Ferry opponents ought to keep shovels handy
The crybaby folks who are trying to delay or stop the Hawaii Superferry are very much like the people who, years ago, tried to mandate that everyone stick with horses instead of having the option of an automobile.
Imagine if they had gotten their way! We would be drowning in so much horse manure ... which is what the call for expensive and elaborate "impact" studies really is.
Let's not let a few misguided individuals block or delay a great new option for both transportation and commerce. If you do not like the ferry, just don't use it -- but don't block others from doing so.
Francis Wandell
Holualoa, Hawaii
Thielen, GOP don't jibe on environment
State Rep. Cynthia Thielen says
she wants to debate U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka on environmental issues. Perhaps she should debate President Bush and the national Republican Party on that issue first, since they have been doing everything they can to relax environmental regulations for big corporations in the past six years.
Under Bush and the GOP-controlled Congress, we've seen an erosion of federal support for our national parks and forests, while Big Oil has been reaping windfall profits from generous tax breaks handed out by her party. It's laughable to think Republicans will do anything on the national level to address serious problems such as global warming, when Bush himself has stated he believes the jury is still out on it -- despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Further, if Bush and the national GOP knew about Thielen's pro-hemp views, they would immediately launch a campaign to smear her as being a liberal advocate for legal drugs, even though the hemp industry she supports has nothing to do with the kind of hemp that gets smoked.
Actually, I'm wondering just what Gov. Linda Lingle and Thielen were smoking in the back rooms when they decided to make the environment their keystone issue in the first place.
Rich Figel
Kailua
Democratic 'machine' is made up of voters
Please tell cartoonist Corky (
Star-Bulletin, Sept. 25) that our two great Democratic candidates for Congress, U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka and former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, were elected through the dedication, hard work and "Get Out the Vote" efforts of citizens who believe in democracy. If we are a "machine," then what is the Lingle $6 million war chest? We have people; they have big bucks.
I learned in civics class that votes and participation were the American way. We did that. Please don't try to discredit political hard work and voting.
Nancy Bey Little
Makiki
Hawaii delegation will let terrorists win
The results of the primary election in Hawaii are a hard blow against our involvement in the Middle East. Most Hawaii voters are unaware of our country being at war against a ruthless and persistent enemy who wants to destroy America. Most who cast their votes sent our representatives in Congress to further divide our country's effort to defeat those Islamic fanatics. This spells defeat, and our children and future generations might be praying in front of their god, Allah, instead of our almighty Christian god.
Hawaii already has three of our delegation in Congress who don't support our efforts in the Middle East. It is enough another leader like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela tried to ridicule our president, and yet we are sending a representative who will disturb the hornet's nest and further weaken our endeavor on the war front.
The blame game about our involvement in Iraq is a thing of the past. We must all look forward, be united as one nation and defeat our enemies who want to destroy us.
Bernardo P. Benigno
Mililani
What is Congress doing with our money?
Pursuant to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, only 26 percent of the public approves of Congress.
I think the Republicans have had unchecked power for too long when, in 2000, we had a $5 trillion surplus and now, in 2006, we have a projected $12 trillion debt ceiling. Where has all that taxpayer money gone?
Vote Democratic this November and throw the bums out!
Phil Robertson
Honolulu