SENIORS NEED REAL INFO ON MEDICARE

It is hard to understand why the good news of this proposed medical care reform is having such a hard time reaching seniors. Once again it needs to be stated Medicare will be enhanced by cutting down paperwork and adding procedures that are focused on continuing well-being and prevention. Medicare benefits will not be cut.

Doing nothing is a sure prescription for the ultimate collapse of our medical care system.

Mary Wilkinson | Honolulu

PHONE CONFERENCE ISN'T REAL DISCUSSION

I received an automated call from AARP inviting me to a telephone conference with U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono to discuss the health care reform bill that is moving through the House.

Personally, I am in favor of some basic health reform, but I am concerned with the cost of such a program — since most other government programs are sold with seriously questionable projected costs.

It struck me that both of our representatives passed up the chance to have a real discussion with their constituents. Instead they hid behind the skirts of the AARP (which is sympathetic to the reform proposed by the Democrats). The telephone format assures that there will be no public confrontations that would make the newspapers or evening news (wouldn't want to see the "false" concerns of the Astroturf crazies — or perhaps some real grassroots concern). The telephone format also provided for the AARP to screen questions for presentation to the representatives.

I hung up in disgust, since the format provided no real venue for a meaningful discussion.

Reps. Abercrombie and Hirono, why won't you stay in Hawai'i and hold some real town-hall meetings?

Nicholas Nagel | Honolulu

COST FOR ELEVATED SYSTEM WELL WORTH IT

The West O'ahu Economic Development Association is a nonprofit organization composed of more than 80 businesses dedicated to supporting the economic growth of the fastest-growing region in the state. WOEDA has been and continues to be an ardent supporter of rail transit.

We believe that it will play a vital role in the economic development of the region by connecting Leeward O'ahu with Honolulu and will enable the orderly growth of Kapolei as a secondary urban center.

The added cost to build an elevated rail system is well worth the investment, particularly when considering the future growth of the West O'ahu region. Elevated trains will not be slowed by traffic congestion and will not be stopped by red lights; automotive traffic won't be slowed by an elevated rail system.

An elevated system also provides more flexibility in design and expansion because the length of the trains will not be constrained by the length of a city block.

Trains traveling 30 to 40 feet above ground will deliver a fast, frequent, reliable system that will transport people between Kapolei and Honolulu in the shortest amount of time and on schedule, contributing to an improved business climate and quality of life. West O'ahu businesses and residents deserve no less.

Roy Yonaoshi | President, WOEDA

SPECIAL FORCES MAKE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS

A recent letter writer recognized that the U.S. effort in Afghanistan is not a conventional one, pointing out that guerrilla warfare should be conducted primarily by our special operations forces. This is certainly recognized by everyone from the president on down, and special forces, including the SEAL Team based here, are heavily committed.

Commanders and politicians recognized some time ago that the bang-for-the-buck is much greater using these highly-trained small units where applicable, as opposed to massive bombing, missiles, or large troop buildups. As a result, our Hawai'i SEALs and others are under a lot of pressure and routinely do back-to-back operations into some of the most challenging terrain and conditions imaginable. You don't hear much about it, because that is the nature of such activity.

Recently, we all were impressed by the SEAL snipers who ended a piracy standoff. Another operation is memorialized at Red Wings Park (formerly Triangle Park) on Diamond Head. These and other dangerous operations go on all the time, and our guys do get hurt and killed. Often, traditional resources to aid injured SEALs or their families fall short, and the Naval Special Warfare Foundation steps in. To learn more go to our local Web site: www.USNavySEALFoundation.org.

Brian Barbata | Director, Naval Special Warfare Foundation-Hawai'i

MAYOR WORKED TO AVERT POSTPONEMENT

I just wanted to set the record straight on the Aug. 26 Advertiser article "Urban Honolulu, Windward areas will join curbside recycling Nov. 2."

The story states that "City officials earlier this year proposed postponing introducing the program to the remaining neighborhoods, as a means of helping balance a revenue-challenged operating budget. But City Council members found money elsewhere to cover the budget and were able to preserve the current schedule for expanding curbside recycling."

The facts were transposed. The truth of the matter is that some members of the City Council tried to postpone the expansion of islandwide curbside recycling by chopping the funding for the final phase. The $6 million was restored to the budget after Mayor Mufi Hannemann went to bat for an initiative that he strongly supports.

When Mayor Hannemann took office in 2005, there was no city curbside recycling program. Today, the city is well on its way toward further reducing the amount of trash that goes to the landfill, and is making sure that the Leeward Coast will not be left out come May 2010.

Markus Owens | Department of Environmental Services