Hawaii cannot sustain growth

The more they build, the more they come.

They assume growth is good and necessary, when in fact it is the opposite — burdening this island with crowding, traffic following development, and increased cost of living, rail transit, environmental degradation and water shortages. Real estate brochures in Waikiki are not there to advertise affordable housing for locals. They’re there to solicit in-migration.

Regarding water, desalination is environmentally abusive. The balance of nature is too fragile and intricate to endure the extract- ed salt disposal for long.

Overdrawing water from the aquifer is another nightmare. Drawing too much water shrinks the aquifer in all directions and salt water mixes into the potable water. Salt water intrusion is eternal, with serious health consequences.

Our lawmakers should confront reality and stop what they’ve allowed with sloppy and dangerous zoning and permitting.

Caroll Han
Punchbowl

Veterans should be top priority

I am a Marine from World War II. I saw many injured sailors and Marines and saw some who did not make it. I was appalled by the president’s namby-pamby approach to the VA hospital problem. He should have come out swinging and simply solved the immediate problem by just advising all service men caught in this mess to report to a VA hospital next week. And if the hospital can’t handle them, it will refer them to a civilian hospital and the government will pick up the tab.

We cannot afford to let our soldiers, sailors and Marines down. Now go and fire those responsible and correct the system.

Where would the government find the money? In order of priority, this is pretty high. Name something more important than saving the lives of service members who have placed themselves in harm’s way.

Charles R. Jones
Kailua

Fire Congress, not Shinseki

I wish it were as easy to fire members of Congress as they seem to think they can order the firing of others. They can screw up, but they just get their hands slapped and get to stay in Congress, keeping all of their lovely perks.

Give Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki a chance.He needs time to sort out all of the problems that have been plaguing the VA long since before he was in charge.

It is always easy to blame one person, but I am sure there are many, many to blame who are operating under the wire, and have been for a long time.

It’s not like Congress can solve anything. Look at its record.

Alice Vinton
Makiki

Single-payer system is fine

As a retired Air Force flyer with combat-related disabilities, I am very fortunate to benefit from federal single-payer health systems. Thanks to a "too big" government, I am blessed with coverage from Medi-care, Tri Care For Life and the U.S. Veterans Administration.

All these single payers have provided me the best possible medical care and services one could want.

I have noted the derogatory comment about single-payer programsmade by Dr. Kent Davenport ("VA problems are portent of future," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 27, 2014). He is entitled to his opinion, but many doctors have come out in support of a single-payer national health program.

Politicians such as U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma have blocked needed funding for the VA even after seriously disabled troops were returning from Iraq and Afghan- istan. Many of these politicians supported funding the wars, but balked at more funding for the VA.

Need I say more?

Joseph A. Cammalleri
Hawaii Kai

DOE execs need to get out more

The imperfections of Hawaii’s educational system continue to receive much attention. Of late, it adds to the theory that the further one works from the center of focus, the less one truly understands about transformative change.

Senior leaders at the Department of Education on Miller Street needs to leave their offices and go to the schools. Hawaii educators do not lack passion or drive for their jobs. They lack, rather, actionable behaviors from senior leadership that translate into, "We value you."

I will forever sing praises for my former complex area superintendent, Suzanne Mulcahy, whose support for me as a school-level administrator was beyond reproach; but my stacked plate of responsibility was outside her control.

Until those in authority are willing to listen, Hawaii will continue to lose excellent educators to early retirement.

Traci Kane
Henderson, Nev.