S&P is hardly a reliable source

Why does the U.S. government give any credence to a rating by Standard & Poor’s?

Its AAA ratings right before the subprime mortgage collapse were probably one of the biggest factors in the housing market crisis. Billions of dollars and countless houses and properties have been lost because of its gross negli­- gence (or outright fraud).

The U.S. and every company that used its ratings in the past should completely disregard this credit rating company. Why no lawsuits against the S&P for its past activities? Too much political influence?

James Robinson
Aiea

Bridge project a portent for rail?

I hope that the mayor and Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation members read June Watanabe’s article ("Problems set bridge work 5 years behind schedule," Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line, Aug. 5).

The city is about to undertake a major construction project that is enor- mous compared to one bridge, a state Department of Transportation project that is five years and counting behind schedule and has a cost overrun of about 45 percent.

This is one bridge.

The problems were a cable that took months to identify who owned it and then to correct the problem. Another problem was with a drilled shaft.

The ghost train’s 20-mile route will have many, many drilled shafts. Will there be any problems? Unknown cable? The mayor is moving ahead without even knowing what problems, such as burial sites and cables, are in the path of this train.

I know that the construction industry really wants these jobs, but can we as a city really afford this train?

Gregory A. Poole
Mililani

Mercenaries help hide cost

Keith Haugen says that never before have so many civilians been allowed in a war zone ("Mercenaries give U.S. a bad name," Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 23).

Welcome to modern warfare, where normal life and warfare take place side-by-side and insurgents are civilians, too.

Mercenaries are a politically correct answer to a lack of adequate numbers of American troops and the lack of will to deploy them when necessary — 35,000 mercenaries don’t make the same headlines as 35,000 U.S. combat troops occupying a foreign country. The president can claim that he’s withdrawn all combat troops in Iraq, even as we use civilian mercenaries to combat civilian insurgents.

American soldiers doing the same job as mercenaries have killed just as many innocent people, and they’re hated just as much for it. It’s not who does the job, it’s the job itself. Replace Americans with Iraqis and you’ll only replace hatred of Americans with sectarian violence.

Wayne T. Kamaura
Palolo

Coaches not above the law

Really, Michael Fujimoto? ("Kahuku coach right to discipline players," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 8).

"Disciplining players" is an appropriate alternative to reporting them to the authorities for possession of illegal substances? I don’t think so.

These coaches should be more than suspended. The needs of a sports team do not supersede the laws of the state.

Vanessa Shea
Waianae

Imposed pact hurts students

Education exists as a service to students. The teachers I know consistently go beyond what is asked of them in the interest of helping their students, even if the extra effort will grant them no extra pay.

I know the teachers understand that the economic times call for cutbacks. Everyone understands. The cutbacks imposed in the state’s "last, best and final offer," however, are so extreme as to threaten the students in a large way.

The most appalling part of the "last, best and final offer" is that it turns seven non-instructional work days for teachers into "directed leave without pay" days. Saving the cuts for days when students will not be in school does not mean the students will be spared the consequences. The scant, spread-out increase in preparation time provided in the contract is of little to no help.

Teachers should be treated with the respect that professionals deserve.

Kyle Kiyoshi Cegler
Student, Moanalua High School

Early education deserves funds

Despite financial difficulties, the majority of public elementary schools offer an average of five hours and five minutes instructional time. However, it is barely above the minimum requirement of four and a half hours. Our youth deserve better.

Growing up in Japan, I learned to value elementary education. Most parents are very concerned about their children’s education, even during infancy.

Elementary education is a critical period in a child’s development. Appropriate education allows children to develop their identities as individuals.

Although there are still financial difficulties, elementary education should be enhanced.

Marimu Saho
Honolulu

Don’t kill rare male monk seals

The Endangered Species Act was created to help protect endangered species from permanently being erased from the planet.

Currently, two male monk seals have been slated for extermination. The two males are considered aggressive and need to be removed to protect breeding females and their pups from harm and being killed, according to federal authorities ("Killing proposed to help seals," Star-Advertiser, Newswatch, Aug. 6).

Is this the only way? How about taking this opportunity to allow them to live in a permanent facility? The Waikiki Aquarium just lost a resident monk seal due to age.

If we care about our environment, conservation and endangered species, we should be able to assist these animals from becoming population martyrs for the sake of perpetuating a species we are protecting.

Tiffany Hooper
Kailua

APEC spending is an investment

The headline was staggering: The Star-Advertiser reported that $137 million in public and private funds is being spent to clean up the city before November’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting here ("Sweep, shine and scour," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 3).

OK, almost all of that is for infrastructure improvements that we’ll benefit from for decades to come. The APEC meetings will bring 20,000 people here for about a week, and it should also generate favorable publicity.

The Pro Bowl also brings about 20,000 people here for about a week and does generate favorable publicity in the middle of winter when mainlanders start thinking about where to vacation.

The $4 million fee paid to the National Football League to host the Pro Bowl has come under severe criticism from Gov. Neil Abercrombie as a waste of money.

What’s the difference (other than $133 million)?

Bill Hicks
Kailua