Subsidies shift costs, not lower them

A bunch of money is being spent in the local media by the Hawaii Health Connector (aka Hawaii Obamacare) touting the benefits of the new law.

A recent one in your newspaper was headlined "Lowering the cost of coverage: How to get financial subsidies."

In truth, however, the cost of coverage has not been lowered. It has just been subsidized by taxes.

"Financial subsidies" just means coverage for someone will be paid for by someone else.

Does this bother anybody but me?

Rich Greenamyer
Mililani

Windmills dreadful for many reasons

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz does not appear to have conducted adequate research regarding his wind energy bill.

My daughter and her family live in south-central Minnesota. I’ve driven through miles of Minnesota and viewed many windmills on farms.

Many farmers who permitted windmills built on their farms subsequently moved away. The unceasing, low humming noise was a constant irritant.

People of Hawaii who reside near proposed windmills should take heed. It may provide jobs, but what will it do to their health, hearing and homes?

Can they live with the unceasing, low humming noise?

Endangered birds may be killed flying through these windmills, which are also an ugly blight on Hawaii’s pristine landscape.

Maile Nicholas
Hawaii Kai

Hostility won’t solve isle homelessness

As a former homeless person, I can relate to state Rep. Tom Brower’s desperate desire to solve the problem of chronic homelessness.

However, I am distressed by hisovert hostility.I am hurt to hear an elected member of our government proudly recalling how he ordered homeless citizens to "get your ass(es) moving." A community leader should be a role model for compassionate problem solving and communication that edifies.

The twin bombs of blame and shame lobbed in my direction did not benefit me. Assistance and realistic solutions offered by our government and community organizations helped me find and keep housing.

Any successful answerhonors everyone’s humanity.

Tangee Renee Lazarus
Makiki

U.S. ignores Israel’s nuclear weapons

Kathy Novak offers an erroneous comparison as to why U.S. diplomacy with Iran is not appropriate, while ignoring Israel’s hundreds of nuclear weapons that threaten its neighbors and the Middle East peace ("Iran deal is like Nazi appeasement," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 28).

Israel’s holocaust theme is an excuse to continue Israel’s own violence toward others. Also, Israel’s objections to U.S. peace overtures to Iran cover up its own violent actions toward the Palestinians and violations of international law.

The U.S. government should drop all sanctions of Iran and pursue diplomatic relations. Israel is the state that should be sanctioned, with military and economic support withdrawn.

Patricia Blair
Kailua

Pharmacy College isn’t really needed

The first thing that should be taken off from the list of exemptions to the University of Hawaii building freeze is $33 million for the UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy.

If there’s anything we don’t need at all, it’s more pharmacists. And definitely not for $33 million. That’s $1 million per graduate. What we do need are more medical doctors.

If the criteria for exemption is not actual need but the influence of construction lobbyists to force the Legislature to spend unnecessary taxpayers’ money, as it seems to be, then let them spend $33 million in Hilo, but make it for a medical school that produces needed medical doctors.

Those few new pharmacists that may be needed can go to some mainland schools. Some have exchange programs with UH. That would cost us nothing, let alone $33 million.

Gerhard C. Hamm
Waialae Iki

Add Shoji’s name to UH sports center

In his 39th season, Dave Shoji has achieved a major milestone by becoming the winningest coach in Division 1 women’s volleyball history, in a division that consists of 332 colleges across the country.

Hawaii has led the nation in attendance for the past 19 years and has produced steady profits for the university. UH is competing against Nebraska for the most ticket sales this year.

Wahine volleyball has produced 35 All-Americans and 39 winning seasons. It is time to honor Shoji for his long and distinguished career. The citizens of this state will agree that he has earned and deserved to have his name added to the Stan Sheriff Center.

A combination of Shoji-Sheriff Center would be commendable. There are famous arenas and stadiums across the nation with dual names such as the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Afook-Chinen Arena in Hilo, or the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

They are named after legends and individuals who have donated millions.

Les Higa
Ala Moana

‘Big Q’ results ran counter to hoopla

I couldn’t wait to see the results of your Big Q Poll on Dec. 2: "Do you expect to be attending a same-sex marriage in the coming year?" Not too surprising: 85 percent said "No," 15 percent said "Yes." Yet the way all the Hawaii news outlets carry on about how wonderful this is, you would think it would have been the other way around.

Dale Christensen
Haleiwa