U.S. presence in Iraq increases the dangers
It is not right to use the Individual Ready Reserve program to increase the number of troops available to send into Iraq. This administration needs to wake up and listen to the people of this country and the people of the free world.
Everyone knows that Iran, Iraq and other countries in the Middle East harbor terrorists.
But every day that we have troops in the Middle East it brings this mess closer to a world war.
This mentality that it is better to fight them in Iraq than in the United States is crazy. We need the National Guard here.
Sooner or later the people of the Middle East are going to give this country a wake-up call.
We need to bring our troops home now!
Charles Lopez
Waianae
Taxpayers have a right to expect good roads
Unfortunately, road condition is a real issue when it should be a common expectation for taxpayers. The same should go for all infrastructure. We should expect to drive our cars without dodging booby traps no less than flushing the toilet and expecting it to work. Let more taxpayers speak out for what they deserve, if that's what it takes.
I am 90 percent retired and do more driving now than before. If the roads are not repaired now, my car will be disabled and prevent me from going to work or meeting my volunteering commitments. I cannot go 15 miles without crashing six times into holes, gashes, sunken manholes and deteriorated roadways with a sickening bang and cuss under my breath. This cannot be good for my tires, rims, axles or alignment.
From an engineering standpoint, we should repave roads with deeper and thicker layers (maybe we need to auger out 2 inches of old pavement, which can be recycled) and consider using an adhesively superior asphalt mixture. There would be less maintenance, and we'd save money in the long run. We are approaching a backlogged 20-year cycle of repaving; the scheduled cycle is 10 years.
James Tanabe
Honolulu
Matsunaga stands out from the crowd
While most of the candidates running in the 2nd District congressional race are hardly distinguishable from one another, I see Matt Matsunaga as sticking out high above the rest. He is the only candidate with knowledge of federal issues. When you hear him talk, he knows the federal agencies, the legislative process and how Washington works. He has specific plans to introduce legislation and work with the other members of the House -- on both sides of the aisle -- to get bills for Hawaii passed. He's also young and enthusiastic. I feel like he really believes in the good government can do, and that he'd work hard for us.
Some of the other candidates (many of them) have done well for Hawaii in the state Legislature, but I just don't see them making the leap. Washington is a different ballgame, and I think Matsunaga is the only one of the 13 candidates we want to step up to the plate.
John Nakagawa
Honolulu
Let tourists join in next beach cleanup
The volunteers who helped to clear the beach of contaminants at Oneawa Beach in Kailua, should be commended for their efforts! This project should continue on a regular basis. Tourists also should be given the opportunity to share in preserving the aina with projects like this one.
There are many tourists who have come to love the islands of Hawaii as I have, and the protection of the land is of the utmost importance to so many of us who have been blessed to have visited Hawaii. Many tourists would feel honored to participate in preserving the ecosystem that benefits us all.
I have been blessed to have visited Oahu twice, and I fell in love the moment I got off the plane.
The feeling of aloha, the history, the people of Hawaii are a constant amazement to me. They have endured a past of shameful oppression, yet their never-ending love of aina, ohana and culture have been preserved, and they unselfishly share their aloha with us all.
Hawaiians have long held the belief that the land is precious and should be protected and cherished by each of us who enjoy its bounty and priceless beauty. We are the guardians of the future and should be ever vigilant and devoted to protecting Hawaii, a very special place, that God has created, from his love for us.
Pam Pershing
Terre Haute, Ind.