Few mentally ill pose a danger

The banner headline "Violence caused by freed patients" is an unfortunate distortion of Rob Perez’ article (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 7).

The implication that releasing patients from Hawaii State Hospital endangers the public does nothing to inform, but instead fuels prejudice against people with mental illness and disabilities.

Most crimes, obviously, are committed by people who are not mentally ill, and few of those who are released from the Hawaii State Hospital pose a danger to anyone. Indeed, fully 60 percent of State Hospital patients have been charged, but not even tried, for misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors.

Recent cuts in mental health services might have contributed to the tragic deaths of three people and the sexual assault of another. Those are valid concerns, along with the impact cuts have had on thousands of people who no longer receive help from the Adult Mental Health Division.

Night roadwork is dangerous

I agree with Sandro Jube’s comments about stopping roadwork ("Stop roadwork late at night," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov 16).

Although I recognize the need for some serious road improvements, consideration for those living within this city must be taken into account. The problem is, late-night roadwork hinders sleep, which in turn makes people angry. Grumpy people create a grumpy society. Who wants to be living in an unfriendly environment?

Aside from lack of sleep, nighttime roadwork is also extremely dangerous for workers and drivers. Signs are posted, but driving at night can be hard enough without keeping an eye out for workers and detours.

The state Department of Transportation should consider hiring more road workers to get jobs done.

TSA tactics are wrong approach

The best security is done through increased intelligence and law enforcement. Stop the terrorists during the planning stage — before they get to the airport.

The Transportation Security Administration needs to admit that body scans and patdowns are not the best line of defense. It should increase airport vigilance and practice security measures that focus its resources on the greatest risks.

Tax crackdown disheartening

I was truly disheartened to read yet another example of the little guy taking the hit ("State gets tougher on farm, fair taxes," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 17).

That state tax officials are targeting individuals is shameful. In a time where every dollar counts and every day is uncertain, should we really be out there harassing the mom-and-pops raising carrots for sale at the farmers market? How much do we stand to gain by collecting 4.167 percent off of $50 day of sales? Certainly not enough to make up for our state’s decades of fiscal blunders.

I’m not an advocate of laissez-faire economics, but I do believe in balance and fairness. Fine, hammer the big retailer ignoring his tax responsibilities. But can’t we work it out with the little guy?

East-West Center promotes understanding in Asia-Pacific

I was stunned by Jim McDiarmid’s gratuitous comment belittling the East-West Center’s goal of promoting "understanding" in an age of globalization, a time when understanding of other cultures is crucial to the political and economic interests of America ("East-West Center costs too much," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 24).

Americans’ investment in the EWC pays dividends by training individuals who now occupy key political and economic positions in the Asia-Pacific region. India’s prime minister, and Ratan Tata, the head of one of its leading corporations, are just two examples of the many key people who have had close associations with the EWC.

More than 60,000 individuals are EWC alumni and provide a ripple effect of mutual understanding throughout the region. Students become foreign service officers, military personnel, teachers, statesmen and entrepreneurs.

The EWC has for decades been supported by privately raised funds, as well as government resources. Additionally, it has been an institution that has received bipartisan political support. To paraphrase President George W. Bush’s assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, Patricia Harrison: " … If the EWC did not exist, we would have to create it."