Tam sentence was sick joke

"Two days in jail," indeed!

Former Honolulu City Councilman Rod Tam gets two days in jail for stealing more than $15,000 from the taxpayers. What a sick joke — an open invitation to all public servants to rifle the cookie jar without risking significant, appropriate punishment. And further, he must spend time performing community service.

Is that punishment? Thousands of schoolkids do that as part of their basic schedule. Rotarians spend many hours annually doing just that, happily and voluntarily. (Rotary motto — "Service Above Self").

Clinton Basler
Nuuanu

Speed up end to Afghan war

2012, not 2014!

Our mission in Afghanistan has been accomplished. We were after Osama bin Laden, and he has been eliminated.

With our economy in dire straits, how can we continue to stay in that country? The government of Hamid Karzai is corrupt, the rules of engagement are made more difficult, the drug trade is flourishing and the Afghan people continue to suffer. The time has come for us to leave — not in 2014, but before the end of 2012.

We should build as many schools for the children as we possibly can. Education is the key for the future leaders of Afghanistan. May it happen.

Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu

Let people vote for ‘None’

Most adults in the U.S. are apathetic when it comes to voting.

In Hawaii, it’s generally accepted that most people who are registered to vote don’t vote. Historically, roughly 40 percent of registered voters vote, and only about 70 percent of all adults in Hawaii are even registered to vote.

I suggest that this is because people are dissatisfied with the quality of those running for public office, and we truly believe that our votes don’t matter.

How can we prove if this thesis is correct? I suggest we place on the ballot, for each race, "None of the Above."

Let’s see if this motivates people to register and to go to the polls to cast a ballot.

Chuck Cohen
Hawaii Kai

Traffic light is dangerous

It was tragic what happened at the intersection of Kilauea Avenue and 18th Avenue ("1-car accident kills teen driver, injures 3 riders," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 29).

I would like to know what genius decided to put traffic lights at this intersection?

The rolling decline of Kilauea Avenue, along with the steep grade of the road as you approach 18th Avenue, make it dangerous driving under normal circumstances. Add a wet road and someone attempting to make the green light, speeding down this decline, make it deadly.

When you are traveling Koko Head on Kilauea Avenue, you can’t see vehicles traveling makai- bound on 18th Avenue unless you are stopped.

The city should go back to the four-way stop. There are some roads in Honolulu where you just can’t put traffic lights.

Of course, the experts might say that the same thing would happen at a four-way stop, but I doubt it.

Larry K. Tamashiro Jr.
Honolulu