Media hinder voter awareness

I have long been aware that the root of evil in our government is money in politics. When legislation and government actions don’t make sense, I follow the money, and the motive becomes clear.

But I learned something new from Kevin Horrigan ("Protecting the plutocracy," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 19), or maybe he just verbalized it for me.He quoted 30-year Republican insider Mike Lofgren, who said that much of the press is "credulous and uncritical." As a result, he said, "that part of the electorate that would like to be well-informed must struggle to stay informed. The rest of the electorate — known in the trade as ‘low information voters’ — is easily distracted by the bells and whistles of the postwar consumer society."

"Low information voters" are the reason that money — and the brainwashing it buys — is able to win elections and control our government.

Wynnie Hee
Mililani

Pupukea view has been ruined

From our homes on Pupukea ridge, our once-pristine views now include giant windmills and, soon, 20 large red lights blinking into our windows all night.

We support alternative energy; but alternatives like solar should have been given far more serious consideration.

What sustains us are our natural landscapes and view plains (yes, tourism). This is especially true on the North Shore of Oahu.

We were shocked when the 500-foot towers began to appear visually in our backyards.Announced public meetings on the windmills never mentioned Pupukea. No visuals were published.Our neighborhood board was told that the geography of the land would hide the turbines.

Kamehameha Schools and First Wind failed those of us most affected by these windmills, as they, no doubt, knew we would fight them tooth and nail. This is unconscionable and they need to be held accountable.

Sandy and Phil Booth, and Andrea and Richard Davis
Pupukea

Government has role to play

Referring to Mitt Romney’s recent comments, yes, I expect some support from the government.

Yes, I expect the government to provide certain things for me: the roads on which I drive to and from work and elsewhere; reliable water and electricity supply; clean, reliableand inspected food supplies; laws providing protection and eliminating discrimination; and ensuring that certain things are done by private industries, such as health and property insurance, are done fairly and at reasonable prices, just to name a few.

Yes, I pay taxes: income, on what investments I can make, and for Medicare and Social Security.

Mr. Romney made my day. I’m hoping what he said and continues to say will help President Barack Obama be re-elected.

I also hope we get a Congress that can move beyond the gridlock of the past two years.

Lance Bateman
Upper Kalihi Valley

Don’t let PLDC bypass our laws

Throughout America, the private sector has been allowed to use public lands since the early 1900s as its own; extending its own property lines into the conservation areas (i.e., pasture lands for their herds), then fencing the areas its own.

So what’s next?Monsanto corn on conservation lands?

We can’t allow the governor to allow this not-so-public Public Land Development Corp. to bypass regulations that we the public need to follow.

Sylvia Thompson
Makiki

Rich retirees take advantage

It is high time we considered taxing all of the income of the well-heeled, regardless of the sources.

In Hawaii, we have residents who "retire" to six-figure jobs, while drawing one or even two pensions.

These people, many of whom spent most of their careers outside Hawaii, not contributing to our local tax base, now live in homes protected by taxpayer-funded police and fire departments, drive on taxpayer-maintained roads, and swim at beaches guarded by taxpayer-funded lifeguards. Yet they jealously guard exemptions sheltering substantial portions of their incomes while the rest of us pay.

The worst of all are those who pad their pensions by working overtime in their last year on the job, then retire to inflated pensions that would be the envy of most workers stuck with defined-contribution (401K and IRA) plans.

Anyone making more than $100,000 per year should be more than willing to pay their fair share for the privilege of living in Hawaii.

Michael DeWeert
Kailua