Con Con sure sounds like
it wields lots of power

After reading your Nov. 21 article that stated "a constitutional convention will be used to pass a constitutional amendment" and that "a constitutional parley will be used to eliminate or drastically slash . . . entitlements," I realize that either I or the others cited in the story are woefully uninformed about certain provisions in our existing Constitution.

Assuming the document contains the powers described above, I may run for the Con Con myself in order to introduce an amendment restoring the power to amend to the electorate.

Hopefully, this Con Con will allow the few voters who show up at the polls to pick and choose among the amendments themselves, based on their individual merits. The last batch of "representatives" didn't think we were intelligent enough to do so.

Brian D. Bott

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Roll call vote will lead to
responsive government

One important result of the General Election which has had little or no press is the significance of the roll call vote. Now that the local GOP has enough members in the House to force such a vote, it will bring greater accountability to government.

The roll call vote should not be used only when the minority party has enough members to force one. Instead, it should be the regular way the Legislature conducts business. It will prevent legislators from hiding behind parliamentary procedure. A roll call vote also will enable constituents to know where their legislators stand on issues important to them.

If the November elections taught politicians one thing, it was that the public wants legislators who will vote on the issues and represent the concerns of constituents.

By using the roll call vote, legislators will be doing what the people want. If not, legislators beware!

Francisco R. Figueireda

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Swindle didn’t deserve
to represent Hawaii

A.A. Smyser's Nov. 12 column regarding negative campaigning is an embarrassing attempt to boost the position of the Republican Party and demean the election of Congressman Neil Abercrombie.

The truth about Orson Swindle is that he was unwelcome in his own party and in his home state of Georgia. He compiled a disturbing record of tolerating discrimination against non-Caucasians as the FHA's Georgia director.

Swindle is a carpet-bagger, an opportunist, a GOP outcast and ill-qualified candidate to represent this state. I will spend the next two years educating the people of Hawaii about this man. His exploits and misdeeds are well documented in the Albany (Ga.) Herald and the Atlanta Constitution.

Benjamin T. Toyama

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Much can be done
to ‘kick start’ economy

Congratulations to Governor Cayetano for his visionary plan to help "kick start" the Hawaii economy. An important part of the economic stimulus package should be focused upon the private sector.

How do you unlock, promote and facilitate these entrepreneurial efforts?

1) Review with state department heads the various private-sector projects now in the regulatory process. Create an incentive to get these projects accepted and approved. Let the work begin. That means immediate jobs, immediate cash flow.

2) Coordinate with the resources of the federal government. It has a huge interest in creating jobs to fill the oncoming vacuum of welfare reform. Bring home the program dollars.

3) Coordinate with some of the more visionary members of the private sector. For instance, "Doc" Buyers of C. Brewer & Co. is on the leading edge of a revolution in diversified agriculture. Develop a proactive relationship with such people. Encourage, partner and facilitate with them.

Further I would suggest that an "economic vitalization conference" be held, whereby members of the various state, federal and county regulatory departments meet with members of the private sector to help facilitate the "kick start" our economy needs.

Thomas DeWaele
Kailua