Natural gas could help power Hawaii

I read several articles in The and the Star- Advertiser about the U.S. natural gas boom.

Hawaiian Electric Co. could use liquefied natural gas to replace fuel oilat its power plants.

Compressed natural gas couldfuel large trucks here, asis done on the mainland via providers of natural gas for transportation.

Honda makes a Civic natural-gas model.

I found several studies online by the Hawaii Energy Forum and others evaluating liquefied natural gas options for Hawaii.

Perhaps it is time to take another look at this.

James R. Arcate
Manoa

Tax increases will just go to waste

About $830,000 for "American Idle" conventions in Las Vegas, $330,000 to move an employee from Denver to Honolulu (who quit one year after arriving in paradise), millions spent sending employees to vacation destinations for a week to cut ribbons at a government building.

Is this all make believe and fiction?

No, it’s just part of a typical day’s work at our federal General Services Administration.

If the most recent proposals to increase taxes on "the wealthy" (you decide what that means) are enacted, the cost of this profligate spending most likely can be paid for by the additional taxes to be collected from a small minority of our fellow citizens.

In other words, who cares? It sounds like someone else’s problem.

If this nation’s deficits are ever to brought under control, however, we all should care. Let’s start by demanding an immediate end to such blatant waste of taxpayer monies, even if taxpayers other than ourselves end up paying for most of it.

David L. Mulliken
Diamond Head

Vote for candidates with Godly values

As an evangelical Christian, I am reminded to vote for those who support our Godly and family values.Those values are saving the unborn (pro-life) and defending traditional marriage.

The Democratic Party as a whole does not support our values. That would include those running in this year’sre-election to the Legislature and in our local congressional race and, of course, President Barack Obama.

The Republican Party supports our Godly and family values, but it was very disappointing to read that former Hawaii Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is pro-choice.

If I don’t have an alternative on the voting ballot, I’ll leave the U.S. Senate race blank.

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

Report about Rosen left out information

In regards to the story about the "ill-advised statement" by consultant Hilary Rosen ("White House leaps to quell furor over remarks about Romney’s wife," Star-Advertiser, April 13), I have heard and seen in other reports that Hilary Rosen is not a consultant for President Barack Obama’s campaign or the Democratic National Committee, but that was not brought out in your story.

I think that is damaging and should be clarified.

LeLoy Banks
Kailua

Libraries integral to modern society

In this age of technology when books are read on Kindles, Nooks and iPads, what role do libraries play in our community?

In an article titled, "All Hail the PUBLIC library," David Morris, the vice president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, reminds us:"In an age of greed and selfishness, the public library stands as an enduring monument to the values of cooperation and sharing. In an age where global corporations stride the Earth, the public library remains firmly rooted in the local community."

One only need visit our local libraries to realize that they are vibrant spaces where communities gather for meetings, new parents bring their children to spark a love for reading, kupuna find volunteer opportunities and make new friends, and where those who are not connected to the Internet see the lines of difference disappear.

In a time when education is increasingly expensive, public libraries provide information and educational opportunities free for all people, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Libraries = community heart.

Rep. Heather Haunani Giugni
House District 33 (Aiea, Aiea Heights, Halawa, Halawa Heights, Pearlridge and Waimalu)

Workers comp cases can be disputed

As an adult, child and forensic board-certified psychiatrist who has performed more than 3,000 workers compensation evaluations (while maintaining a clinical practice), I write to point out that the recent articles, letters and columns about the process have left out many important points that people should know:

» Our system has a presumption clause that any injury is assumed to be industrial unless proven otherwise by the employer. Thus, sometimes evaluations are needed to ensure not only that the injury was caused by work, but also that the treatment is necessary and not excessive.

» Not all cases require an evaluation; many are accepted by the insurance carrier outright.

» Finally, the remedy for allegedly biased doctors already exists: It’s called cross-examination. All evaluators should base opinions solely on the records and the exam. If the opinions are unsound or biased, they will not be credited by the state Department of Labor, which makes all final determinations.

Mark Stitham
Kailua