Mail-in voting has many advantages

I support the vote-by-mail initiative advocated by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

As a resident of Oregon before moving to Hawaii in 2009, I can attest to the efficacy of the vote-by-mail (VBM) system. In Oregon, registered voters receive voter guides that include detailed information about the candidates weeks before Election Day.

This allows voters to make more informed decisions about their voting preferences, especially in smaller races where information can be hard to come by. The benefits of VBM are not anecdotal. While there is some debate regarding turnout, some research has indicated increases in voter turnout by as much as 10 percent. Multiple studies have indicated that VBM systems reduce cost and provide a more accurate ballot count.

VMB is extremely popular in Oregon and would be here in Hawaii as well.

Randall Perez
Honolulu

Foreign students like being in Hawaii

Thank you for letting the general public and locals know the benefits of foreign students in Hawaii ("Foreign students in Hawaii good for all," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Nov. 21).

About 95 percent of our students pay 100 percent of their tuition and living costs from their own pockets, bringing much more funds than typical tourists and helping add higher-paying educational jobs.

I visited Oahu and Hawaii island to learn more about Hawaii and to promote Hawaii as a study destination. I agree that Chinese students often do not mix well or make local friends. Our past students tell us that this is less of a problem in Hawaii. Hawaii is a true melting pot and our students do better learning English and other subjects.

You also did not mention high schools, which is a large market.

There are some people in Asia who think of Hawaii as not being "American." American education is a big draw, and I wish Hawaii as a state would do more to promote itself as an educational destination.

Miranda Tseng
Educational consultant Kaoshuing City, Taiwan

Supporting teachers is to support kids

It really irritates me that the state would want to cut the wages of teachers. Teachers are so important to our children and our economy.

Without teachers, our children would not learn, and the economy would suffer due to the limited number of educated people entering the workforce. Revised teacher evaluation systems linked to student performance, and basing teacher raises on rankings, would make teachers so worried about their pay that they would forget what really is important — our children.

An unhappy teacher affects our children’s education. Supporting teachers means supporting kids.

Molly Sakihama
Waipahu

Motorcycle riders should use helmets

Why is it that when we read about a motorcycle accident causing death or injury, we search the article until we find out whether they were wearing helmets?It seems as though we are either for or against helmets and we need to justify our position.

Regardless, we should all agree that a helmet helps prevent injury.A hard protective shell over the brain is not a bad idea, kind of like a gladiator going into battle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made it clear that helmets save lives — more than 1,500 riders in 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2011 report, "Countermeasures That Work," reported that helmets reduced motorcycle rider fatalities by 22 percent to 42 percent and brain injuries by 41 percent to 69 percent.

It’s time for a state motorcycle helmet use law.We have seat belt laws. Why not helmet laws?

Doug Watters
Manoa

UH concert scandal had a bright side

While everyone is coming down on University of Hawaii officials, I want to offer a word of praise to the individuals in the athletic department who tried putting on a concert as an innovative way to help solve the department’s budget overruns. Although it blew up in their face, at least they tried.

I am sure there are many other state employees who have the opportunity to save the state more than $200,000, but rather than show initiative, they keep their heads down and protect their pension.

The civil servants who tried and failed are more admirable to me than the ones who could be imaginative and make meaningful savings but do not try.

I regret that all the grandstanding by the state Senate is going to further inhibit creative state employees.

Lloyd Jones
Waialae Iki