Penalties levied were disgraceful

The actions taken by the state Ethics Commission against nine state officials are a joke — just pay some administrative penalties and all is forgiven ("Ethics panel punishes 9 state officials over free golf," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4).

Illegal activities by government employees is an ongoing disgrace to the whole state. It’s time to take a hard line and impose penalties that will be a deterrent to others considering abuse of power or position.

To begin with, fire all of the nine employees still on the payroll. Then, review all contracts that these employees had a hand in and cancel those contracts forthwith.

Insofar as the integrity of the process is concerned, the integrity has already been compromised by these nine.

James Robinson
Aiea

Ala Wai marina always so filthy

I am a frequent visitor to your lovely islands and have been for some 30 years.

I am from Australia and my husband originally from the U.S., and we would meet his parents here for family holidays.

When in the Waikiki area, we tend to stay out near the marina. At night, the light reflections overlooking Ala Wai Yacht Harbor are a delight.

During the day it is an entirely different story. It is extraordinary how disgustingly filthy it is in the water. I do not understand why so many people discard their litter deliberately into the water. Beer bottles on the bottom and all manner of rubbish floating between the boats and along the edge.

I am surprised at the lack of civic pride, and also that there appears to be no systematic cleanup.

Pauline Kaufman
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

U.N. should help stop terrorism

The U.S. needs to prod the United Nations to advise Arab Islamic countries that if they don’t control the radical citizens of their countries, stopping their terrorist activities across the globe, that the United Nations will.

Further, the U.S. needs to go after Americans who have sold their patriotism and are trading with enemies or selling arms to terrorists.

Men like Prescott Bush, who traded with the Nazis during World War II, or George W. Bush, who helped members of the bin Laden family escape the U.S. immediately after the 9/11 attacks, need to be brought to justice.

Those who have profited from the misfortunes that they caused in the Middle East, like Dick Cheney, should be brought to justice in a Middle East court.

This will begin to mitigate the harm they have done to America and the Middle East and quell some of the Muslim outrage.

Smoky Guerrero
Mililani

Ivory ban won’t stop ivory trade

The surest way to increase the value of poached ivory and the demand for same is to ban its possession.

Sales of confiscated poached ivory and legally harvested ivory from damage-control hunting provides revenue for enforcement of game laws and game management in threatened impoverished areas.

House Bill 837 in the Legislature would make criminals of anyone with antique gun grips and sight beads, musical instruments, scrimshaw, hatpins or jewelry bearing small amounts of ivory from any source harvested long ago, if displayed for sale or transfer other than by inheritance.

Maxwell Cooper
Kaneohe

Shopping carts end up in ditches

Stolen shopping carts should not be on any state orcity park or property.

Many end up in drainage ditches or streams when the wheels get broken.

Our Honolulu Police Department should have the manpower to enforce the return of these stolen shopping carts.

These little problems add to the cost of the food that we must pay for when nothing gets done.

Alvin Wong
Pearl City