FIND OUT WHAT WORKERS THINK

Why do the union leaders take it upon themselves to decide upon filing a lawsuit or petition against Gov. Lingle's furlough plan?

It would seem much more reasonable to poll the workers. Let's see what they think. Maybe they would be happier with three furlough days a month than no job.

Paul J. Sander | Honolulu

ISLAM DAY

SLOM JUST DOESN'T GET IT ON HOLIDAY

I was very offended after reading Sen. Sam Slom's June 9 commentary on Islam Day. It's clear from the justification he gives for his vote against the holiday that he "just doesn't get it." Is recognizing Independence Day "insensitive" to the native Americans who were allied to the British? Isn't commemorating Easter and Christmas "insensitive" to descendants of the thousands of non-Christians who were murdered by European "crusaders" in the name of Christ?

Perhaps Slom would feel better if the state eliminated all holidays from its calendar. After all, the very word means "holy day" and we must ensure the separation of church and state, right?

Matthew Lum | Honolulu

DUKE BAINUM

CLEAR, INDEPENDENT VOICE WILL BE MISSED

Hawai'i has suffered a great loss with the death of Duke Bainum. A gifted man, who despite his family wealth decided to devote his life to make Hawai'i a better place. He forged his own way politically without aligning himself with the political establishment.

He seemed to be a man without personal agendas, much less, vendettas. Although unfairly smeared in the waning days in his bid for mayor, he never cried foul as lesser men would have. His clear, independent voice will be missed.

Joe Hilton | Honolulu

ELECTIONS

MAYOR SHOULD NOT RUN FOR GOVERNOR

Mayor Hannemann, please consider not entering the governor's race.

Neil Abercrombie and Gary Hooser together would make such a difference in moving us into the future that we so need. Renewable energy and food security are two of the biggest challenges our state faces. I know they are committed to these issues. Please don't make Neil spend all his campaign funding just to get through the primaries. If the Democrats can get unified behind Neil this early in the process, we'll be unstoppable. Divided we fall.

Maury King | Kihei, Maui

SWINE FLU

PREVENTION PLANNING FAILURES ARE EVIDENT

Based on what I read in your May 29 article, it's obvious that the state is woefully unprepared for a pandemic.

The fact that the state has only 11 people assigned to stopping the spread of the swine flu is evidence that those responsible didn't do the necessary planning. Here you have a situation in which our leaders are supposedly prepared to fight a pandemic, but don't even have sufficient personnel assigned to that task. If the state had been ready to track down and stop the spread of the swine flu when the first few cases had been reported, it would have been very easy.

Shouldn't the state have considered how many people would be required to do the job two or three months ago?

Over the past year, we've seen state leaders such as the governor, the health department director and the state civil defense director spend an enormous amount of time talking about how prepared they are.

Now we find out they only have so few people assigned to the most basic tasks that would be required to successfully halt a pandemic in its tracks.

Justin Haas | North Kona, Hawai'i

KAKA'AKO

KEEP POLITICIANS OUT OF FREE MARKET

The Kaka'ako Mauka development under the Hawaii Community Development Authority's guidance over the past 25 years has produced little if any rejuvenation in the area. As a small landowner, my hands have been tied by the draconian requirements already imposed by HCDA rules. Apparently, the state feels that property owners are overburdened with money and should build housing for them when trying to rebuild on our land.

The result is what you see today, basically the same things you did 25 years ago, and while San Diego's Gas Lamp district and Portland's downtown developments are complete, Kaka'ako is still stuck on first base. Why? The continued interference by government in private property owners' economic decision-making and market forces. If you want to see affordable housing at its best, take a look at the stalled development on Kapi'olani Boulevard. There are no buyers for this type of housing, yet our ignorant Legislature wants to increase the build requirement for the area.

I planned to build on my lot, but the present HCDA restrictions make it economically impossible. The lesson here once again is to keep the politicians out of the free market.

B.W. Ho | Kaka'ako