Veterans Day cartoon awful

Disgusting is all I can say to the "Why do we apologize to soldiers?" cartoon run on Veterans Day (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 11).

We don’t apologize to them; we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for keeping us safe and for being the first responders when our nation was and is in peril. What does such a cartoonteach our children?

It’s shameful to see such elitist, panty-waist drivel taking advantage of Veterans Day to spew its hate for American exceptionalism.

Kathy Novak
Moanalua Valley

Ige has chance to achieve a lot

I hope that Richard Borreca’s column with David Ige is prophetic ("An opportunity to do a better job of planning," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Nov. 9).

Our governor-elect wants to modernize the tax-collection system, support small farmers while finding a balance with large agriculture and propose smart, targeted tax credits.

He spoke of balance in Kakaako between small business and large developments, a public-private partnership on prisons and a simpler application process for trans-Pacific fiber companies, allowing for more digital investment.

He can appoint Board of Education members who focus on what happens between the student and teacher in the classroom, and not reward ambitious administrators nor narcissistic principals, providing real empowerment of leadership within the classroom.

And if he really can stop the pay-to-play activities in government and create a friendly business climate, then our children will have a better environment in which to work and succeed.

Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu

Maybe Gabbard should join GOP

In the wake of the recent election, Hawaii is in long-predicted trouble.

Seniority in Congress is critical to "bringing home the bacon."

Indeed, Hawaii benefited enormously back when long-termers Dan Inouye and Neil Abercrombie were in Congress. We basked in the fiscal sun for so long that many forgot how important staggered congressional seniority can be.

Now no one in our congressional delegation has much seniority and all are members of the minority Democrats. The federal spigot will be tightly shut for Hawaii for a long time. President Barack Obama can be no help here.

It’s sad that Inouye destroyed Ed Case’s political career for making this argument back when our looming seniority problem could have been better handled.

So what to do? There’s no way to fix seniority issues for years, but perhaps Tulsi Gabbard could switch parties. As Charles Djou tried to make clear, having a majority-party Republican in Congress would greatly benefit us.

Michael P. Rethman
Kaneohe

State workers ought to vote

In the past, it was not automatic that women had a right to vote.I am grateful to those who fought to give that right to me.

As a state of Hawaii employee, we get an extra paid day off to exercise our right to vote. However, there are many employees with whom I work who do not vote.

Maybe it’s time for a change before the next election in 2016. Non-voting employees can take a vacation day or personal leave for that day.

As government employees, we should be good role models for our community, our country and, perhaps more important, for the next generation.

Johnnie-Mae L. Perry
Waianae

Drop football from UH roster

When is the University of Hawaii going to drop the football team from its athletics program?

The people are not filling up the stands.

People are ashamed to talk about University of Hawaii football.

Stephen Low
Nuuanu

Coach Arnold treated poorly

I am very disappointed in the malicious, underhanded way University of Hawaii-Manoa Athletic Director Ben Jay handled the recent dismissal of UH basketball coach Gib Arnold and assistant coach Brandyn Akana, "without cause" and without due process.

All of this is based on unknown allegations, from unknown sources, that have not been proven.

Both coaches should have had the opportunity to address these allegations. After all, their good names and careers are at stake.

It was Arnold and UH’s own athletic department that alerted the NCAA of a discrepancy regarding documentation of a player.

How can anyone say that Jay did the right thing when nothing is proven yet? That’s ridiculous.

I think Jay and interim Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman’s dismissal of both coaches was done in a "just get rid of them" style. It seems these leaders are in the wrong positions. They could have handled this as true professionals.

As for Isaac Fotu, he should go to the pros where he will be appreciated for his athletic talent — before the leaders ruin his life, too.

Priscilla L. Bettencourt
Ewa Beach

Make students accountable, too

It seems the only person accountable for a student’s test score is the teacher.

This newspaper and the community at large are demanding that test scores be "high stakes" for teachers. The belief is that such teacher accountability will magically improve student test scores and thus learning. The "high stakes" consequence for their students’ low test scores would be no pay raises and potential loss of their careers.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep repeating: Where is the student’s accountability? Students have no consequences (positive or negative) for their test scores. Until testing is "high stakes" for students to motivate them to do their best, then it is blatantly unfair to hold only teachers accountable for test scores.

Darlene Pang
Salt Lake

America should institute ‘fair tax’

Once again comes news of the Internal Revenue Service and its overbearing method of seizing legally earned money by legitimate business people without cause ("Normal folks get caught in IRS’ asset-seizing net," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 26).

Carole Hinders, the owner of a small Mexican restaurant in Iowa, had her entire $33,000 checking account seized with no criminal charges being filed against her. She had simply deposited amounts of a little less than $10,000 on a regular basis, which raised a red flag.

It is far past time for just tax reform.

The so-called fair tax must be seriously considered to replace our current income tax code. The fair tax would be a national consumption tax collected on purchases at the retail level.

The IRS is eliminated, no tax returns are filed, no federal taxes are deducted from your paycheck, there are no IRS audits to fear, no compliance costs to bear and no tax deadline to contend with. April 15 becomes just another beautiful spring day.

Bill Kaleiwahea
Kalihi-Palama