public option included in this legislation will result in the demise of private health insurance and in severe rationing of health care, especially for senior citizens. They also realize that decreasing reimbursement to physicians and hospitals will compel many of them to cease providing vital services, resulting in increasing morbidity and mortality for millions of Americans.

As a senior citizen, I am frightened because the proposed legislation contains funding for "comparative effective research," which means limiting care based on a patient's age, so that I and other seniors will be denied life-extending procedures. Current legislation makes it illegal for doctors to provide treatments beyond those approved by a panel of bureaucrats.

I would like to commend Gov. Lingle for her opposition to a health care system that would have the efficiency of the Postal Service, and the empathy of the Internal Revenue Service.

Philip D. Hellreich, M.D. | Kailua

UNIONS

FAT CATS DON'T CARE ABOUT MEMBERS

Regarding "Union view: State layoffs no solution" in Sunday's (Aug. 16) paper.

The commentary was typical of the union leaders caring nothing about their members, only themselves.

These "fat cats" do not care about the members they serve. If they really cared they would have accepted the proposed furloughs. Now their members will suffer from mass layoffs.

The cold reality is that the governor may end up laying off more than 4,000 union workers because the "seniority bumping system" will not achieve the savings the state is looking for.

Steven Sofos | Honolulu

FAR RIGHT

VOTERS MUST STAND UP TO LIES, HATE

I am writing to respond to Mark Litchman's letter in the Aug. 14 issue.

I believe you are very correct, Mr. Litchman. The far right is controlling the GOP. Let us not forget that people like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and the hate groups that they have aligned themselves with are constantly going from state to state to fight against any state legislature that passes any law allowing gay civil unions, domestic partner-ships or full gay marriage.

I agree with you, Mr. Litchman, that middle America does value "love versus hate, diversity ... clear separation between church and state," and equality.

But the Limbaughs, the Becks and their hate groups and religious groups want to change the opinions of middle Americans by spreading their anti-gay myths and lies. When will we stand up and just say, "Stop lying to us!"?

I can only hope that when it comes time to make decisions regarding these civil rights issues that the voters are able to ignore the lies being passed off as facts.

Lee Garrow | Lahaina, Maui

BAYFEST

CHAOS SURROUNDING CONCERT AMAZING

I listened and read with interest about the chaos pertaining to BayFest. First of all, it amazes me that so many people, in this day and age, have the money to purchase the tickets. And then they were expected to be at the base hours and hours before it opens due to security reasons.

Let it be it a lesson that festivals such as this be left to the "civilians" and not the military. Whose smart idea is it to have rock festivals such as this be held at a military base?

Rosita Sipirok-Siregar | Makakilo

DRIVING ETIQUETTE

MORE ALOHA SEEN ON THE MAINLAND

I recently traveled to Chicago to see Shane Victorino as well as the PGA championship. I drove 1,700 miles, and it is aloha when people drive in the slow lane; in Hawai'i people drive in the fast lane no matter what. Other drivers pull to the slow lane to let you pass and then return to the fast lane.

Call it aloha or call it etiquette but we need some drivers like that in Hawai'i, not drivers who merge onto the freeway and hold up traffic while they merge to the fast lane and hold everyone up.

Hale Freitas | Honolulu

HURRICANE FUND

KEEP FUND FOR USE IT WAS CREATED FOR

We're fortunate that the last few hurricanes have avoided our state. It's imperative that our hurricane fund is used for what it was created for and not used to "balance the budget" or for any other purposes. Do not raid it and create another tax for us in the future. We are already taxed to the max.

Matthew Hee | Honolulu