I admittedly am not smart enough to know what is in the public good for the citizens of Hawaii. However, it is essential that there be bipartisan support for the ultimate viability of any policy initiative.

Unlike Social Security and Medicare, the Affordable Care Act was enacted solely with the support of one political party, which undermines its legitimacy and effectiveness. Similarly, the rail project continually seems divided along partisan lines without a true consensus or bipartisan commitment.

This ultimately leads to an unfortunate division within the community, which will affect Oahu for generations to come.

The community leaders need to develop a mandate.

Randy Harris
Diamond Head

Show about Natatorium did not seem balanced

I watched a film documentary on the Waikiki Natatorium and I did not find it to be “a balanced story.”

No one from Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s task force, the majority of whom (9-7) favored a public beach, was interviewed.

Historically, the Natatorium area was part of the Waikiki Beach where the warriors of both Kahekili and Kamehameha landed to conquer Oahu in the late 19th century. How’s that for historic value?

I am opposed to the restoration of the Natatorium for the following reasons: >> The costs paid for by the taxpayers: millions of dollars for rebuilding, maintenance and insurance;

>> The water quality, which is not consistently good; >> The desirability of free public beach front. Mandy Bowers
Manoa

Many more ‘D’ words describe Hawaii drivers

I truly appreciated both Honolulu Police Dept. Maj. Darren Izumo and reader Robert K. Soberano’s use of the “D” words when describing the many inadequacies of Oahu drivers (“Darren Izumo,” Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, Oct. 16; “More than 5 ways to label bad drivers,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 2).

Both were on point and exposed the most egregious errors of Oahu drivers.

At the risk of being repetitive, I’d like to suggest one more — delayed. When the light turns green, go. Don’t dilly-dally. There is a line of cars waiting for you to move.

But more to the point, how do these people legally get on the road to begin with?

Is it decades of dated doctrines, unable to deal with the dilemma of the dodgy, dangerous dance of daily driving by discourteous and dim-witted drivers? Depressing.

Pat Kelly
Kaimuki

Locals increasingly priced out of paradise

Are other people shaking their heads at the excessive hype over the new stores at Ala Moana Center?

Most of us can only afford to look, not buy.

On Wednesday, three sections of paper gushed over all the high-end shops and a later edition contained ads for the newest, trendiest department stores.

Talk about “priced out of paradise.”

The only people who will be able to shop at Ala Moana will be the occupants of the multimillion-dollar condos surrounding the shopping center.

I’ll stay in Kaneohe where one outfit won’t cost me my whole paycheck.

Michel Grotstein
Kaneohe