Letters to the Editor

Republican Party vital to U.S. future

One has to ask if the Republican Party is still relevant, if they are to compete in future elections. It is not only relevant, but, vital for the future growth of America.

America has prospered through independence and innovation. Businesses had to try new methods and ideas, learning from their mistakes, before success would come.The foundation was set for our nation to become the leader of the world both in freedom and commerce. People from all over the world flocked to our shores to reap the benefits of our resilient society. Now, we’re a nation that has lost its way, fumbling to find ways to provide for the masses, with dwindling resources. This paradox cannot continue.

What is needed is a step back, so that we can regain our vigor and restore the values that made our country great.

Let’s hope that we can come to our senses before it’s too late.

Chuck Balcher
Waikiki

Voting process here needs improvement

At 8:10 a.m. there were plenty of parking spaces and no lines at the polling site.

I was instructed to bring my sample ballot, which contained a UPC code that was scanned and immediately confirmed that I was at the right location.

The electronic voting machines were easy to read, with large print for those of us visually challenged. Each time I made my selection, a large green check mark appeared next to the candidate’s name. I was able to read a printed form of my electronic ballot right at the machine before electronically casting my vote. Within 10 minutes I was given a "I have voted" lapel sticker and was thanked for coming.

After having cast ballots in Hawaii for 30 years, I could easily spot the differences between my new location and my old state.

It’s too bad Hawaii does not seem to be able to operate its polling places in a similarly efficient and confidence-rendering manner.

Linda L. Smith
Incline Village, Nev.

Investigate problem of missing ballots

As a vice chairman of the previous Elections Appointment and Review Panel, I hope that the elections commission will convene soon to hear complaints from the public about the lack of ballots at 70 polling places, especially for 19 in East Honolulu, plus Kauai, the Big Island and two in Mililani.

This total failure by the elections chief, Scott Nago, should be a possible reason to fire him and look at re-introducing responsibility for elections to the lieutenant governor’s office.

Nago’s office workers could have assisted in getting the extra ballots from the Capitol to the polls by taxi or driving the paper to the polls themselves. This snafu further reduced the state’s low voter turnout.

As former state Rep. Barbara Marumoto said on election night, this big miscalculation could raise suspicions of conspiracy in the minds of many, and especially among East Oahu’s electorate.

We must know that every vote counts and all registered voters are allowed to cast their ballot.

Warner Kimo Sutton
Waialae

Ban sign-waving near intersections

There should be a law that requires political sign-wavers to be 500 feet from an intersection and 1,000 feet from a signalized intersection.

Intersections are extremely dangerous at any speed, and having any unnecessary distractions for drivers at these locations is really stupid!

Scott Giles
Kailua-Kona

Caldwell did well throughout Oahu

Your district-by-district map of Caldwell vs. Cayetano election results ("‘New’ voters, Carlisle supporters send Caldwell to Honolulu Hale," Nov. 8) shows that Kirk Caldwell won by rolling up big margins in some districts while losing elsewhere only narrowly.

For example, Caldwell won Mililani (36thand 37th) by more than 5,400 votes, while former Gov. Ben Cayetano won Kaneohe (48th) by just four votes.

While these are extreme examples, Caldwell starts his new term reasonably popular everywhere on Oahu. This is a fundamental truth everyone should respect.

Also, the mayoral race was dramatically different from the rail charter amendment vote four years ago. That 2008 vote was very geographic, with rail support rolling across West Oahu and across urban Honolulu except Manoa, while failing narrowly everywhere else. This new vote shows the election was about more than rail, which hurt Cayetano, because he was seen as a one-issue candidate.

Hannah Miyamoto
Waikiki

Elevated rail is not what Oahu needs

The problem with rail: It doesn’t need to be heavy; it doesn’t need to be elevated; it needs to go where people go.

Look at other cities — Portland for example — with an extensive light rail and streetcar system that connects downtown, the airport and suburbs. It uses mostly at-grade routes that share the road with cars. It is user-friendly, cheap to use and works.

An elevated system on this island will be a blight. The Hono-lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation should rethink this so it makes more sense and costs less to build and maintain.

Michael Zucker
Palolo Valley

Provide airlines with Hawaii videos

We have just returned from another trip to the mainland, flying this time on American Airlines, and it struck us as odd that the airline does not have an introductory video welcoming the visitors to Hawaii.

This time, we were sitting among German visitors and military dependents who would surely have enjoyed and profited by such a good video as we saw on another airline.

Surely, the Hawaii Visitors Bureau must have funds to provide a good video to American Airlines? It would be money well spent.

Ted Green
Kaaawa