ATHLETICS FAVORED OVER ACADEMICS

The University of Hawaii's infrastructure is crumbling, with Gartley Hall recently being evacuated by the Psychology Department because the building is about to collapse.

And yet, where did the Athletics Department find the dough to improve its complex of buildings and fields? What are our priorities as far as academics and athletics are concerned? Why do we seem to favor brawn over brains?

OK, that is simplistic, but it sure seems that way.

Football coach Greg McMackin is paid $1.1 million per year and is the highest-paid state employee, making more than the UH president and the governor combined. With a so-so record, does he deserve such a high salary?

Well, it really doesn't matter what you or I think. The fact of the matter is that people tend to love whatever makes them happy and makes them forget their troubles — even if it's just for an hour or two. And they are willing to pay for it.

So we donate and allocate money to what we love and makes us feel good.

That's why professional athletes and movie stars are paid megabucks. That's not so surprising, after all, is it?

GLENDA CHUNG HINCHEY | Honolulu

GAMBLING

LEGALIZATION WOULD NOT BENEFIT ECONOMY

No one could have discussed the problems and difficulties of legalizing gambling in Hawaii as well as David Shapiro (Volcanic Ash, Nov. 25).

The declining revenues are no excuse to open the door to any kind of gambling.

He reminded us that Nevada is in a worse fiscal state than we are, according to a study by the Pew Center. Imagine Waikíkí with casinos and slots everywhere. Even then, we could not equal the benefits Las Vegas gives in entertainment and glitz.

We stress, in the Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, that money spent on gambling here by residents and visitors would not be spent in businesses that produce goods and services, often causing bankruptcies.

Corruption is another serious matter, according to our police and prosecuting attorney Peter Carlisle.

It is always important to look beneath the surface when urging important changes in our laws — examine carefully the effects, not only the promised benefits.

GRACE FURUKAWA | Secretary, Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM PROCEEDS?

David Shapiro's take on gambling focuses on the wrong end of the stick.

Gambling is a cash business, so many Native American tribes were able to quickly provide electricity, indoor plumbing, paved roads, sewer systems, hospitals, schools, etc., to their tribal members.

Unlike the Principality of Monaco, some tribes used gaming revenue to purchase adjacent or ancestral lands as well as sacred sites.

However, some English-speaking, Christian tribes followed the Wall Street standard of leaders using gaming proceeds to enrich and entertain themselves, leaving tribal members destitute, with acute problems in unemployment, addiction, crime, etc. These tribes continue going cap in hand for government bailouts.

So the question isn't whether gaming would transform Hawaii into a Las Vegas (why not Monaco?), but whether Hawaii legislators would use gaming proceeds to make Hawaii a better place for our grandchildren to live, or would they use the money to enrich and entertain themselves, and put our grandchildren out in the street?

I don't think that is a difficult question for anyone to answer. Do you?

RICO LEFFANTA | Honolulu

FURLOUGHS

USING HOLIDAYS AN OBVIOUS SOLUTION

In 2010 there are 15 paid holidays for state, city and county workers. Why can't these days be used as nonpaid days off to take the place of furlough Fridays? There will be no disruption of service as they are scheduled days off and kids will not miss school. When times get better, paid holidays can be restored as appropriate.

This concept can be applied to all state workers. For those workers who must work on holidays, they can be paid time and a half for their work. Not the double time and a half that is now paid to them (regular day's pay plus time and a half for work performed on a holiday). This will not solve the budget crisis; however, it will go a long way toward keeping our children in school. It boggles the mind that this idea has not been visited/implemented.

D. EARL HOOPER | Kailua

RAIL TRANSIT

WRECK OF A PROJECT CAN STILL BE AVOIDED

Ben Cayetano's essay brilliantly connects the dots to reveal how ugly Hawaii's rail project already is and how much uglier it will become unless this runaway train is stopped before it crashes ("Rail system still faces many hurdles," Nov. 27).

The problems include blatant disregard for law, glaring conflicts of interest, and the triumph of hope and political ambition over evidence and experience.

Mayor Mufi continues to whistle his happy tune, but the truth is that this project is an exceedingly unhealthy cocktail of underestimated costs, overestimated revenues, undervalued environmental impacts and overvalued economic benefits.

There is still time to say no.

DAVID T. JOHNSON | Kailua

CHRISTMAS

APPRECIATING GIFTS IS IN SPIRIT OF SEASON

I just got several wish lists from some friends on what they want for Christmas. When I asked them about it, they simply said, "If I don't like it, I don't want it!"

It's sad to see how society does not appreciate a gift. Isn't a gift given from the heart, with time taken to look for, purchase and then wrap it for a friend? There is a saying, "It's not the gift, but the thought that counts." Somehow we have lost this perspective and made gift-giving all about me. And with this mentality, how can we appreciate more important gifts like work, family, friendship and freedom?

In the spirit of Christmas, let's appreciate all gifts that are given to us.

ALAN KIM | 'Aiea