Kalaoa
Phone ban
Enforcement questions
In response to the proposed federal ban on all cellphone use in vehicles, I felt it was important to voice my protest against such a ban.
While I agree that texting, tweeting and playing games on cellphones or any device is not only dangerous, but reckless and stupid, simply talking on a phone does not justify such a ban. After all, there are plenty of hands-free devices available out there and, in fact, many people use them. I use an ear piece any time I am driving and using my cellphone in accordance with local law.
However, I have seen an abundance of other drivers who continue to use their phones up to their ear in complete defiance of the law. Several times now I have had to dodge out of the way of irresponsible drivers using their phones as I jog down the Queen Kaahumanu Highway on my lunch break. I have even observed drivers talking on cellphones right in front of police officers — who do absolutely nothing about it.
So, we have a law that is in place that is rarely enforced. How can we count upon local law enforcement to enforce a federally mandated total ban on cellphones?
And speaking of law enforcement, isn’t it hypocritical for law enforcement officials to enforce a ban on an activity in which they also partake? I mean, aren’t police just as distracted by using a cellphone as every other Tom, Dick and Harry? Do they receive some kind of special training to keep them from being distracted? If so, why not offer it to private citizens? And why do they need cellphones, anyway? They have radios in their cars and on their persons. In fact, it seems like police officers should be banned from using cellphones since it would distract them from listening to emergency calls on their radios. And since it apparently requires three to four police officers to initiate a regular traffic stop in this state, they should all be listening to their radios and not chatting away on their phones.
Shawn Lathrop
Waikoloa
Tyranny
What’s your definition?
President Barack Obama has signed into law a $662 billion military spending bill, but the waste of our national treasure is not the point of my letter. My focus is on the fact the bill obliterates the core principals this country was founded on, authorizing the government and the military indefinitely to detain American citizens — without trial.
Despite the fact that sections of the bill were opposed by key members of the Obama administration, including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, both our supposedly liberal Hawaii Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka voted for it, as did Rep. Mazie Hirono.
Human rights groups are outraged at Obama for backing down on his initial threat to veto the legislation. Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch said, “President Obama will go down in history as the president who enshrined indefinite detention without trial in U.S. law.”
Chris Anders, of the American Civil Liberties Union, said, “This is so broadly written … that 10 years, 20 years down the road, any president could still use this power to have the military pick up people and indefinitely detain them without charge or trial, potentially for years, potentially for life.”
Without charge or trial, my friends, without charge or trial.
What’s your definition of tyranny?
Jake Jacobs
Kalaoa