Editorial | /2008/05/17/

Response to ALVIN about drug testing welfare recipents I thought about your suggestion but are you aware that more than 50% on welfare are substance abusers and also achoholics to boot. Teachers are in chage of educating our kiekis and should be tested, look ar our news lately to prov that just a small fraction of our teachers are involved with drugs. Most of our educaters are terrific and do not use or sale drugs, but a few have ruined the trust, so we can no longer take the chance of just trust alone. Thier job is to important to take anymore chances

Great letter, Hanohano!

HUV for HPD? Why not a few surplus F-15's? They would never be caught up in traffic, and could easily handle sppedeers and jay walkers as targets of opportunity. With a little planning, I imagine they could clear a path for Mufi's little choo-choo twain, eh?

Letter writer Tony Locascio is absolutely right. Protesting the war, if it leads to ending the war, is perhaps the best act of patriotism for those of us who are not in power or who have no influence over those who started and who continue the war.

Many of our greatest leaders have defended our right to protest, and have made it very clear that dissent is what keeps our country democratic.

One of my favorite quotes on the subject is from my Commander-in-Chief, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said: "May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."

Teddy Roosevelt, another great President, said: "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official..."

And remember Edward R. Murrow, everybody's champion? He said "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it."

Those who speak out; those who dissent; those who dare to stand up to the regime in power, are patriots and have the troops' best interest at heart. We all support the troops, but only those who dare to dissent seem willing to bring them home safely.

Others seem to believe that we must leave the troops over there so that more can be killed, and that to do otherwise somehow dishonors those who have already been killed in this illegal and immoral Bush-Curveball Iraq War. Duh!

Donna Kim complaining about campaign contributions for favors? The pot calling the kettle black? How about an investigation by our State Senate or the Attorney General or better yet the City Prosecutor on campaign contributions to Donna Kim when she was on the City Council? This was a big waste of time and another red herring by our do nothing State Senate who's real mission is to carry the water for the HGEA. If there is a criminal violation go ahead and prosecute and by the way look into a school in Kapolei that was built on a non-bid contract because it was unique and only one developer in Hawaii knew how to do it. Opps, I forgot, those monies went to democrats! How about investigating the 1998 gubernatorial campaign and how two democratic candidates clearly violated campaign contribution limits but not a peep from law and order Donna! Aah c'mon Donna for once author and pass a piece of legislation that will help the people of Hawaii and not your inflated ego. Or better yet run for a statewide office so the people of Hawaii can tell you how really popular you are like they did your buddy Clayton Hee when he ran for Congress a few years ago. Auwe

AUWE wrote:

Response to ALVIN about drug testing welfare recipents I thought about your suggestion but are you aware that more than 50% on welfare are substance abusers and also achoholics to boot. Teachers are in chage of educating our kiekis and should be tested, look ar our news lately to prov that just a small fraction of our teachers are involved with drugs. Most of our educaters are terrific and do not use or sale drugs, but a few have ruined the trust, so we can no longer take the chance of just trust alone. Thier job is to important to take anymore chances

So I guess if you want to laze around on the taxpayers dime just become a drug addict and you get the money we clean drug free working taxpayers were forced to give to the socialist gov't. Since it is "my" money "I" should be able to tell you how and where to spend it. ANd it is not at the "Meth R us store".

1. DRUG TESTS: Yes, welfare recipients should be required to take drug tests. If they're clean they have nothing to fear, but let's not let the teachers evade taking drug tests by dragging welfare recipents into this. If they want their raises, they should take the tests.

2. GAMBLING: Hawaii loses tens of millions in tax revenues every year, and tens of millions more in business generated, through our "partnership" with the people who run the gambling industry in Nevada. Our elected officials keep protect the interests of those who run illegal gambling here, while also ensuring that billions of dollars are taken out of our economy each year so that Nevada stays "green" and profitable. Nice work if you can get it!

so if they pass, they can get the money to buy the correct drugs?

but, if they don't; den what? let them eat cake?

Thanks, Keith, for your thoughtful words on Patriotism. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their ignorant followers have tarnished the word "Patriotism" that my ancestors knew from their Revolutionary War participation and before. GWB and DC, etc. have violated their oath to the Constitution, the Laws of America, International Law, and the Geneva Convention. They have undermined the UN which was established after the chaos of WWII to ensure that the actions of WWII did not happen again toward human beings. GWB, DC, and cohorts instead violated the rights of human beings in their stupid attack on Iraq, etc. If you are a "Patriot", then demand that Congress Impeach these War Criminals, Stop this War, and Bring the Troops Home Now. The only enemy that the American citizen needs fear is the one in our Government:Executive, Legislative, and Judicial and I would add Media who have played the misinformation role.

