2016 election like Dumpster diving

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard should have the integrity to debate her primary challenger (“Campaign rival calls out Gabbard for not debating,” Star-Advertiser, June 29).

She had no problem going on Fox News to attack the Democratic National Committee when she wanted more debates for her candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Hillary Clinton should apologize to the public for her careless use of emails, and she should promise to improve State Department security.

Neither of these shallow politicians deserves the false idolatry that letter writers and their followers bestow on them.

Republicans should have the integrity to reject the narcissistic candidate for president they brought on themselves. Donald Trump is beyond belief.

I always thought the anonymous bloggers had mastered low-life political commentary. But now the actual 2016 elections are becoming daily Dumpster diving.

Jim Wolfe

Nuuanu

Do we have to have a Trump ticket at all?

Justin Haskins said that Newt Gingrich would be a good choice for Donald Trump’s vice president (“Gingrich would help Trump burnish image as renegade,” Star-Advertiser, June 29).

Haskins is executive editor of The Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank that, among other things, supported Philip Morris in its attempt to deny that secondhand smoke was detrimental to health. Heartland also does a lot of research for climate-change deniers.

Gingrich fits perfectly with Trump, as they both are married to their third wives and endorse “family values.”

Gingrich also had to leave the House and his job as speaker because of ethics violations and what was characterized as a “crash and burn speakership.” Then there was the story about Gingrich visiting his cancer- stricken first wife in the hospital demanding that they talk about their divorce settlement. What a guy.

The country certainly deserves better than a Trump- Gingrich ticket, or a Trump- anybody else ticket.

Robert S. Sandla

Hawaii Kai

Trump probably on Democratic payroll

Waterboarding, exterminating terrorists’ families, banning Muslim immigration — Donald Trump has proven himself the consummate agent provocateur.

We will never know how much the Democrats are paying Trump to dismantle the Republicans. Surely there will be bonuses for congressional losses.

George Nakamura

Mililani

Change schedule to help cool classes

When I was a kid, we used to have our summer vacation in the months of July and August, when it was too hot to study in the classrooms, and the school resumed when it was a little cooler in September.

Why do we keep moving up the school year to finish in May when it is still comfortable, then throw our kids back into the oven-hot rooms in July? Then trying to figure out how much it is going to cost the taxpayers to cool down the hot classrooms with air conditioners and high electricity bills?

Let’s use our heads and place summer breaks where they belong (July and August) when it is the hottest, and save taxpayers some money, as well as make it more comfortable for our students.

Julian E. Takabayashi

Hawaii Kai

Use inmate labor to install school AC

One solution to our state’s cost problems with air-conditioning public school classrooms is inmate labor.

Electrical work would require a licensed electrical contractor. However, sealing air leaks and exchanging louvered windows with alternatives could be done by inmates and their supervisors at their existing salaries, with corrections officers providing security.

The biggest problem would be the unions — they want the jobs for their members.

Inmate work crews would be community and minimum security. Specific types of offenders would be excluded.

A more tolerable education experience will promote continued education, and the opportunity for inmate rehabilitation, along with community pride and self-worth, would challenge recidivism.

Michael Spiker

Halawa Correctional Facility

Union Jack has deep meaning in Hawaii

The significance of Hawaii’s flag with a Union Jack is a reminder that:

>> Kamehameha the Great created Hawaii’s flag to be recognized as a nation to trade sandalwood with China; iliahi stimulated Hawaii’s first recognition as a nation in international trade.

>> Queen Liliuokalani’s choice of diplomatic protest, rather than armed opposition, of her 1893 overthrow was preceded a half-century earlier by the successful return of the Hawaiian islands to King Kamehameha III due to diplomacy.

Hawaii’s park, Thomas Square, located next to King Street, Beretania (Britain) Street and Victoria Street, was named after Adm. Richard Thomas who, on behalf of Queen Victoria, returned Hawaii to the Hawaiians.

There on July 31, 1843, Restoration Day, Hawaii’s flag with its Union Jack was raised and “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono” first proclaimed.

May there always be that pono of righteousness and the Union Jack to remind us of it.

Leigh-Wai Doo

Palolo Valley