ADVANCES MEAN GIFT CAN BRING LONG LIFE

Your editorial ("Donors can provide priceless gift of life," Aug. 11) coincided with the news of the death of the longest-living heart transplant.

Tony Huesman died of cancer at age 51, 30 years after receiving a heart transplant.

Potential organ donors should realize that transplant recipients can now lead long and productive lives thanks to advances in transplant medicine.

Michael Bornemann, M.D. | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

REAL REFORM HAS STRONG PUBLIC OPTION

If the health reform legislation passed by Congress does not include a strong public option, it will actually not be health "reform" at all. All Americans deserve to be able to have access to health care. The only people who are happy with our current expensive and labyrin-thine health care industry are the insurance companies, the drug companies and the lawmakers who have been bought off by these companies.

Hawai'i's congressional members have pledged to vote against health reform that lacks a strong public option, and they are to be commended for this. Anything without a public option isn't real reform.

"Triggers" have been proposed as a method to enact health care reform if the health care industry does not "reform itself" in a certain period of time. These "triggers" are actually attempts to kill health care reform. This is a delaying tactic, and its intent is to kill health care reform. If the healthcare industries truly wanted to reform, they would have done so by now.

"Co-ops" are another unacceptable compromise, because co-ops are too small to have a national effect. Our members of Congress should not support co-ops, either.

Judy Vincent, M.D. | Kailua

COUNCILMAN DJOU

HEALTH CARE STANCE PROVES 'NO' FIXATION

In his commentary about health care (Sept. 8), Councilman Djou once again validates why he should be called Councilman 'A'ole. His position on virtually any issue is to vote no, or against, if it does not conform to the Republican Party official position. No originality, no independent thought.

One has to ask if he believes that the health care bill contains "death panel" wording — or if he agreed with the Republican generated controversy about the president's talk to students, or if he agrees with those who believe that Barack Obama was not born in Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA.

Despite his "no" fixation, Councilman No is a bright guy, so let's keep him here in Hawai'i rather than share him with the rest of the country next year when he runs for the U.S. House.

Robert S. Sandla | Honolulu

FILM OFFICE

DISREGARD FOR SPECIALISTS IS LUNACY

The statement in the (Sept. 4) article, by Ted Liu, that "film office functions will be performed by other staffers or shared with other state departments and the counties" and that "the state can no longer afford specialists like Dawson and her staff" is sheer madness on top of the other madness in the news about the state's budget lately.

To disregard and potentially dismiss the expertise and sophistication needed to work with the film industry, with which I am somewhat familiar, is absolute lunacy. Keep the right people on the job. Smart management calls for keeping the right people in key positions, especially those that generate revenue. Please put any politics aside and keep what's been working so well for our state: all current personnel in the Hawai'i state Film Office.

Lora Williams | Kane'ohe

STATE BUDGET

HIKE TAXES BUT DON'T CUT VITAL SERVICES

Between the governor's refusal to consider tax hikes, the Legislature's reluctance to take significant action and the union's delay tactics, the state is on a penny-wise, pound-foolish path to dealing with our present fiscal crisis. Steps like slashing library and school budgets, eliminating agricultural inspections, refusing federal stimulus money that requires matching state funds, and ending health care for life-threatening conditions ultimately hurt more than they help. Now is not the time to cut essential services.

I am a state worker — a librarian. I believe the purpose of government is to provide services that benefit society. Like others, I may face a significant loss of salary, yet I am prepared to pay higher taxes to prevent essential services from being slashed.

I encourage readers to speak up: Valuable services cost money — and we all suffer when they are cut. I also hope that, in these demoralizing times, when government workers are often portrayed as leeches on society, you will take the time to acknowledge and thank us for our service. Thanks won't solve the serious problems we face — but they help us get through the day.

Victoria G. Dworkin | Kailua

BIKING SAFETY

WHY CAN'T LIFESAVING BILL BE ADVANCED?

If you had the power to put a few words on paper and possibly save a life, would you use that power? Apparently our City Council — by deferring Bill 64, CD1, requiring that a motor vehicle maintain 3 feet of space when overtaking a bicycle — was unable to step up to the task.

I don't understand why such a simple idea can't be moved forward. The law would be difficult to enforce, obviously, yet the language alone can do the trick.

Put the idea in people's minds, and they will think about it. Perhaps just enough to allow a few seconds of time and look for a safer moment to pass. All this at no cost to the taxpayers. What a deal. A safer road, a better place, for free. HPD and the deputy city prosecutor were there, and pointed out that the bill would not make their jobs any harder. So what is the downside?

The council, the state and the city have all agreed that bicycles are to be part of our transportation future, and have said they want Hawai'i to "bike friendly." The voters have said so, too. So here is your chance. For free.

Nick Blank | Honolulu