Pat is so right. Patriotism emans using American ideals to correct current actions. Bush is a horror as he allowed Bin Ladn's gang to win. We changed the way we lived, not Bin Ladn. We lost the war. But the bigger problem is to get America back on the right economic track. Cutting the bloated military budget bu $300,000,000 dollars needs to happen the end of imperialism needs to be ended. China, by the way, spends only %65,000,000 on their military. Bush sucker punched America.

ummmzezima..I do not think so. I am used to men with superior genes and a tazered soul. :)

AUWE wrote:

Response to ALVIN about drug testing welfare recipents I thought about your suggestion but are you aware that more than 50% on welfare are substance abusers and also achoholics to boot. Teachers are in chage of educating our kiekis and should be tested, look ar our news lately to prov that just a small fraction of our teachers are involved with drugs. Most of our educaters are terrific and do not use or sale drugs, but a few have ruined the trust, so we can no longer take the chance of just trust alone. Thier job is to important to take anymore chances

Perfectly said our teachers have our childrens care education safety in their hands They need to be drug tested

alan is right. I like him. He often seems thoughtful and sensitive.

alice wrote:

Pat is so right. Patriotism emans using American ideals to correct current actions. Bush is a horror as he allowed Bin Ladn's gang to win. We changed the way we lived, not Bin Ladn. We lost the war. But the bigger problem is to get America back on the right economic track. Cutting the bloated military budget bu $300,000,000 dollars needs to happen the end of imperialism needs to be ended. China, by the way, spends only %65,000,000 on their military. Bush sucker punched America.

i agree with a lot of your post but not this one. I guarentee you if Bin Laden had to do it all over again he would not have attacked the twin towers. Look what has happened a lot of his friends are dead he hides like a rat in caves in afganastan They froxe his assets not to mention the 100 s of thousands of afghans, Iraqi,s alkaida who have been killed
Whether or not you like Bush you are smart enough to know he could not have gone to war by himself and yes one of the main things I like about Obama is he doesnt say bush lied like a lot of lowly politicians who know good darn well a sitting senator / congressman has access to the exact same intellegence I dont think we are winning only because we are fighting an enemy who do not know when they have lost. We have killed 100s of 1000s so please dont say we lost we just cant win against this mindset they would rather be anilated than admit defeat

We lost hon by one defintion: who paid the greater price and whose life changed the most? Osama is NOT in a cave. he lives happily in a village in pakistan as Bush let him escape. America is broke and so twisted out of shape that few can recognize how low we are. Our economy is ruined, our civil liberties shattered, our entire lives changed by the paranoid need for security, a miltiary budget out of control, massive spying on citizens, and the liost goes on. truth is, osama won and won big. It is exactly what he wanted to accomplish: To make USA look like a monster in the eyes of billions around the world and to render us weak and helpless. Now, as Naton magazine said this weak, America is neither feared, loved, nor taken seriously. even the Saudi spat in bush's face as he begged for more oil. Let us all get real.

I would like to add I dont think Bush has been right and I think the war has been horribly missmanaged. I just think we have had worse presidents and I think history will judge accordingly. The media needs to start reporting unbias stories and just facts.

I disagree..we have had few, if any, worse presisidents. And Alan, the war was not jyust mismanged. It was morally wrong. It was an illegal invasion of a country that had nothing to do with 9-11. Hundreds of thousands of women and children have been killed or displaced. How dare you sit in kailua with your feet up on a cushion and say we are talking about a management problem? That is what they said intially about Vietnam. No hon,, you ened to get out of kailua and go face the horror of what you supported. You will not sleep ever again.

alice wrote:

We lost hon by one defintion: who paid the greater price and whose life changed the most? Osama is NOT in a cave. he lives happily in a village in pakistan as Bush let him escape. America is broke and so twisted out of shape that few can recognize how low we are. Our economy is ruined, our civil liberties shattered, our entire lives changed by the paranoid need for security, a miltiary budget out of control, massive spying on citizens, and the liost goes on. truth is, osama won and won big. It is exactly what he wanted to accomplish: To make USA look like a monster in the eyes of billions around the world and to render us weak and helpless. Now, as Naton magazine said this weak, America is neither feared, loved, nor taken seriously. even the Saudi spat in bush's face as he begged for more oil. Let us all get real.

I have to disagree with you. Not all of our problems revolve around the war or our President it is however almost criminal of our congress and senate and their inaction in all of these areas. We are in trouble because of our goverment grandstanding and not working together for the common good you definately cannot blame Bush Clinton etc.. for this This why our political system is broken and in turn why our economy trade etc.. are in such bad shape. You are obviously a bright individual you cannot tell me you actually think the President is to blame for all of this. He actually cannot make a move without the congress/senate but he does get the blame

alice wrote:

I disagree..we have had few, if any, worse presisidents. And Alan, the war was not jyust mismanged. It was morally wrong. It was an illegal invasion of a country that had nothing to do with 9-11. Hundreds of thousands of women and children have been killed or displaced. How dare you sit in kailua with your feet up on a cushion and say we are talking about a management problem? That is what they said intially about Vietnam. No hon,, you ened to get out of kailua and go face the horror of what you supported. You will not sleep ever again.

I find it funny how soon everyone forgets the atmosphere of when we went into Iraq let me remind you Sadaam Husein was thumbing his nose at the world comunity not adhering to UN sanctions Also did not denie he had wmds ( by te way the entire world believed he had them ) That aside he was commiting genocide on his own people ( aka everyone crying about darfur ) Yes almost a unanamous vote to attack I am not saying the war was right but please dont tell me we did not have good reason to invade.

One last thing the price of oil has little to do with the war. Now if we were this bad country we would take iraqs oil which we do not. In fact only recently we asked them to start helping with the costs through their oil revenue. The oil problems we have is again by inaction of our legislative branch who are trying to apease all the tree huggers who wont let us have Nuclear power, Coal to Oil production, New refineries, Drill our own oil. Yes we are the laughing stock of the entire world but not because of Bush or the war.
Maybe it is our media our treehuggers and yes our congress