CHARTER SCHOOL RALLY

APPALLED STUDENTS COULDN'T MEET BAKER

It is appalling that charter schools do not receive equal funding as it is, but to decrease the amount per student is ludicrous. And the fact that charter schools receive no funding for facilities, operation, maintenance and equipment makes it even worse.

This injustice cannot be allowed. We took a group of students to protest at the state Capitol, to show them how to become involved in the democratic process.

After the rally, a group of students went up to Sen. Rosalyn Baker's office to speak with her. Sen. Baker, who is the chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, did not give the students any of her time.

Instead, she remained in her office speaking with a reporter, and called to be escorted to a legislative session.

I was appalled, because these students prepared to speak with her. For some, that was their first impression of a legislator. Is this the message we want to send to these kids? I would hope not.

$1 REBATE

JUST OVERWHELMED BY LEGISLATIVE GENEROSITY

I wish to publicly thank the Democrat-controlled Legislature for its generosity and big heartedness. That dollar you're returning to me will go a long way to help me pay my bills. Much mahalo.

In fact, I'm so grateful I'd like to dedicate a song to that same Legislature, preferably a song that sums up my true feelings. Hey, how about that old Captain & Tennille tune, "Do it to me one more time."

KAUA'I SERVICE

SUPERFERRY STATEMENT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE

I was appalled at the arrogance in the recent statement by the chairman of People For The Preservation Of Kaua'i. In the March public hearing on the environmental impact statement, Rich Hoeppner said he could guarantee if the Superferry comes back to Kaua'i it would never get to its dock.

Hello? Are we not beyond this vehement opposition to the Superferry by now?

Legislation has been passed that allows the Superferry to come to Kaua'i.

To guarantee a blockade of the Superferry by people on surfboards and in canoes flies in the face of such legislation. It also promotes unlawful acts by those few ultra-conservatives on Kaua'i who will embrace such a brazen statement. These few will attempt to block Nawiliwili harbor when the Superferry returns.

I believe in free speech, but one cannot just say whatever he wants without let or hindrance. For a high-profile individual such as Mr. Hoeppner to make such an irresponsible statement is reprehensible. It is akin to inciting a riot and he should be held responsible, but of course he won't be.

TRANSIT

ISSUE: RAIL; DIAGNOSIS: POLITICIANS' DISEASE

For many of you who've been following the "train" discussion, it's been an exasperating experience. Don't blame yourself.

I was doing some research into this phenomenon, and uncovered a well known but little-diagnosed psychological condition that only afflicts politicians. It is called meno-makenosense. There is no cure.

If you are confused after a politician speaks, it's probably meno-makenosense.

For example:

"We need to do something about traffic. Let's build a train — which we agree won't do anything about traffic."

"We stand by our rail-transit decisions. That's why we are paying a committee to make decisions for us. Blame them if you don't like it."

"To maximize ridership, we will start in an empty field in Kapolei and go to Waipahu."

"Since a lot of people go to the airport, UH and Waikiki — the train will not go there."

"We want a quiet, modern, high-tech system. That's why we want steel wheels on a steel track, just like in the cowboy days."

"We can't think of anything better to do with gazillions of dollars except build a train. Alternatives? Sewers? Potholes? Park maintenance? Nah."

Diagnosis confirmed.

CONTRACT AWARD

LINGLE ADVISER RESORTS TO PERSONAL ATTACKS

The governor's senior adviser, Linda Smith, recently chose to publicly and personally attack the motives of the chairwoman of the Special Senate Investigative Committee responsible for investigating the inappropriate awarding of a $10 million hydrogen fund management contract.

Ms. Smith's intemperate and ill-advised remarks appear indicative of a recurring theme: Deny the responsibility, evade the questions and attack the messenger.

It is beyond dispute that this procurement process was poorly handled, with evidence of improper manipulation. Three companies submitted proposals. Evaluators independently reviewed and assigned numerical scores to each. However, rather than award the contract to the highest-scoring bidder as required by the procurement code, Ted Liu, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, selected the lowest-scoring company. The state's chief procurement officer stated the decision was inappropriate, without historical basis and contrary to the procurement code.

The committee's goal is to determine if the process was improperly manipulated to select a predetermined winning contractor and propose corrective actions as needed. The question before the committee has nothing to do with whether or not Ms. Smith believes Mr. Liu supports the development of alternative energy.

The public deserves to know what happened. We need to get past the administration's obfuscation and find the truth.