Hawaii voters should choose change

Every year for the past 10 to 20 years we have had a chance to vote, but people get so frustrated because the same people get elected.

Maybe that is why Hawaii has such a low voter turnout. I hope every year that things will be different, and people will see we need a change.

I thought with change being Barack Obama’s theme, we would have change here, too. But sadly, we keep voting for Democrats, and not for the best person.

I like and admire U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for her courage to take a stand for the best person, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

If he had won, we wouldn’t have this problem of choosing the lesser of two evils for president.

Come on, Hawaii. Vote for a change.

Ernie K. Itoga

Waialae Iki

Amendments have multiple problems

The way politicians have been doing things, one cannot help but ask, will they do things honestly?

The City Charter amendments are once again worded very precariously. They have different issues — connected with and, and, and — under one yes-or-no vote.

As for Amendment No. 7 (on creating a climate-change office) and No. 20 (on open public records), the city should already be doing those functions. They want to make new departments and commissions. For whose benefit?

Craig Ihara

Kalihi

We prefer politicians who entertain us

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s acquittal by a jury of his peers, despite his use of public money to buy booze and personal items, and despite the fact that he repaid some of this money only when he was caught by an investigative reporter, helps make the rise of Donald Trump seem almost understandable (“Not guilty,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2).

We have become a nation that would rather be entertained by big personalities than led by honest people. This bodes well for Rod Tam.

Chris Monahan

Kailua

Climate change threatens our future

Climate change is a serious global problem with catastrophic consequences. With all of the focus on social issues, environmental issues get pushed back.

You don’t hear about climate change as much as you hear about the latest controversy involving Donald Trump and, in turn, people don’t take action.

Hawaii is a unique place with beautiful greenery and majestic landscapes. Why take all that away with ocean waste and greenhouse gases?

As a high school student, I am terrified to know that the state I’m going to live in will have a depleted natural environment.

Hawaii’s animals, ecosystems, plants and even people will suffer life-changing repercussions if we keep letting ourselves damage the only place we could ever live.

Amerlie Lam

Pearl City

Column critic draws disturbing parallels

When Robert H. Stiver begins an attack on columnist Charles Kraut- hammer with the phrase “Charles Krauthammer — Jew,” he’s associating the Star-Advertiser with some pretty disreputable characters, past and present (“Columnist ignores Israel’s crimes,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 2).

Think of that guy at the Trump rally recently yelling at the news reporters, “Jew-S.-A.! Jew-S.-A.!”

Not in Hawaii, please.

Jonathan Morse

East Honolulu