‘Affordable’ a relative notion

President Barack Obama believes that any single parent who works a 40-hour week has earned a secure roof over his or her child’s head.

Hawaii’s legislators and City Council members agree on that old plantation ethic, that anyone who can’t afford to put a roof over a child’s head by working 40 hours per week needs to work 80 or 120 hours per week, or whatever it takes to afford a place to live.

So stop with this nonsense of calling it "workforce" or "affordable" housing, since no one working for minimum wage in Waikiki kitchens or hotels can afford it.

What Hawaii needs is housing for people earning less than $24,000 a year and are currently living in the streets, parks and beaches.

Rico Leffanta
Honolulu

Some homeless simply need help

On the fence line that adjoins Kailua Elementary School and Kailua District Park, I witnessed one of our chronically homeless women lying in the grass changing her adult diaper, in public, and in plain view of schoolchildren.

Another well -known homeless man who has been hit by a car and severely injured, still apparently homeless, cruises Kailua town with his walker.

It seems inhumane that we as a society are allowing these people who obviously can’t help themselves to live this way. We step around and look past them.

Why are we so afraid to take matters into our own hands, and do something to protect people who are a danger to themselves or others? We have to help people who can’t help themselves, and decide what’s more important, their dignity or their freedom?

Candas Lee Rego
Kailua

Parenting class might be better

I’ve been following the push by Gov. Neil Abercrombie for early education.

Will early education solve the general lack of respect many children exhibit today? Will early education make children less likely to be addicted to text messaging and drugs in the future? Will early education help teachers cope with the stressors they encounter daily in the classroom because many parents have abdicated their parenting role to the teachers?

Unless and until the parents assume a more active and responsible role in teaching their children the basic fundamentals that are so lacking in today’s society, all the early education in the world won’t matter.

Perhaps investing in successful parenting classes would be a better investment of our tax dollars.

Margaret Peary
Mililani Mauka

Sugar is a treat in moderation

We read with some surprise a column in your newspaper by Richard Brill ("Sugar shares similarities with addictive substances" (Star-Advertiser, April 5).

A photo of the Jelly Belly factory was included with the column. The implication appeared to be that products containing sugar, like jelly beans, should be restricted in the same way as marijuana or heroin. Really?

The vast majority of nutrition health professionals, or dieticians, do not recommend depriving oneself of treats. Instead, they would recommend eating treats in small amounts and being aware of what one is eating.

Research does show that overly restrictive eating practices can lead to unintended consequences, such as a preoccupation with the restrictive food.

Susan Smith
Senior vice president, communications and outreach, National Confectioners Association

Polygamy is in the Bible, too

Melvin Partido claims the God of the Bible ordained marriage as a covenant for one man and one woman at the beginning of creation ("Marriage always 1 man, 1 woman," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 10).

Perhaps Partido should reread the Old Testament, which is filled with marriages between one wealthy man and hundreds of women.

David Bailey
Kapahulu