Puerto Rico government to blame, not Jones Act

The letter comparing Hawaii to Puerto Rico is a stretch (“Puerto Rico blames Jones Act for its woes,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 2). I’ve no opinion on the Jones Act, but the Puerto Rico government caused its debt problems, not the Jones Act.

Puerto Rico for decades has issued new bonds to pay off old bonds. A kind of Ponzi scheme, in effect. Once the debt reached an unsupportable amount, bondholders balked at buying new debt and the scheme collapsed.

Government employs 23 percent of the work force in Puerto Rico. It’s 18.9 percent in Hawaii.

Unemployment is 11.7 percent in Puerto Rico, 3.1 percent in Hawaii.

Hawaii’s gross domestic product per capita in 2012 was $44,442, more than double Puerto Rico’s $19,802.

Hawaii’s public debt is under $20 billion; Puerto Rico’s over $72 billion.

Hawaii’s credit rating is good. Puerto Rico, not so much.

Peter Chisteckoff

Mililani Mauka

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Sanders doesn’t deserve support of Democrats

Regarding former Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s commentary favoring Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (“Hawaii ‘superdelegates’ should not write off Sanders,” Island Voices, March 31), Sanders is running for the presidency when he was never a Democrat until 2015.

A March 31 Washington Post article noted that Sanders has berated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for raising funds from high-level supporters — whereas, he stated, he does not.

Clinton’s fundraisers benefit her campaign, the Democratic Party and state party committees. Sanders’ funds benefit just him alone. He has not lifted a finger to help his adopted party.

The irony is that if Sanders wins the nomination, he will benefit from funds raised by Clinton that he so gleefully scorned.

I fully agree with the vast majority of Democratic superdelegates supporting one of their own and one who has helped them, not one who masquearades as a Democrat and has done nothing to help the Democratic Party.

Ronald Mata

Pearl City

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Media coverage seems biased toward Clinton

I am one of the over 70 percent of Democratic voters who voted for Bernie Sanders in our March 26 presidential preference poll.

I am dismayed by the negative slant in the news media on Sanders’ successes. Each time he has a victory, even a landslide as occurred in Hawaii, his success is downplayed.

I know all about the superdelegates; I also know they do not vote until later in the election cycle. They often change their support, as occurred with Barack Obama.

I am disappointed in the media, which are supposed to report the facts fairly. During this election, however, it is clear that the news is being reported in favor of Hillary Clinton.

Kimberly Fujioka

Kapahulu

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$25 million expenditure not just for museum

Regarding Katherine Kogel’s letter on St. Augustine Church’s plans (“Money for shrine should go to needy,” Star-Advertiser, April 5): Had she read the entire April 3 article, she would have understood that the $25 million is not solely for the museum.

The greater part is for the long- and much-needed demolition and replacement of the parish hall and back parking lot, to become a new multipurpose building and parking deck.

All that information is in the story.

As for helping the homeless, there is, and has been, continual help from the Catholic Church in Hawaii to aid the homeless.

Joan Huber

Diamond Head