Governor’s style seems dictatorial

I find it a disturbing failure of leadership for Gov. Neil Abercrombie to request the wholesale resignation of incumbents from several government entities so that he can make his own picks, asserting that nothing can be done unless this happens.

All leaders naturally desire to have a few hand-picked staffers in key positions, but picking everyone has a dictatorial flavor. Democratic leadership is about assessing and organizing diverse people into effective teams and working with them to deliver on the objectives and goals set forth to them.

I would rather the governor spend his time and energy in this manner of leadership.

Raeanne Schmidt
Hawaii Kai

Canoe paddling a team effort

I hope no one resigns from the various boards as requested by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Our democracy depends on leaders who can shape consensus from diverse, often opposed, viewpoints, with reasonable checks and balances on power.

The governor is only one paddler in Hawaii’s political canoe that he so often talks about, but he increasingly seems unwilling to walk the talk. He needs to stay in the Hawaii canoe and help lead, not ask to switch to a new canoe.

If he wants to move the canoe in a new direction, he must do the hard but necessary work to sell his course to the other paddlers, not throw them overboard.

Mark Torreano
Honolulu

We have become a ‘democra$y’

Regarding your editorial about the decision of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ("Defend state campaign finance laws," Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 15), the 5-4 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission early last year struck a dagger into the heart of any attempt to control the size and reduce the influence of large campaign contributions in our national elections.

Now, apparently, judges all over the country are borrowing a page from that decision and striking down all regulations regarding campaign contributions at the state and local level. In the name of free speech, it appears that the sky is the limit.

It is terribly disheartening to live with these decisions and retain any faith in our democracy. Perhaps the time has come to change the spelling of democracy by deleting the last "c" and inserting a "$" instead. We have become a democra$y.

Ed Sullam
Honolulu

Foodland closure will affect traffic

Koko Marina made a lot of people unhappy with the recent announcement that Foodland will be closing due to failed lease negotiations.

Aside from not allowing any community input into the decision, and the fact that Hawaii Kai will be down to only one grocery store for its large population, this will create a traffic nightmare.

Unlike the two other shopping centers in Hawaii Kai, Koko Marina has the added benefit of visibility from visitors heading to Hanauma Bay.

It’s not unusual to be standing in line at Foodland on your way to or from work, and see the numerous visitors getting snacks, ice, drinks, etc. Will this be the target group for Walgreens? Let’s hope so, because I think most Hawaii Kai residents will boycott Walgreens.

If the tourists decide to venture off Kalanianaole Highway to find Costco or Safeway, good luck. Keahole Street is slow-moving as it is, and parking is already at a premium.

Lane Woodall
Hawaii Kai

Don’t cut back on social studies

In another summer surprise from our newly appointed Board of Education, the Student Achievement Committee will be entertaining an ill-conceived proposition to reduce the number of social studies credits required for high school graduation from four to three.

If passed, the requirement for a social studies elective for all public high school graduates would be eliminated.

This would be a travesty for public education and would mean that most students will have an inadequate understanding of social studies, the integration of social sciences and humanities that facilitates critical citizenship.

The Student Achievement Committee will be meeting beginning 8 a.m. today at 1390 Miller St. If you would be willing to testify against this proposal, please be there by 9:30, when testimony begins, to sign up.

If you cannot be there, please consider submitting testimony online at http://www.surveymonkey. com/s/HawaiiBoeTestimonyForm.

Amy Perruso
Mililani

Say thanks with fireworks display

It probably won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be great if the Honolulu Fire Department saved all the good aerial fireworks and then had a few professional licensed volunteers set them off for the public at Magic Island, or at beaches around the island? It might end up being a fantastic show for free, and a good farewell fireworks tribute to the public for cooperating in the program.

Bill Romerhaus
Haleiwa