Kudos to Schatz for boycotting speech

I am very proud that Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is showing the courage to boycott the speech that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is scheduled to deliver to a joint session of Congress next month.

As Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont said: This speech is a "high-handed stunt that has embarrassed not only Israel but the Congress itself."

Two serious wrongs will be committed with this event. It will be an unprecedented meddling by one of our political parties in an allied country’s elections.

It will also show that some people in our Congress are willing to submit the interests of the United States to the determination of the leader of a minority party in another country.

I can only hope that the rest of Hawaii’s congressional delegation will have the integrity to join in the boycott of this unfortunate affair. We’re watching.

Jerry Dupont
Democratic precinct president, Kaneohe

Schatz hypocritical about partisanship

I am disappointed in Sen. Brian Schatz’s refusal to attend the speech of the Israeli prime minister.

Mr. Schatz makes a big deal about Republican political antics regarding this; is he not doing the same thing by towing his party line?

I believe the senator has a responsibility to all the people he represents by keeping an open mind. Through listening to an individual who has extensive experience on the front lines of war, and whose country is obviously in the crosshairs of Iran, new enlightenment may occur.

After all, one of man’s greatest faults can be contempt prior to investigation.

Stephen Paty
Haleiwa

Medical insurers need more freedom

If state Rep. Della Au Belatti really wanted to "encourage competition so we … have more (medical insurance) plans," she would introduce a bill to allow interstate competition between medical insurers, rather than try to stick it to HMSA.

After all, that’s one aspect of "Obamacare" that really makes sense and would benefit everyone, rather than simply burden businesses.

Fred Fogel
Volcano, Hawaii island

Longer school days being undermined

When state lawmakers move to cap required time for instruction, who will benefit?

Is it in the best interest of the students of Hawaii or of the Department of Education, administrators and teachers’ union?

Studies have shown that states with better education systems have students in school longer, not shorter hours and days.

We rank 35th and have a C- overall for our educational system. Is that what Hawaii’s students deserve?

If we want our students to have any hope of competing in a global economy, we need to focus on education as a priority. After the disaster of Furlough Fridays, parents, wise educators and legislators could clearly see the need for a longer number of instructional hours.

Now, driven by the teachers union, there is a demand to cut instruction time again. Are we not misplacing our priorities?

Noreen Mulliken
Waikiki

Make Legislature work longer, too?

Regarding the front-page article, "State lawmakers move to cap required time for instruction" (Star-Advertiser, Feb. 8):

I read the article carefully, trying to figure out the purpose for requiring a specific amount of time. It appears to me that the Legislature, in its wisdom, believes that time spent in class results in smarter, better students.

Using that same reasoning, it seems that the Legislature, desiring better legislation, should mandate that each member spend a minimum of 40 hours each week striving to achieve better legislation.

To assure compliance, a weekly report would be required. If less than 40 hours was logged/labeled or it was untrue in some way, all pay for that week would be forfeited.

That would improve their work product, wouldn’t it?

As for morale, that should not be relevant. After all, the greater good of society is at stake.

Richard O. Rowland
Chairman and founder, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Bicyclists should wear lights at night

My comment is about the 60-year-old bicyclist who died following a Feb. 1 accident at Nuuanu Avenue, when he was hit by a car at 10:20 p.m. ("Bicyclist hit by car on Feb. 1, dies at hos-pital," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 10).

It was mentioned that he wasn’t wearing a helmet. In this case, the presence or absence of flashing lights is important to report. People who bicycle at night without lights are difficult to see.

I also bicycle at night, but never without lights. Those added safety features allow motorists to be alerted ahead of time and avoid the cyclist.

To ride a bicycle at night without them is a reckless behavior endangering not only the cyclist but the motorist as well.

Ignacio Torres
Downtown Honolulu

Repaved avenue didn’t last for long

After years of huge potholes, the city finally got around to repaving Waialae Avenue.

Within weeks of completion, it was being dug up again.

Now there are new holes to dodge.

Despite warnings that three lanes of freeway would be closed for construction, I drove to Waikele anyway. Traffic congestion was horrific, but there were no workmen or construction equipment in sight. I guess the blocked lanes just needed a rest.

All this brings to mind a line from the movie, "Cool Hand Luke": "What we’ve got here is failure to communicate."

James B. Young
St. Louis Heights