Unions losing political clout

The only way union endorsements can work is when unions get out and fully back their candidates, through sign waving, TV, radio and newspaper ads.

There is a lukewarm movement, but it’s not enough. By not backing their candidates as much as they should, the endorsements appear to be hollow and ineffective.

Gone are the days of Walter Kupau of the Carpenters Union, David Trask of the Hawaii Government Employees Association or Art Rutledge of the Teamsters. If they were for or against you politically, everybody in the state knew about it.

Unions help Germany thrive

Columnist David Brooks claims a "natural experiment" is underway with the United States trying to spend its way out of the economic crisis while Germany focuses on cutting its budget deficit ("Good values, long-term thinking are the keys to prosperity," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30).

Brooks says Germany’s approach seems best, since it has a faster growing economy and lower unemployment. However, this analysis ignores many factors, besides the fact that Germany’s switch to austerity was only announced in June when positive trends were already evident.

Conservatives will never mention that a major success factor for Germany is its strong trade unions. Union representatives are required by law to comprise half the directors on corporate boards and also be involved in day-to-day decision making.

Management and unions have developed a culture of consensus. One result is that relatively few workers have been fired due to agreements to reduce work hours, so all remain employed. Meanwhile, many U.S. corporations remain highly profitable by slashing payrolls, creating a large pool of unemployed who will be willing to work for low wages into the future.

Goodbye, much of the middle class.

Too much ink spent on sports

Just when I was enjoying the format of your new Star-Advertiser, you spoil it by putting on the front page for several days news about a Little League baseball game.

I don’t pay attention to adult sports or young people’s sports, but I sure don’t expect to find such items on your front page. The television news programs have also been full of such trivia.

What message are you giving to our youth? Are sports of such importance that they deserve to be displayed ad nauseam on your front page? Why don’t you give as much space to young winners of science competitions or spelling bee winners? Your emphasis on sports is misplaced and dangerous.

Time to dump bulky pickup

The new penalties for violating bulky item pickup placement will do little to deter early item placement. The problem is the incredibly dumb idea of having bulky items picked up curbside, which essentially legalized dumping islandwide.

A better solution is to have monthly scheduled bulky item days when people can take their bulky items to designated sites throughout the island. Then unsightly bulky trash along streets would again be the exception instead of the norm, and it would stand out as a crime.

Repeal bulky pickup and we won’t need to create yet more city ordinances.

Special elections are a burden

Again we are faced with a special election because a political elected official wants to change jobs. This is costing the taxpayers more money so individuals can follow their own desires.

Todd Apo has given the City Council his decision more than 60 days before the election, and it would allow candidates plenty of time to campaign before the general election. If a special election can be held with the general election so that no extra cost is put on the taxpayers, the City Council should act on this.

When Neil Abercrombie resigned in February to run for governor, we were not represented for three months and it cost more than $600,000 to elect a new representative.

Maybe the time has come for both our state Legislature and the City Council to pass laws that allow the governor or mayor to appoint people to the job until the next election is held.

The other alternative is to require an office holder who resigns for personal reasons or to seek another job to pay for the cost of that special election.