It’s a shame to see the president and the GOP dismantling so many progressive policies and protections that the Obama administration and so many groups have fought over the years to put in place. Why would anyone choose not to protect the environment or uphold the rights of all people, and why would anyone not support helping provide health care to the needy or to children through CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)?

Fellow veterans continue to fight for better care while our Republican Congress bangs the war drum, again, to send more troops to combat.

Unions are fighting for a higher minimum wage and better contracts for the working class, while Congress pushes to strip our collective power.

The elderly ask for better services that they need while our president cuts the funding for very programs they rely on.

The average American is losing, but in 2018 we can turn the tide of Congress.

James Logue

Chinatown

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Children depend on CHIP for their health

Thousands of Hawaii children, and millions nationwide, will lose health insurance if Congress does not renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

As a retired physician who used to care for many children and their families with rare disorders in Hawaii, I welcomed CHIP in 1997.

I am ashamed the U.S. has the worst and yet most expensive health coverage among all developed nations in the world, because of political kowtowing to special interests.

Dr. Yujen Hsia

Kakaako

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Chief candidates can enlighten panel

Having knowledgeable police chief candidates with local, mainland and federal backgrounds, the Honolulu Police Commission should use the presentations by these candidates to generate new questions and discussion about new programs.

These candidates have different backgrounds in police work and each agency has different standards and procedures.

Honolulu needs information about handling traffic tie-ups, criteria for promotions, training procedures, public interaction and timely resolution of discipline and other topics, that the candidates can provide.

The commission should summarize these interviews so the information may be shared, or used in evaluating the new chief at a later date.

Leonard Leong

Manoa

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Americans should stand for anthem

Stand for America.

All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. America is the greatest nation in the world, and these rights are guaranteed in our Constitution, including the freedom of speech.

Be an American. Kneel for justice, before or after, but stand for the national anthem.

Clarence Senarighi

Aliamanu

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State infrastructure needs federal bailout

A report ranks Hawaii’s infrastructure — roads, bridges and dams — as the worst among the states (“Hawaii worst in U.S. again,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 10).

Yep, we rank dead last in the country.

We should declare our state a disaster area and beg for a federal bailout.

Bob Lamborn

Liliha

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Strict gun laws give illusion of safety

Gun control in Hawaii appears to work, if you ignore Hawaii’s lack of inner cities, drug wars, criminal gangs and deep poverty.

No matter how many guns the people have, if the people are good, you won’t have much crime.

Gun laws restrain law-abiding people. Criminals, not so much. Criminals don’t obey laws.

Gun laws only disarm or restrict good citizens, making criminals more powerful when they choose to use guns against innocent people. Guns are only tools, no better or worse than the people who use them.

Hawaii’s culture differs from Chicago’s. Detailed studies, such as John Lott’s “More Guns, Less Crime,” show that armed people deter violent crime because criminals are rational. If the people are armed, criminals face greater risks in committing crimes.

Many of Hawaii’s laws are unconstitutional infringements of the Second Amendment and will be overturned eventually by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, gun control advocates will have the illusion of the effectiveness of gun laws.

Michael Lee

Wilhelmina Rise

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North Korea policy puts peace at risk

Reggae legend Peter Tosh once sang, “We don’t want no nuclear war, with nuclear war we won’t get far.”

Truer and wiser words have never been spoken (unless you consider “Hawai‘i ‘78”). Perhaps President Donald Trump could leave Twitter for a minute and realize what a reckless and idiotic foreign policy on North Korea he has embraced.

In Hawaii, our peaceful island home is threatened by a psychotic CEO-turned-U.S. president, with his finger on the trigger.

While life in the Pacific might be a little different than in Pyongyang, our people want peace and friendship.

Native Hawaiians have nothing to gain and everything to lose in a potential nuclear conflict with North Korea. Aloha aina means loving the land, not destroying it, as the great Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole knew so well.

Say no to nuclear war, demand the U.S. military leave Hawaii, and return base lands to Native Hawaiians.

Rev. Dr. Eric Hafner

Mountain View, Hawaii island