COMMENTARY IGNORES, DISTORTS SCIENTIFIC DATA

"Global-warming agenda ignores scientific facts" (Nov. 2) contained errors, and, actually, ignored scientific facts. It cited recent U.S. cooling as evidence rising carbon dioxide does not cause global warming. This is like pointing to an empty H-1 at 3 a.m. and concluding we have no traffic problem. Global warming doesn't mean every spot on Earth is uniformly warming. It means average global temperature shows a long-term warming trend, a trend which has continued since 1998. Cooling in 2008 was from La Niña and a minimum in the 11-year sunspot cycle. Data of 2009 show cooling has ended. Climate fluctuations are expected, have occurred before, and are predicted by the same computer models that predict warming will continue.
The essay mentioned Milankovitch cycles and medieval warming. Milankovitch cycles guide timing and distribution of surface heating over tens of thousands of years with little relevance to climate change over decades. The reality of medieval warming is debated. Even supporters agree it was regional, not global in extent. Solar activity may influence climate, but the contribution to global warming was less than 10 percent over the 20th century and negligible since 1980.
The essay was an example of selective picking and distortion of scientific information to fit a pre-conceived agenda.

c. fletcher | Professor, University of Hawai'i-Manoa

HEALTH REFORM

CAN OUR POLITICIANS COPE WITH BUDGET?

We all know that Social Security and Medicare are on the verge of going broke. None of our politicians seem anxious to fix either program, but a lot of them want to start health reform. When health reform goes over budget, will our politicians have the guts to fix it?

Is it possible that there is $500 billion of waste and fraud in Medicare that we can use to pay for health reform? If that money is the tax we paid to Medicare, then it should stay in Medicare and not be used for anything else.

warren fukushima | Pearl City

FURLOUGHS

HOW WILL STUDENTS COMPETE GLOBALLY?

The Lingle administration has articulated a clear road map for economic growth and diversification by promoting science, technology, engineering and math education in our schools. Rather than rely on land development as a means of economic development, the governor promotes using innovation and knowledge to offer our youth a brighter future with jobs (e.g., researchers, designers, software developers) that pay livable wages.

By reducing the number of public school days from 180 to 163 days per year, this economic road map will be difficult to achieve. The average instructional days in Japan, China and South Korea all exceed 220 days, and both Canada and England exceed 187 days. With 60 fewer instructional days than Asian students and 24 fewer days than their Western counterparts, how will our public school students compete in this global economy?

Rep. Roy Takumi (Island Voices, Oct. 30) has the right idea with a short-term funding compromise, where everyone gives a little to benefit our children. By restoring class days and ensuring that public school teachers are applying best teaching practices in their classrooms, we can make education, innovation and creativity the drivers of Hawaii's economic future.

nadine k. nakamura | Kapaa, Kauai

GOVERNOR OPTED TO HANDICAP OUR KEIKI

Let's be clear about this. The reason why our kids won't be in school every Friday is because Republican Gov. Linda Lingle took the money President Obama and Congress appropriated for keeping them in school and spent it elsewhere.

Now you can say that keeping other state services operating and crippling our children was worth it. Other states didn't think so and kept their schools open. They adjusted. Gov. Lingle decided to handicap our children.

But, let's be clear: It was her decision. It was not the teachers, not the Board of Education or the union. It was Gov. Lingle's call. She is responsible. It is disgusting that she is now blaming everyone else now that Hawaii has become the poster state that does not care about its children or their future. Shame on her.

robert j. conlan | Wahiawä

HEALTH CARE

PUBLIC OPTION KEEPS TO FREE ENTERPRISE

Conservatives are spearheading opposition to a public option for health insurance. That's curious because conservatives are supposed to champion free enterprise. And even if there is a public option, there will still be private options. So if government runs a bad program, private insurance companies will prosper, won't they? We'll still be free to choose the public option or private ones. Therefore in the true spirit of free enterprise the best option will prevail, won't it? Why not leave the decision if a public option is best up to the consumers?

lunsford phillips | Kailua

B&BS

ILLEGAL OPERATORS ARE OUTNUMBERED

The debate on the proposed B&B bills at last Tuesday's City Council meeting appeared to have three major points of view.

Those in favor highlighted a homeowner's right to do whatever he or she feels is appropriate on private property, irrespective of the impact on neighbors. Those opposed stressed the need to enforce existing laws before opening a floodgate of B&B businesses in zoned residential and agricultural areas. The third perspective, from hotel labor unions, expressed concern regarding the loss of jobs.

Those who favored the proposed bill stated they were the majority, obviously an attempt to be rewarded by Bill 7's grandfather clause to legalize their current illegal operations. Really? Any smart politician can figure out that concerned citizens and displaced union workers far outnumber a small minority of two to three thousand illegal operators. Council members whose campaigns were not supported by members of the Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association recognized the self-serving actions of supporters of Bills 6 and 7. Common sense dictates that the council must first provide DP&P the authority and resources to regulate existing city ordinances before rezoning our residential and agricultural land into B&B business operations.

james b. gebhard | Kailua