A recent article on defense spending offers a tacit explanation of why the Pentagon budget keeps expanding, while funds for social programs diminish (“Defense bill includes over $300 million for Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 20).

It highlights the local angle, reporting more than $300 million for Hawaii in the $700 billion 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. It’s about bringing home the bacon, the congressional report card to constituents and campaign donors.

With 500-plus senators and representatives all clamoring for military pork, it is no wonder that “acting locally” trumps “thinking globally.”

We already spend more on defense than the next seven countries — three times more than China and 10 times more than Russia. The bill increases current spending by $80 billion. It provides $60 billion for Afghanistan and other unwinnable wars.

Three of Hawaii’s four members of Congress voted for this “more-is-better” bill. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard chose to oppose it. We can only hope that her reasoning supports the notion that we already spend too much for war — and not enough for human needs.

Wally Inglis

Palolo Valley

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State Hospital needs highly trained staff

The recent problems at the Hawaii State Hospital have drawn attention to the security and facilities needs.

However, in any facility, however secure, the most essential is a highly trained and expert staff. This process begins with hiring only those individuals who are suited to working with a disturbed population. It continues with extensive and ongoing training along with monitoring and supervision by registered nurses, supervisors and managers.

Secure, safe and high-quality patient care requires commitment from the top down. Ongoing monitoring ensures that problems are identified early and addressed. Performance improvement initiatives can be developed to address specific problems.

Overtime issues also have been identified as a problem. These issues are frequently caused by excessive absenteeism and can be addressed by the administration in coordination with the unions involved.

The current scenario at the Hawaii State Hospital necessitates a re-evaluation of all personnel and the institution of an ongoing process to ensure that the expertise and commitment needed is at all levels.

Barbara Mathews

Kailua

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Homeless take from working-class folks

I quote from an article’s headline that said, “It cost the state $516,000 to remove about 2,050 tons of trash below H-1 freeway” (“Massive viaduct cleanup complete,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 22).

Honest reporting would state, “It cost the taxpayers of Honolulu $516,000 to remove …”

The city and state have no money of their own; it all comes from the hardworking taxpayers, many of whom have more than one job just to keep their families afloat.

The homeless will continue to grow, and the costs of dealing with them will continue to grow.

The progressive political system in Hawaii will continue to take and take from the working class to provide for those who are made to contribute nothing. This does not help working people, nor does it help the non-productive ones.

Who wins? We don’t. Voters, wake up!

Diane Tippett

Waikiki

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Trump’s tweeting a clever distraction

I don’t object to President Donald Trump’s use of tweets to talk directly to Americans (“President reaches people with Twitter,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 24). I object to what he says in them.

They sound like something a child might compose, but are cleverly designed to distract, divert and divide us. Like the magician who distracts with one hand while doing sleight-of-hand with the other, Trump has mastered the art of drawing attention.

Meanwhile everyone, including his base, is being had. It’s time to recognize Trump for what he is: a master manipulator.

James B. Young

St. Louis Heights

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Hard to resist ability of power to corrupt

This is the time to give thanks for the perfect opportunity to explore the range of abuse that has been demonstrated in the particular arena of sexual “misconduct“ or worse.

There are other forms of male privilege misconduct and, of course, manyfold other forms of corruption and abuse.

The bottom line is that power usually corrupts. Powerful people, including corporate elites and politicians at practically any level, are treated with deference. When their behavior begins to deviate, they are not punished and thereby reminded about boundaries, as would happen more frequently to ordinary people when they step out of line. A perfect example is our self-entitled former police chief.

It is a comment on human nature that only a minority of such people have the combination of strong ethics and morality to resist creeping corruption.

Richard Stancliff

Makiki

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Greed drives desire for endless growth

Does anyone know what the goal is for the population on Oahu? Does anyone know what the goal is for tourists visiting Oahu?

It appears the politicians and construction companies have no goal and think more is better, because they are greedy and only think of money, while the quality of life deteriorates for the rest of us.

Ask your city representatives what the goals are. More is necessarily not better. Quality of life is important.

We’re the ones paying the bills.

John Wong

Aiea