Lingle inspired new GOP cadre

I was personally offended by David Shapiro’s commentary (“GOP’s state of affairs in isles not solely Kaauwai’s fault,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Sept. 28).

I think of myself as one of the “bright young Republicans” who was recruited and nurtured by Gov. Linda Lingle — and I know I’m not alone. I had the honor of serving as the chief communications officer during her administration and experienced tremendous personal and professional growth under her leadership.

Shapiro also overlooked the makeup of the newly elected executive committee of the Hawaii Republican Party. Besides the young executive members who joined the leadership team by unanimous consent at the May 2011 state convention, the average age of the convention delegates has dropped.

Another case in point: Beth Fukumoto, a young woman who, at the ripe old age of 28, is serving as the interim chairwoman for the party.

There is a fresh new approach in the Hawaii Republican Party and it’s being directed by the next generation of leaders, inspired by Linda Lingle.

America should return to a draft

I would like to applaud the comments of Dan Boucon (“Military benefits are not welfare,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 23).

As an Army retiree with two tours in Vietnam, I agree it is time to return to the draft and pay sub-minimum wages like they did in the past.

Second, we should have all military personnel with the rank of Sergeant E-5 and below live on post. Today, especially with the ridiculous cost of living allowances, I know of many single soldiers living in our community, sometimes four or five sharing a house and driving expensive cars, while myself, at age 72, still work part-time to survive. This is due to the all-volunteer Army and trying to attract individuals to join up.

This is one reason we have so many homeless in our state. Why should landlords rent to those who can barely get by when they can get more from our military personnel?

Street cones are there for safety

The people raising complaints of excessive placements of safety cones are not thinking with common sense. These cones are for safety. They are there to indicate to the many inattentive drivers ahead of time that the lane directions have been changed.

Will it take a road worker to get hit by a driver for someone to say there should have been more safety cones out to warn drivers? Besides, the companies that do the road work are exercising their right to safety, no matter how excessive, because of costly insurance premiums.

People over 18 are legal adults

The recent Hawaii Supreme Court decision to force a divorced father to pay educational expenses in child support for his

25-year-old daughter is insane. Married parents are under no legal obligation to pay college expenses for their children. They do so at their own discretion and to their own financial ability.

Once people achieve age 18 they are no longer minors under the custody of their parents; they are adults who can vote, make their own health care decisions and enter into binding contracts.

Unlike many other states, Hawaii provides for child support and educational expenses to the children of divorced parents up to age 23 or graduation.

If the court can force divorced parents to pay for adult children at age 25, where does it stop? 30? 40? This creates an un-American dual class of adult citizens — offspring of married parents and offspring of divorced parents.

Nurses union not doing well

Our nurses union should not endorse anyone, especially with the public assumption that we, the members, are behind the candidate. I vote my own mind, not what the union thinks I should.

It is pure folly and obviously not an effective tactic; otherwise, we would not be in arbitration.

Our “step movements” (pay for experience) were lost in the Legislature due to lack of union action, not on the U.S. Senate campaign trail.

Political endorsements are nothing more than a union effort to appear strong and active for its membership without actually doing anything. Please stop this nonsense and get back to work promoting us in the state Legislature where it counts.