Thanksgiving unappreciated

Once again, the Thanksgiving holiday is being treated like a speed bump in the rush to Christmas. 

Sears, Kmart and Macy’s all plan to open earlier than ever. So sad.

I feel badly for people in retail who won’t be able to have this one day of respite before the crazy shopping season begins.

I, for one, will not be in the mall on Thanksgiving.

Michel Grotstein
Kaneohe

Get ready for more GOP harm

Now that the Republicans have gained control of both houses of Congress, can we expect no impeachment, no government shutdowns, no unnecessary wars? Probably not.

Can we expect an increase in the minimum wage, a fairer tax system for everyone, a fair immigration system? Again, probably not.

What we will get is an ever-widening gap in income inequality along with all the other problems Republicans cause. When will voters wake up?

Sandra M. Barker
Hawaii Kai

Kudos to all who were candidates 

Mahalo to all candidates, whether or not they won offices. 

With their candidacies, they gave us a choice. For that I thank them.

K. Mamo Kuniyoshi

Mililani

Hawaii unwise to not vote GOP

I was disappointed that Hawaii voters did not see wisdom of having at least one Republican U.S. senator or representative in Washington, D.C.

Hawaii will find itself an orphan for two years in representation and budget issues.

Cy Barker
Kaneohe

Let’s unite for Hawaii’s future

I’d like to express a huge mahalo nui loa to all the amazing Waikiki and Ala Moana voters who put their trust in me on Election Day.

Although I won’t be working in the halls of local government, my neighbors can rest assured that with my extensive background in homelessness and strong relationships working with various shelters, mental health experts, state and county officials, I will continue to work tirelessly on the ground until we get this huge problem under control. I’ve reached out to state Rep. Tom Brower and offered my support in this gigantic undertaking.

May we continue to work together, sharing our special gift of aloha with all who live, work and visit the most magnificent place on Earth.

Janet Grace
Waikiki

Lax bank rules fueled crisis

Paul Krugman’s recent column, "In U.S., it’s a fight between plutocrats and democracy" (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 26) led me to review Michael Moore’s movie, "Capitalism: A Love Story," in which the author speaks of a Citigroup memo that warns of plutocracy’s only threat being democratic elections.

Plutocracy is a society in which the economy’s top 1 percent of wealth holders own more than the lower 95 percent.

The nefarious economic mechanism fueling an unequal American society was financial deregulation three decades ago, which made it legal for big banks to offer precarious home loans in which owners were duped into borrowing, with their houses as collateral. Many unsuspecting Americans lost their homes, leading to the ruin of many American towns and cities. 

But the lower population has the potential for change in America’s one-person, one-vote democracy. It is our assurance that the ultra-rich are not necessarily all-powerful.

Stuart N. Taba
Manoa

Will train bring us paradise?

I think Gov. Neil Abercrombie suffers from a sort of train envy.

His plan for Kakaako development is eerily paralleled in the November issue of The Atlantic, in an article titled, "The Urban Future of the American Suburb."

A developer lyrically outlines his vision for a Washington, D.C. suburb, Tysons Corner, now that a new commuter train has penetrated deep into a verdant suburb of 20,000 souls. The developer sees that number growing to 100,000, starting with the areas that will surround the new elevated train stations.

He envisions an area where walking will be preferred, where people live, work and play. It will surround The Square, an open plaza where people can stroll, meet and sit to watch one another.

It sounds just like paradise, or urban development by Mrs. Fields — by cookie cutter.

Beverly Kai
Kakaako