U.S. justice system is best in the world

I believe that the United States is the greatest country on Earth, with the best legal system, including our criminal justice system.

When I heard the news of the dismissal of forced-labor charges against Alec and Mike Sou of Aloun Farms I was satisfied that they were given their due process, and that the centuries it took for us to have the legal system that we have today, worked.

Were the Sous guilty of any wrongdoing, either legally or morally? Maybe, maybe not, but I will never know for sure. We are not living in a world of "Big Brother" or "Minority Report," where just about everyone’s movement and actions are tracked. We are living in a country with the best criminal justice system, albeit not perfect, nor will it ever be perfect. The best will just have to do.

Bobby Bautista
Salt Lake

Independent testing showed DOE flaws

The article, "Mentally disabled kids’ test scores plummet," (Star-Advertiser, July 25) featured yet another example of the state Department of Education’s dysfunction: The percentage of mentally disabled kids has been rising for several years, seemingly indicating progress. But, the scores plummeted drastically when an independent organization did the testing, from 70 percent proficient in reading to 8 percent, and from 62 percent to just 4 percent proficient in math.

Why the plunge? Here’s the problem: "In the past the test was scored by teachers, who could also prompt students as they took the test." Most people could do well on a test if someone "prompted" (read: "gave") them the answers, and then had the tests scored by people who had a strong incentive to make the numbers look good.

It’s time to disband the DOE and replace it with charter schools and smaller local boards that can be held accountable.

Jim Henshaw
Kailua

Economics distorted for political gain

The economic issues are not hard to figure out.

First, stimulus spending isn’t practical because it would have to be so big to be effective that it becomes cost-prohibitive.

Second, the reason a big federal debt is a problem is because it frightens consumers and businesses by signaling a future with inflation, higher interest rates and higher taxes.

Third, a big reason we have high unemployment is because the consumer has gone to sleep following the financial crisis, and wages are stagnant.

Fourth, although a no-tax-increase tax policy is optimal, it is not practical because most federal spending is on entitlements, defense and interest on the debt, which are hard to cut. We need a fully reformed tax code, and revenues must be on the table.

Partisan politicians and pundits distort economic ideas for ideological purposes. If we look at economics in a straight way, our public policy will be easier to sort out.

Lloyd Lim
Honolulu

Cursive writing simple yet valuable

Is there a good reason for not teaching cursive writing?

Cursive writing is free and simple to teach, and easy to learn.

Will our high school graduates be better off when they get into the world of work and meet with others who are better educated? Moreover, without knowing cursive, one would not have a unique signature to protect from financial fraud and identity theft.

Please don’t let this happen. Teach our children as much as we can. Cursive writing is the easy one and doesn’t cost anything, except caring.

Roxie Berlin
Honolulu

Chang one of best on City Council

I am a faithful reader of David Shapiro’s columns and "Flashbacks," but I take exception to his dismissal of Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang as young enough to "collect his sewage sludge in a diaper."

I had no trouble understanding the comment by Chang quoted by Shapiro, perhaps because I spent too much time as a bureaucrat. However, this is not my point. I believe Chang has been more responsive to his constituents than any other Council member who has represented me and my community.

I look forward to Shapiro’s commenting on this aspect of Chang’s performance.

Karl Schwartz
Honolulu

Bring back school summer vacations

As a grandparent, I am confused about the scheduling of school days and vacations at certain public schools.

When I was growing up, I knew that the summer vacation was for nearly three months and was able to schedule summer employment. Now, some schools are on year-round classes.

How can parents schedule their work schedules to accommodate transportation and other issues? When will the state Department of Education go back to regular summer vacations?

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City