What we need is more doctors

In defense of his health care act, President Barack Obama recently said, "It has everything to do with the economy, in addition to what I consider to be the moral imperative that a mom should not have to go bankrupt if her son or daughter gets sick."

The president has no shortage of Ivy League economists around him (maybe that is the problem). Economists are not preachers of morality, but should know there are no solutions to economic problems, only trade-offs.Under Obamacare, the referenced "mom" may be saved from bankruptcy, but could she find quality medical care in a timely manner to save her children?

Here in the president’s native land, there is a shortage of experienced and specialized physicians. Their poolis aging and retiring with the major portion of our population.Could any of the president’s economists, or our own economists here, tell us that his health care act would bring us morephysicians?

Hamid Jahanmir
Makiki

Businesses need healthy workers

So, a healthy staff, one provided reasonable health coverage in the event of illness or accident, isn’t an important bottom line item for Hawaiian Brian’s ("Some to take hit, others will save," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 30)?

The fact that covered employees might be able to return to work sooner from a medical emergency has no effect on his business?

No wonder the GOP is held in such disregard these days!

Michael O’Hara
Kaneohe

Kauai Council sets example

Kudos to Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser and the people of Kauai for passing their bill setting usage parameters for the highly toxic and health-deteriorating pesticides used by multiple biotech companies. They are protecting the people of that island despite company lawyers saying they would sue Kauai if the bill passed.

It’s too bad that Oahu’s City Council members are so adamantly against passing a GMO labeling bill. But then again, why would they even consider biting the hand that feeds them?

There is something that each and every one of us can do. Read labels. If soy, corn, cotton and sugar ingredients do not say organic, there is a 90 percent likelihood that those ingredients are GMOs. If canola oil says organic, stay away. Rapeseed, the foundation of canola oil, is a GMO and was originally used as an industrial solvent.

My question then is, how does a genetically modified substance become transformed to become fit for human consumption be it "organic" or not?

Hesh Goldstein
Hawaii Kai

GMO advocates are well funded

After reading "Mainland cash fuels the fight" in Sunday’s paper, I now look forward to the follow-up article, "Mainland biotech cash fuels legislators."

The far larger story, which has gone on much longer, is the influence of biotech money on state and county legislators and executives. This influence is clearly seen in the blockage of GMO regulations by the same individuals who get buckets of money from Monsanto, et al.

It is clearly documented on the Campaign Spending Commission website.

I ask my newspaper, in the interest of fairness, to please either follow up on the analysis done by Babes Against Biotech or do your own analysis. Be sure to include money from the companies themselves, their several layers of lobbying firms and the principal individuals. Compare that to their votes on the issue. Then please feature that information as prominently as you did the GMO activist support, which is but a drop in the bucket by comparison.

Thank you in advance for this public service.

Stacey Tucker
Pahoa, Hawaii island

Movable divider would help H-1

The state Department of Transportation announced recently that it is reviewing its plans for managing H-1 traffic during peak hours. I suggest the following:

Demolish the center dividing wall that separates the eastbound and westbound traffic. In its stead, for non-peak hours, use the movable Zipper wall to create separation between eastbound and westbound traffic.

For morning peak hour traffic heading east, move the Zipper wall one lane over into the westbound side and vice-versa for the afternoon traffic going west.

Glen S. Arakaki
Kamehameha Heights

Geothermal is not fracking

Here we go again, stifling geothermal energy to the detriment of the economy and environment ("Kenoi backs health study for geo-thermal power," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 24).

Some Hawaii decision-makers in the ’80s thwarted the implementation of geo-thermal in the wake of a campaign based on falsehoods. We know geothermal works well in Iceland and New Zealand.

Calling geothermal fracking is outright false.To add to the insult, the media report it.

Will Hawaii once again fall victim to the falsehoods of the just-say-no minority?

Hawaii can do better; let’s do it.

Fred Hemmings
Kailua

Cal Kawamoto served U.S. well

The late former Sen. Cal Kawamoto was a great patriot who flew 211 missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War ("Isle senator was champion for Waipahu," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 26).

At one time, he held the record among American airmen for the number of sorties into enemy territory. He served his country with unquestioned valor and honor. As Cal’s fraternity brother and fellow Vietnam War veteran, I salute him.

Brother Cal, may you rest in peace.

Galen Narimatsu
Waialae Iki

Shutdown blame being misplaced

The press wants to blame the government shutdown on the Republicans.

The House of Representatives is the "house of the people." Any legislation that comes from the House therefore comes from the people. Polls show that the people want Obamacare to be stopped, at least temporarily. The House is attempting to do so, but the Senate is stopping it.

If the Senate does not approve the House bill, then the Senate is to be blamed for the shutdown. If the Senate passes the bill and the president vetoes it, as he says he will, the president will have shut down the government.

Let’s put the blame where it belongs.

Otto Cleveland
Pearl City

Multilingualism going too far?

How far are we going to take this ("Group sues state over English driver’s test," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 7)?

Before you know it, the state Department of Transportation will be sued for not having traffic signs in other languages. Imagine seeing traffic signs in 12 different languages. If we have to abide by traffic signs written in English, shouldn’t we be tested in English?

Linda Hayashi
Pearl City