HART is not like the water supply board

I would like to express my appreciation for the Honolulu City Council’s willingness to provide checks and balances through the construction phase of our rail system. It seems that this is prudent, based on our state and city governments’ propensity to exercise contracts that come back to haunt us.

I will disagree with others who express the opinion that the Hono-lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is no different than the Board of Water Supply. It is significantly different in several ways.

First, the financial obligations of the two entities are entirely different — the budget for rail, at $5 billion, being more than 20 times that of the BWS.

Second, rail is entering the initial construction phase, where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Third, HART is newly constituted and will take a while to get up to speed; the BWS has been in operation for years.

The two can’t be compared. It would seem to me that rather than lawsuits, the community would benefit from a temporary oversight plan, say, for the first phase.

Win Schoneman
Aiea

TSA does things that deserve some praise

I would like to thank the U.S. Transportation Security Administration at Honolulu International Airport for the wonderful job it does. In today’s headlines, all we hear is the negative side of the TSA, but it also does many things that go unnoticed.

Recently, my brother-in-law left his phone at the TSA security checkpoint when he was returning to Kauai. With just a few phone calls and proper identification, I was able to pick up his phone with no hassle. Not only was it easy, the TSA agent met me curbside at the departure terminal so I didn’t even have to park and find their office.

Thanks again, TSA Honolulu, for doing an unappreciated but great job protecting air travelers.

Patrick J. O’Malley
Kailua

Social studies assure educational balance

More math and science and less social studies. More mechanics but fewer critical-thinking skills to wisely put them to use. One without the other creates a society off balance.

Math and science give us the formulas for the creation of modern industrial inventions that make our lifestyle possible, but social studies concepts provide the conscience of society. What rules will we all abide by? How will we fairly treat each other?

We all must be accountable for how we live our lives and how we live with each other, from our close next-door neighbor to our neighbors on the national and international levels.

Do not eliminate any social studies course work. Keep the educational experience in balance.

Kathy Lee
Waialua

New diploma still about mediocrity

This new high school diploma seems more like a lateral shift in mediocrity rather than any revolution in education. Subjects should have equal weight so the student’s mind, body and soul will be educated.

Making geometry a requirement over Algebra 2 is arbitrary. I use algebra in everyday situations, whereas I never use pi, or any other algorithm, to define a triangle.

American students are severely lacking in their world knowledge, yet the social studies requirements are being reduced.

We are also notoriously monolingual and Ameri-centric, yet the requirements for a foreign language are not increasing.

This plan also neglects the tactile learners who are gifted in constructing and can learn the math if you give them a hands-on problem to solve, but will fail if they are limited to books and worksheets. Schools need a vocational track so that all students have a chance to succeed; same math, different approach.

This new diploma stinks of the No Child Left Behind act, valuing math and science over the humanities, which may result in a high IQ, but definitely a low MQ (moral quotient).

Heather Barton
Kailua

AARP committed to Social Security

AARP has not changed its position on Social Security.

Contrary to inaccurate and misleading reports (reprinted in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser on June 18), we believe Social Security should be off the table in the important deficit reduction discussions currently taking place.

Social Security is a separately financed program that did not contribute to the deficit and should not be used to solve the nation’s deficit.

For years, AARP has maintained that long-term solvency is essential to protecting and strengthening Social Security for all generations. We have urged elected officials to confront the program’s challenges in a way that is fair for current seniors and future generations.

Our long-held policy is that Social Security should be strengthened and that its solvency can be ensured with a stable trust fund for the next 75 years. Any changes to this critical lifeline should be phased in slowly, over time, so they would not affect any current or near-term beneficiaries. We would support only changes to Social Security that would preserve and protect it for future generations.

Maeona Mendelson
AARP national board, Kailua

New fence by harbor is an abomination

One of the unsung beautiful things about Hawaii has been the panoramic harbor vista along Nimitz Highway. How many times while driving into town have we marveled at the unobstructed view of great ships like the Pride of Hawaii, the Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mary II? That view is now gone.

I am appalled to learn that the state Department of Transportation has taken it upon itself to destroy this marvelous panorama. It has put up an ugly, black fence all along Nimitz Highway bordering the harbor. This view-killing wall was put up on local volition and not mandated for security by the federal government. It has cost more than $1 million. The joke is that the fence is full of holes and anyone could easily penetrate it.

Do a complete investigation into the perpetrators of this abomination, and determine who is benefitting financially from its construction. It is a total blight on one of Oahu’s most scenic attractions.

Mr. Abercrombie, tear down this wall!

Ray Graham
Waikiki