Be Smart during this election

This election it will more than likely be one where you would like to see change for the better. It is most unfortunate that we are having mid term elections at this time.

Learn as much as you can about your candidates because if they are successful you will have them as your reps for at least two years to come. Dig deep if you get a chance.

Felix Aguon is a KUAM radio personality and guest blogger

Crime doesn't pay on Guam

Our laws and the interpretation of these laws, are stacked in favor of the criminal, specially the juvenile offenders. Our laws and the way it is implemented, have made it possible for crime to be profitable. Our criminals know that crime pays well and pays profitably, since the fear of punishment is not present, there is no deterrent.

We cannot blame the judges, the police department or the lawyers. They have to work within the parameters that the law allows them. We blame the police department for not locking up all the crooks and punks, but it is the law that prevents them. We tend to blame the lawyers for using all the tricks and skills to let a criminal go free. But it is the law that allows them to use such technicalities that allow our criminals to go free.

It is ironic that we, the law abiding citizens must board up our homes, place iron bars in our windows, and install burglar alarms in our homes to protect and isolate us from the criminal elements; in effect creating our own prison. It should be the other way around. The punks and criminals should be the ones behind bars. Our police department catches the criminals, our prosecutor vigorously prosecutes the cases, but unfortunately the existing laws thwart their efforts and set the criminals free, to commit the same crime that they were originally caught. Our laws must be changed to protect the majority of our society and to give added protection to the victims.

Attempts at "rehabilitation" have not worked. Criminals must be kept incarcerated! how else can they be "rehabilitated" if they are not in prison? DOC should have a farm, and let their "clients" till the soil and produce their own crops, and make them clean and repair streets with a big "P" on their backs. A little shame will go a long way, and be more effective than all the fancy talks of counselors and experts.

This system has worked in other countries. We have tried everything else, none has worked, why not try this last effort. Teach them to be farmers for their own food. Unless a prison has the best of everything, private rooms, colored TV, recreational facilities, country club atmosphere, good food, etc., it could be classified as cruel and unusual punishment.

Delays in the judicial system should be avoided. Immediate and swift punishment after the crime, will make the criminal realize a correlation between crime and punishment. The closer the time between the criminal act and the punishment, will make for a more efficient deterrent. And more important, a message must be sent to the US Supreme Court, that their very liberal interpretation of the Constitution, is different from the original intent of the founding fathers. It is ironic that the Liberal leaders of our government (Kennedy's, Johnson, etc) live in very isolated, high priced, crime free, private security, gated neighborhoods.

Let the bleeding heart liberals and social activist live in middle class and lower income neighborhoods, and they will quickly realize the need for protection from a very small criminal minority. Other communities have managed the transition of protecting the rights of the majority against the viciousness of criminals. Try walking around the Capital of the United States, Washington D.C. or the financial capital of the world, New York, or the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles, and you will quickly realize that the criminal jungle has taken over.

Did you know that it is cheaper to keep our prisoners at the Outrigger Hotel, in the lap of luxury, with free food and recreational facilities, than it is to let them stay inside prison walls?

Does this make sense?!?!?

Al Ysrael is a businessman and special contributing blogger for KUAM

No movement on war claims?

I am glad to have the chance to be able to get the word out in other ways than my dqaily radio program. It is good that I am able to discuss myviews with others regarding the subjects particularly relevent to Guam.

One of the things that came up this morning was the reason why we have not recieved any forward motion on the war claims issue. According to the office of the senator who seemed to have stopped the effort in its tracks was that Guam has received money for war claims in the past as people were paid for war dead a while back. We were also asked to contact our own congresswoman's office to find out these things and a counter offer that was cited. It would be nice to find out why Mrs. Bordallo has not informed the people as to the reason why the stoppage has resulted.

I think we would all be interested in hearing about that. I hope whatI have heard is not true.
Another thing that is relevent is the incident regarding the patient from Rota who had an issue with a doctor at our hospital regarding her father and the way one of our local doctors treated him during hios time on Guam and our hospital.
It is a damn shame.

Felix Aguon is a KUAM radio personality and a guestblogger.

HighSchool Diploma and the 29th Legislature

I think that the are definitely sending the wrong message to the young people of the island by taking away the requirement of a high school diploma to be able to get a non technical and non administrative position inmthe Government of Guam. We ned to encourage our kids all the more.

Felix Aguon is a KUAM radio personality and guest blogger

Guam's public bathrooms: beyond repulsive

Have you ever had to use the public bathrooms in our parks? I have. Aren't they filthy? No matter how much time and money spent, in keeping these public bathrooms clean, our parks employees just can't keep up by keeping them usable and clean. There is an old saying that when we dined at any public eating places, whether it is McDonald's, King's or Denny's, we can readily tell if the food being served is relatively safe and clean, by the way these establishments maintains their restrooms facilities.

The thousands of tourist who visits our island, unfortunately, gets a lasting impression of our island by the way we maintain our public restroom facilities. And, you know as well as I that it "ain't good".

In other parts of the world where the tourist industry is vital to their economy just as much as we do, you know there is a nominal charge being assessed for the use of these public restroom facilities. We should be able to do this also. The experienced tourist would not object to this; since it is quite common in other parts of the world, they visited.

Let's say if we assess, between twenty-five cents to half-dollar, just to use these public restroom facilities, i am sure we can be assured of the cleanliness of these restrooms.

If we feel that the tourism on Guam is good for Guam, why don't we think of just doing this? Otherwise, we deserve a bad reputation.

Perhaps, our Hotel and Restaurant Association in cooperation with the Guam Visitors Bureau and Parks and Maintenance Department should seriously consider assessing a nominal fee for the use of our public restroom facilities.

Special contributing blogger for KUAM Joe T. San Agustin has served Guam as former chairperson of the Democratic Party of Guam and as former speaker of the Guam Legislature. He is currently chairman of the GovGuam Retirement Fund.