Illegal immigrants do commit crimes

There was an interesting dichotomy of articles in your Friday newspaper. In one article, churches are supposedly organizing to fight against President Donald Trump’s executive order to deport immigrants here illegally (“Churches will ask flocks to fight Trump’s orders,” Star-Advertiser, March 3).

Then, in another article, 13 members of the MS-13 street gang in Central Islip, N.Y., one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, were arrested for a slew of violent crimes and killings (“13 gang members charged with murder, violent crimes,” Star-Advertiser, March 3).

Interestingly, 10 of the 13 who were indicted were citizens of other countries and “were in the U.S. illegally.”

Why is anybody fighting against the deportation of people here illegally? They are violating the law of the land.

Richard Greenamyer

Mililani

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Articles favored petroleum industry

I thought I was going to read a reasoned debate about the proposed carbon tax and its effects on the environment when I read your side-by-side commentaries (“Would carbon tax ease climate concerns?” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 27).

However, I found they were written by two authors at least formerly employed by and favorable toward the petroleum industry. There was no thought that the industry might be causing climate change, except a statement that “the best evidence — as opposed to dubious computer model predictions — suggests humans aren’t causing the climate to change in ways that even remotely threaten human health or environmental integrity.”

I am sure you know that the vast majority of the scientific community feels human activity is causing significant environmental change and we should do something about it.

I think you should find a well-known scientist to rebut those commentaries in your newspaper and set the record straight. I have concern for our future, especially when I read such articles.

Douglas Bell

Niu Valley

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Legislators failing as fiscal fiduciaries

Sam Slom has it right.

He said, in reference to state spending: “ We have obviously overspent, wasted money, can’t account for money over the years … It’s a lack of discipline and a lack of accountability and responsibility” (“Piling on,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 19).

He’s talking about fiduciary duty. Legislators as fiduciaries are entrusted with the care of money. Related to fiduciary duty is prudence or good judgment in practical affairs or management of resources. The latter involves not the overestimation of revenue nor underestimation of expenses.

The outcome should not be expected unless it is highly probable. It depends on examining the truthfulness and substantive data. It forces hard choices. In the same article, Slom said that state Sen. Jill Tokuda and state Rep. Sylvia Luke have expressed concern about overspending by the state.

Tokuda is aware of the slowing of the economy. Is it enough to have concern, or do we, citizens of Hawaii, hold the state to practice prudence and fiduciary duty by making tough calls?

Rebecca Kang

Foster Village

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Car owners should accept responsibility

Regarding the “van cam” and red-light camera issues: If you own a car, it is your responsibility. If you loan it to someone else, it is still your responsibility. So make sure the person you loan it to is going to drive it safely and not endanger himself or herself or the lives of others. The ticket is yours, as it should be.

Marilyn Smith

Kailua

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Fix roads before installing cameras

I do appreciate the desire of supporters of red-light cameras to introduce legislation; but for now, could they please use our money to fix our roads?

It’s getting pretty bad out here, and I think the people of Honolulu would prefer that instead of spending millions on red-light cameras.

John Day

Kaneohe

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Death with dignity is not ‘suicide’

Because the person is in the process of dying and seeking the option to hasten an already inevitable and imminent death, the request to hasten a death should not equated with suicide.

The American Public Health Association has recognized that using the term “assisted suicide” is “inappropriate when discussing the choice of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient to seek medications that he or she could consume to bring about a peaceful and dignified death.”

The patient’s primary objective is not to end an otherwise open-ended span of life, but to find dignity in an already impending exit from this world.

They’re participating in an act to shorten the agony of their final hours, not killing themselves. Cancer, or another common underlying condition, is killing them.

The intensely personal decision should not be left to governments, judges or legislators.

I urge you support Senate Bill 1129, Hawaii’s Death with Dignity Act.

Jance Davis

Kailua

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Abortion services bill condescending

Senate Bill 501 demands that private pregnancy centers post notices advertising abortion.

To quote the bill: “In 2010, 16,000 women in Hawaii experienced an unintended pregnancy, which can carry enormous social and economic costs to both individual families and to the State.”

In 2010, 18,933 births occurred. Evidently, abortion providers have not done a good enough job advertising their services, so it must be the women’s centers’ fault. And since the majority of women are uninformed of their rights and options, they must be reminded with a poster placed at these few facilities that abortions are performed elsewhere.

Now our legislators have stepped up to make sure more abortions will happen to save the state the expense arising from women who cannot make the right decision for society.

How condescending.

Bill Funk

Mililani