Rail should not go any farther than Aala Park

Honolulu voters must be the dumbest on this planet.

Even the village idiot knows the rail transit project should have started at Ala Moana Center, where cost, ridership and support would be greatest, and finish in West Oahu, where costs, ridership and support would be lowest.

Instead, voters wholeheartedly supported the scam of starting construction in Ewa. Now downtown property owners and developers can maximize profits on their holdings.

Now the greedy want even greater profit, so rail will not be completed for another year, and will, of course, cost millions more.

If voters had any brains at all, they would pull the plug on this scam, and ensure rail goes no farther than Aala Park.

Rico Leffanta
Kakaako

Obama’s foreign policy smacks of appeasement

In September 1938, when Britain, France and Italy acceded to Germany’s occupation of the Sudetenland, Britain’s prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, declared “peace for our time.”

A year later Germany invaded Poland.

The Iran nuclear agreement eerily mirrors the Sudetenland surrender. President Barack Obama said the agreement is based on an “unprecedented inspections regime,” and the only alternative is war.

But, Iran can enrich uranium, buy ballistic missiles and keep four Americans hostage. Iran gets a 24-day waiting period to initiate inspections and can “inspect itself.”

Meanwhile Iran violates sanctions by sending Gen. Qasem Soleimani to negotiate arms with Russia, and Ayatollah Khamenei declares that Iran can buy any weapon at any time and reiterates his plan to decimate Israel.

The Iran nuclear agreement is the latest part of the Obama appeasement policy after Syria, Ukraine and missiles in Europe. Those who support it ensure a tragedy greater than the appeasement policy of 1938.

Robert Wall
Kaneohe

Hot schools should have been resolved long ago

I am irked, too (“Ethics inquiry into school AC effort irks lawmaker,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 17)!

What’s ethical about teachers and students trying to work in a sweat shop? A hot, sweltering environment is not conducive to learning.

Why are we surprised at the recent report of disappointing student test scores? Why should we expect different results?

What is ethical about letting this condition go on for years while we shove more students into each classroom? The state Department of Education should have delivered upgraded electrical, sustainable solar and better windows a long time before state Rep. Matt LoPresti showed up delivering fans.

Where’s the investigation into the ethics of allowing a situation where students and teachers suffer from heat exhaustion?

Teri Heede
Makakilo

Building exemptions killing Hawaii lifestyle

No more exemptions for developers (“Exemptions from the rules,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 13)!

Exemptions are killing the Hawaii lifestyle on Oahu.

Robert Gillchrest
Pawaa