Colonial legacy taints job search

I am amazed that the University of Hawaii’s flagship campus cannot find a finalist for chancellor other than a white male from the continent.

I know that the argument for creating the short list is based on who is best qualified and has the right experience.But we have seen time and time again academic leaders imported directly from the continent come to Hawaii and fail miserably or at best perform at a medio-cre level.That recruitment model doesn’t work.

We assume that administrative experience is the most important qualification, and that ability to relate to local people and culture can be learned in time. We have yet to realize that the opposite is true.

Until we get over our colonial attitudes about leadership, and invest with confidence in our own talent pool, UH-Manoa and Hawaii as a whole will never achieve excellence.

Lehua Matsuoka
Papakolea

Bag ban is just nose in the tent

With legislation pending that would charge usfor each plastic grocery bag, how long before all plastic bags are treated the same way, including waste basket liners, larger kitchen waste bags and plain plastic garbage bags?

We have witnessed well-intended customers at a supermarkethaving the cashier put their purchases, some dripping liquids, in cloth bags. Seems to us this is a good way to spread unwanted bacteria from potentially unclean cloth bagsto the owners and customers using the same checkout counters. Plastic bags may not be biodegradable but it is now clear they burn nicely at HPOWER plants.

Which is better: Maybe spread disease or charge us to protect ourselves from ourselves?

George Nottingham
Kaneohe

Democrats adopt 1-party theology

The decision of the state Democratic Party to not allow Laura Thielen to run in its August primary, without giving a clear reason, is perhaps the best illustration of what is wrong with American politics today.

Indeed, if the real behind-the-scenes reason is that in spite of being a lifelong Democrat, Thielen also served the Lingle administration, then the party is punishing exactly what we need more of — crossing the aisle instead of polarization.

I expect some of us will withdraw our registration as Democrats in protest of this one-party theology.

Jack McDermott
Kahala Nui

Taxes make things cost more

The comic "For Better or For Worse" (Star-Advertiser, March 11) hit the nail on the head.

Michael is given three dollars to spend.He wants a toy airplane, only $2.99. Mom says, "Don’t forget — you have to pay tax. "Michael: "Tax? what’s tax?" Lawrence says, "Don’t you know what tax is, Michael? That’s when the government makes you pay more for something than it’s worth."

Fred Gartley
Kaneohe

HMSA neglects its own rationale

Once again, we are informed that Hawaii Medical Service Association is imposing a rate hike.

As always, it justifies this by citing increased costs of living and costs of doing business. This argument falls flat when one considers that HMSA refuses to apply that same logic when it comes to reimbursing medical providers.

The general public should be made aware that HMSA has systematically reduced payments to doctors over the last 30 years, relative to the same cost of living increases that they cite as an excuse for their premium increases.

When will someone force them to play fair? Certainly not our legislators, most of whom are in HMSA’s pocket.

Ron Kienitz
Kailua

Funds for roads are misspent

I recently came back from Las Vegas and to my surprise I didn’t see one pothole there. Beautiful, smooth roads for miles and miles.

Why can’t we have the same here in Honolulu?

Because government officials dip into the money intended to repair our roads and spend it on something else. We elect the wrong people. They are not doing their job.

Marietta Mattoon
Liliha