Super PACs lack responsibility

The famous "Dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired me again to judge not by the color of one’s skin but by the content of one’s character.

An unrelated news story brought the present-day lack of responsibility crashing in. It seems that the Super PACs and the candidates they support have no scruples or moral responsibilities.

Candidates not only deny knowing what a PAC might be saying, but have a law to prevent their communication with the PAC.

Therefore, the candidate can legally admit that he has no responsibility for what may be true or not true, and cannot be held accountable for any of the PAC ads.

I wonder how Dr. King’s speech would sound today.

I have a dream, to be judged not by my well-hidden true character but by the content of the bank accounts of those who wish to further a political agenda.

Leo Stuart
Makiki

Marc Alexander wrong to resign

Let’s change things.

The governor should notify Marc Alexander that, on second thought, he will not accept Alexander’s resignation as governor’s representative addressing the massive homelessness crisis situation.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie should tell Alexander, "Get back to work."

There was no justifiable reason for the resignation. If Alexander believed that the irrelevant personal attacks on him might in some way interfere with his work on behalf of the homeless, he was very wrong.

The general public and those of us who were working on homeless issues had in him a coordinator who not only had the governor’s ear, but forged together very divergent efforts by sensitive craftsmanship.

He cared.

His loss and loss of his position is monumental. Anyone working with Alexander verifies that we need his rare skills.

I’ve waited for reason to prevail. I now resort to begging.

Governor, please, we need him back, now.

Tony Locricchio
Maunawili

Transit consultant was not impartial

The Star-Advertiser story on transportation consultant Wendell Cox and his presentation at an anti-rail public relations event neglected to explain who Cox actually is, only his affiliation with Los Angeles County 25 years ago ("Rail costs low-balled, consultant says," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 14).

Cox is no impartial transportation expert, but someone who earns his income fighting rail projects and public mass transit across the country.

He promotes building more highways and double- decking and widening existing freeways.

Cox has been paid by the highway lobby to support his research, which is uniformly critical of passenger rail.

Cox wrote at least two reports — one downplaying the Amtrak rail system’s impact on traffic congestion and one praising the interstate highway system — that were paid for by the American Highway Users Alliance, a who’s who of the auto, cement, asphalt and petroleum industries.

Alicia Maluafiti
Ewa Beach

Vietnam vets did not get their due

It’s been over three decades since the Vietnam War.

Still, the veterans of that war do not have the respect they deserve. Most of the vets enlisted because they felt it was their duty to fight for their country.

They were young and naive but came out as men of honor. Many gave their lives to honor the United State of America.

What’s the difference between that war and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The Vietnam vets did not have ceremonies to honor their return. But, the vets from Iraq and Afghanistan had their special ceremonies.

So, I tip my hat and salute all the Vietnam veterans. I believe there are others who feel the same.

Thanks again for your service and sacrifices.

Ed Fukuyama
Honolulu