NCLB exemptions will cost in long run

President Barack Obama has moved to gut the No Child Left Behind program because public schools in so many states fail to meet goals.

Hawaii is among states considering applying for an exemption, and will send a delegation to Washington on a boondoggle trip to see how to get a pass. (Do taxpayers really need to pay to send delegations? Are there other means of communication?)

This is a travesty at both the federal and state levels. NCLB was an apolitical effort to address a worrisome decline in educational standards. What we have now in this dumbing down is a commitment to mediocrity at a time when our country and our state are losing ground.

This is not a budget issue; waiving educational standards does not save money and in the long run will cost more because of less-qualified graduates.

Rob Loughridge
Honolulu

Better to emulate than envy the rich

Democrats are demanding that rich people pay more taxes so lower-income people will get more. Is this a good idea?

People don’t get rich simply because they want to. Unless they’ve inherited wealth or gotten extremely lucky, people get rich because they’ve done things others haven’t done. They get better educated or better trained, then work longer or harder or smarter than others. They get rich because they’re successful.

If success results in higher taxes, doesn’t that destroy initiative? Doesn’t that dampen a person’s desire to better himself?

Also, if you’re the one receiving money that other people have earned, doesn’t that destroy your interest in getting ahead? Why better yourself if you can live off the earnings of others?

The successful among us pay tons in taxes, support countless charities and provide jobs for the rest of us. Let’s stop demeaning them. Instead, let’s strive to become one of them.

Bob Lamborn
Nuuanu

Lifestyle choices affect your health

Jim Wolery hits the nail on the head ("Health freedom is not heartless," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 24). He calls attention to the fact that personal lifestyle choices affect health.

As a practicing ophthalmologist, I am aware that a very large percentage of patients between 80 and 90 will experience the dreaded loss of central vision from what is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The present treatment can require an injection into the eye with a medicine that costs $2,000 per vial. This drug has to be injected every six weeks. Adopting a healthy lifestyle by avoiding smoking and excess belly fat reduces the incidence of AMD. In addition, a diet of certain nutrients provided by green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, goji berries (wolfberries) and fish makes sense to reduce the risk of AMD.

This action would reduce future medical costs and is an example of taking personal responsibility for one’s health.

Malcolm R. Ing
Makiki

Kaimuki bike lane will hurt businesses

The bike lane in Kaimuki would not serve those of us who live, work and play here.

There are major schools along Waialae Avenue as well as many small businesses that are barely hanging on. To suggest that people can park in the one public lot that is available is ridiculous and will not serve the businesses or the customers.

Bikers now are not going to work in the morning, but probably training for the next race.

For once, can we think about the people who actually live in the community before government messes it up?

Takako Goya
Palolo