Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

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"Gabbard hits hazy U.S. goals in Iraq," Star-Advertiser, March 18:

» U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is making a critical point: At what point do we deem it worth it to sacrifice our troops’ lives, well-being and limbs and the billions or trillions of dollars spent on this war that could have been used to help worthwhile causes here at home? It’s not worth it. The terrorists simply roam about and find a new base anyway.

» We had clear goals. We sent our soldiers there to remove "weapons of mass destruction" from Iraq. The rest of the time we’ve spent there is repairing the broken dishes in the china shop. Thousands, if not millions, of Iraqis still cannot return home to Iraq because of the ongoing conflict in the country. Maybe at this point we should allow them to emigrate to the U.S.

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"Schatz has little time to show his stuff," Star-Advertiser, March 18:

» U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has shown himself to be a very effective senator and quite in touch with the issues affecting both the nation and Hawaii. It’s my gut feeling a challenge by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa would not be a successful one.

» U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has made a name for herself in Congress, just as she did in the state Senate, and she would accomplish much for Hawaii in the U.S. Senate. The late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye knew that, and that is why it was his dying wish that she succeed him.

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"2% pay raises advocated for top officials, judges," Star-Advertiser, March 19:

» Mainstreet is still struggling and Govstreet votes themselves a pay raise?

» Our pay raises should go to teachers who motivate and mentor our best and brightest.

» These folks should be getting less, not more.

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"UH’s new chief librarian is due for big pay raise," Star-Advertiser, March 19:

» If the University of Hawaii is improperly managed, do what other organizations do when this happens — replace those responsible for creating the chaos and disorder and then allow UH to conduct its business. Imagine how oppressive and paralyzed the university would become if legislators were called on by law to second guess every decision that UH makes in hiring and salaries.

» The salary of the director of the Library of Congress is $125,000. The highest librarian salary at the University of Texas at Austin is $114,000. So regarding concerns about the Legislature getting involved in University of Hawaii hiring and salaries … yes, they do need to get involved.

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"DOE chief of finance frets cuts to budget by House," Star-Advertiser, March 20:

» Common Core initiatives don’t require laptops for every student. Digital media tutorials, yes, but a few in the classroom can do that job.

» It looks like the state Department of Education will just have to teach its students to read using books and instruct them to do math on paper. I’m pretty sure learning can be achieved using those methods, but maybe it’s just too "old school."

» That’s how the people who invented computers, sent men into outer space and created all the other gadgets we have learned their skills, with paper and pencil.

» Student achievement is not tied to money, only the fiefdom of the DOE and Board of Education.

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"Lack of censure amplifies Hanohano’s ugly racist rant," Star-Advertiser, March 20:

» Columnist Dave Shapiro is right: House Speaker Joe Souki should have censured state Rep. Faye Hanohano’s remarks. She needs to be recalled or at least not re-elected.

» In a moment of passion, the sheep’s clothing slipped off, revealing the wolf beneath. At least we all now know the true nature of the beast.

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"Council rejects fuel tax hike, 6-3," Star-Advertiser, March 21:

» Hawaii already pays near the highest gas taxes in the nation. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is out of line to try and have us pay more.

» The City Council continues to skirt the fundamental problem. Central to this issue of a collapsing road infrastructure is the increasing subsidy from the highway fund to pay for TheBus and the HandiVan. Most everything mentioned in this article by both the mayor and the City Council members is simply beating around the bush and is living testament to the acute level of Honolulu’s socially progressive dysfunctional management and leadership.

» We have so many infrastructure problems to correct, yet we went ahead with rail. How are we going to pay for all of this? Taxes, that’s how.