FINANCIAL CRISIS

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM IS A JOKE

The governor's economic stimulus program is a joke.

When is the economy in trouble and when are people losing their jobs? Now.

When does the stimulus take effect? The projects will be put out to bid by September 2009 and awarded by June 2010. That's assuming the city comes through with building permits. This is the best our government can do?

We have too many bureaucrats, rules, impact statements and other nonsense in the way of any effective stimulus.

Where is Frank Fasi when we really need him?

CAMPAIGN FINANCING

ONLY LOCAL DONATIONS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED

Efforts to control campaign spending will work when lawmakers recognize that candidates should accept contributions only from individuals who can cast a vote for them. What democratic principle is served by letting outsiders buy local elections?

TRANSPORTATION

BUS SYSTEM CONFUSING, LATER BUSES NEEDED

I'm a 20-year-old student from Switzerland. I have been in Honolulu (Manoa) for one month and will stay four more.

In general I really love Hawai'i and its lifestyle. It's very different from my country.

But there are some things that could be arranged better.

At first, it was really hard for me to get used to the bus system here. The buses aren't on time, there are so many bus stops, it's so cold in the buses and it's difficult to figure out which bus leaves from which bus stop.

But the most important thing for me is that in some places the last bus leaves before 9 p.m.

Also, if you just go out for dinner, you need to take a taxi, which is not really cheap. If you want avoid this, you have to return before 9 p.m., which is very early.

If you don't have a car, your options are limited and you are dependent on the bus.

Especially on weekdays, there should be buses until midnight, including for valleys like Manoa.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LENGTHEN SCHOOL DAY AND ENRICH EDUCATION

Am I the only one mystified as to why our school system releases our children at 2:30 p.m. or 3 p.m., only to have them go to after-school daycare or be latchkey children returning to unsupervised home situations?

Why is it that our school day does not reflect the average workday so that our children are making constructive use of their time?

It is true we would have to hire more teachers. But by doing so, we might be able to put music, dance, art or gym back into the school day. The regular teachers could use the hours the children are in alternative classes to do their grading and lesson planning so that their workload is not greatly increased.

We have a desperate need to invest in our children's education. Let's think outside the box and solve not only the after-school care problem, but enrich the education of our children as well.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

LOAN PROGRAM COULD BOOST SOLAR HEATING

With the eventual return of high oil prices guaranteed, Hawai'i does not have a moment to lose in the race for reliable alternative energy. It is critical that the next legislative session focus on alternative energy, in particular, solar energy.

Solar hot-water technology is unique because it allows households to heat their own water without using energy generated through fossil fuels, thus taking a strain off of the electrical grid.

However, there is one major problem with solar — it is expensive to buy and install, meaning that money-saving technology is out of reach for many of Hawai'i's families. While current tax breaks help, the high up-front cost of solar remains a daunting barrier.

To help remedy this, I propose that the state Legislature allocate resources for a "solar loan" pilot program that would provide low-interest loans to residential households to buy and install solar water-heating technology. This would generate jobs and put independence within reach for many of Hawai'i's households.

Best of all, the loans could be paid back with money saved on monthly electric bills through using solar. Eventually, installing these systems would result in a net gain for the homeowner.

Getting every home on O'ahu to heat its own water would be a big step forward for energy independence, and would do more for saving energy than any other single step. I suggest we start now.

CEDED LANDS

DIFFICULT TO ATTACH MORALS TO GOVERNMENT

Your Island Voices column on Dec. 18, "Ceded land stance ignores moral obligation" by Lawrence K. Araki, was interesting. He commented on Dave Shapiro's Dec. 10 column in which he presented a "pragmatic legalistic perspective" on the ceded lands issue.

Mr. Araki then presented a moral perspective, saying our society has a "moral obligation" to do something about the matter.

I find it very difficult to attach morals to anything other than an individual. I cannot see a government having a moral obligation. Individuals in government can and do have such, but they obviously feel no duty to have the government keep earlier promises or otherwise have morals.

Thus I read Mr. Araki's request for government action and wonder what he considers his own, personal moral duty. Or is he calling for government to act to ease his own conscience? If so, that is cheap — also easy and probably ineffective.

We should all remember that government cannot give anything without first taking it from you, me and Mr. Araki. And it does so whether we like it or not, or whether it is moral or not.

MIDDLE CLASS

CONGRESS MUST ACT TO PROTECT WORKER RIGHTS

The American middle class is disappearing. Wages have stagnated, healthcare and other costs are out of control and no one in Congress seems to notice.

Hard-working men and women should have the ability to come together as a union and bargain collectively for healthcare benefits, a pension plan and safe working conditions. Major corporations pay their CEOs millions of dollars, and pad their salaries with millions of dollars in bonuses, but actively work against workers' basic benefits.

In fact, working Americans who try to organize and bargain collectively are often coerced, harassed, intimidated or fired for their efforts. That shouldn't be the case, and the Employee Free Choice Act would stop this sort of thing once and for all.

The Employee Free Choice Act would prevent major corporations from bullying their workers, and bring democracy into the workplace by recognizing a simply majority of organized workers.

The Employee Free Choice Act was blocked by Republicans before. Let's hope that the new Congress will move to protect American workers again.

AH QUON MCELRATH

NO DOUR SOCIAL CRITIC, BUT FUN AND ENGAGING

After arriving in Hawai'i in 1976 to work as a reporter, I called Ah Quon McElrath to interview her. I introduced myself as Walter Wright of The Ho-nolulu Advertiser.

"Walter — is that you?" Yes. "The same Walter Wright who was here in the '30s?" No, that would be my dad. "You are Walter Wright's son?"

By her account, she seems to have been swept at least partly off her feet by this dashing teenager who, she said, sailed into town quoting the great poets of the day and going on long moonlit horseback rides through Kapi'olani Park with our heroine, AQ.

The memory reminds me of something few have noted. She was fun.

For a champion of justice, for a "secular saint," for a committed leftist radical, she was an uncharacteristically happy reformer. No dour social critic here, but an engaging person who smiled more often than she frowned.

Many disagreed with her positions, but I don't think she had an enemy. And she was smart. She seemed to have a lust for intellect, and when she found it in another person, she glowed.

I miss her more and more each day. I miss her, I miss the idea of her, and I miss her memories.