Singapore can offer us traffic-management tips

Singapore is an island much like Hawaii, but half the land size and five times the population.

Singapore has over 1 million cars, as does Oahu; however, Singapore’s traffic flows much more efficiently than Oahu’s.

What can we inexpensively do that Singapore does?

>> Increase the number of turn lanes at signal lights.

There are dozens of intersections on Oahu that could easily accommodate two or more turn lanes in order to alleviate traffic waiting for the next one or two or three signal light changes. An example can be seen on Pali Highway and Vineyard Boulevard.

>> Paint gridboxes at intersections of side roads entering into main roads.

By not allowing cars to stop on the painted gridboxes, that would keep intersections free of blockage so that side-road traffic could easily get onto the main roads without having to wait long periods of time.

We must do better.

Sanford Friedman

Nuuanu

Knowing algebra helps with problem-solving

The commentary by Darren Glass (“Algebra actually has great practical value … no really,” Star-Advertiser, May 18) was spot-on regarding the notoriety of political scientist Andrew Hacker’s “The Math Myth: And Other STEM Delusions”

Hacker, taking a page from Donald Trump, controversially proposes that high school students not take algebra, as “most people will never use (it) in their jobs.”

And clearly, most people don’t — including many of my college physics students who are stymied by simple algebraic and geometric manipulations, undermining their efforts to learn problem-solving.

These students are our future engineers, doctors, scientists and academics, and it is alarming that they were not taught/did not learn algebra in high school.

The only myth regarding Hacker and his ilk is not recognizing that “political science” is an oxymoron.

Mark Slovak

Makiki

People donate to where it will make a difference

No one should be surprised that Larry Ellison donated money to the University of Southern California Cancer Center rather than to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC).

Ask yourselves whether you would have given any money when some UH faculty members recently asked the state Legislature not to fund the UHCC, and at a time when the UHCC does not enjoy strong institutional support.

Large private donations to support cancer centers have fortunately become quite common, but donors want some assurance that their dollars make a real difference in the life of cancer patients. It is unrealistic to expect private donations to plug the holes in the UHCC budget.

Marcus A. Tius

Kailua

We need a president who is ‘for the people’

“In both parties, the primary campaign has unearthed a mass mutiny against the powers that be.”

So wrote Hedrick Smith in a recent commentary that so eloquently expressed how many people feel in this great country of ours (“From hope to resentment,” Star-Advertiser, May 18).

It’s the so-called elitists who are reaping the benefits off the backs of the very people who have fought and continue to make this nation great.

I’m a die-hard Democrat. I wish the good in Bernie Sanders/Donald Trump could be combined to bring forth a leader that is “for the people.”

Smith’s column is the most sensible one that I’ve read since the start of the campaigns.

Gardenia Fiatoa

Kaneohe