Anti-smoking policy is bias run amok

Most Democrats would opine that it is never acceptable, yet most anti-smoking programs widely supported by that party utilize discrimination and ostracism as the primary tactics to achieve their anti-smoking agenda.

Democratic government makes lepers of anyone associated with tobacco, banning them from businesses, condos, parks, beaches, golf courses, public events, bus stops, their cars (with children), parking lots, curbs and streets.

It produces commercials ostracizing those who smoke, introducing bills that would go further, discriminating against smokers and those using e-cigarettes. This is publicly produced prejudice fomented against those using a legal and highly taxed product run amok.

What hypocrisy that the community of non-smokers represented by our government can so willfully do so. If it is so bad, why have they not made it illegal? Because it raises millions of tax dollars.

Legislated discrimination is what we see as active policy against smokers.

Bill Comerford
Hawaii Bar Owners Association
Niu Valley

Vacation rentals often are illegal

The headline read, "Data from January show lull in tourism arrivals," referring to hotel occupancy (Star-Advertiser, Feb. 28).

A letter to the editor was headlined, "Home rentals are part of tourist allure" (Feb. 25), and told of the writer’s experiences over the years renting houses on each of the four major islands.

The article, "Isles’ vacation rentals desired, survey finds" (Feb. 14), stated vacation rentals in Hawaii are up 8 percent, but they are "controversial" in residential neighborhoods.

While the 1989 law prohibiting new vacation rentals may be controversial, complying with it should not be. The law is the law.

Susan Cummings
Kailua

We need more jobs that pay living wage

In response to Steve Togami ("Minimum wage is for entry-level workers," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 2), just how many teen-agers does he think we have on Oahu?

To fill all the minimum-wage jobs here, we would need to import teenagers from the mainland. Almost every fast-food worker, retail worker and many others on the island are working below wages they can support their families on.Getting an education gives you a better chance, but there are still not enough jobs out there that pay enough to live on.

I used to work as a bank teller, and even managers at someretail and food serviceestablishmentsdon’t make a living wage. Companies voluntarily raising wages, as in union jobs based on seniority, would be a better solution. But I do not see that happening voluntarily.

Terrence Ching
Palolo

Bush wrong about WMDs but didn’t lie

I cringe every time I see people wrongly say that President George W. Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction being in Iraq.

The latest was Chip Davey, saying that, "Bush used the esteemed Colin Powell … to sell his ‘weapons of mass destruction’ lie to both the United Nations and the American public" ("War deaths tarnish Johnson and Bush," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 27.).

The facts are clear: Bush — along with Secretary of State Colin Powell, the vast majority of both Republican and Democrat politicians, and the intelligence community — truly believed that Iraq had such weapons prior to the U.S. invasion.

That we found no such weapons makes Bush and those who agreed wrong, but not liars.

We have plenty of examples of real liars (most recently, "You can keep your policy if you like it"), but Bush isn’t one of them.

Geoff Boehm
Waikiki

School secretary made a difference

Barbara Kato was using a crosswalk and obeying the traffic signals on her way to work at Lanakila Elementary School, when a city garbage truck hit her.

Barbara was the secretary at Lanakila Elementary School as it strived for excellence and became a National Blue Ribbon School. Barbara’s role was essential and significant to help the school achieve this honor. We depended on Barbara’s competence and efficiency to take care of school operations. After retiring, she was assisting the new school secretary.

Those who have come in contact with Barbara remember her as a very kind-hearted, gentle, unassuming and caring person. Lanakila was fortunate to have her on the staff, in charge of the office, and is grateful to have come in contact with her.

Barbara’s tragic death has resulted in heartbreak and a void for the Lanakila ohana. We will remember Barbara for her deeds, actions and upright character.

Gerianne Lee
Kailua

Hard-core homeless don’t want our help

I agree with City Council Chairman Ernest Martin’s comments ("Put city’s housing assistance where it can do the most good," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 3).

We need to assist first those most vulnerable, theworking poor families, to keep them and their children safe in housing. They deserve our helpto break out of the poverty cycle.

Thehard-core homeless will not change much because they are addicted to drugs and alcohol. They prefer to live "free," not caring how their lifestyle affects others.

Those mentally ill who are willing to receive help should get Housing First assistance.

Allowing the police to immediately remove obstructing tents and personal property and cite violators would go a long way to clear our sidewalks and maintain reasonable sanitation.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Chinatown