Immigration is complex, difficult, sensitive, emotional and controversial. Policies need to effectively select, control and manage immigration. Federal government policies under development, some racist, would impose severe restrictions on legal immigration and threaten illegal immigrants with mass deportation.

They ignore the historic facts of the inspiring inscription on the tablet at the Statue of Liberty, that this is a nation of immigrants, and diversity has long enriched and vitalized the country in numerous ways.

The policies reveal that laws are not necessarily humane, just and moral. Immigrants are terrorized with deportation and families are cruelly torn apart.

Some policies are contrary to a nation where 75 percent of adults claim to be Christians, including most politicians. While there is constitutional separation of church and state, religious values sometimes influence policies for better or worse.

Many politicians appear hypocritical. Those who are Christian might ask how would Christ treat immigrants, then consider acting accordingly.

Leslie E. Sponsel

Hawaii Kai

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Self-righteousness threatens democracy

On Friday night, Congress did not settle the repeating looming issue of a government shutdown, with both Democrats and Republicans expressing outrage at the audacity of the other party for not “doing the right thing” to keep this country moving forward. I want to throw up.

Each cites its ideology as the only right way. Give me a break! While each party has its own good ideas, they are both totally wrong to insist their way is the only possible right way.

We need to understand that good, reasonable people can and will disagree. We need compromise for the better of the whole. Otherwise, I fear our democracy will be doomed by indignant self-righteousness. Fools!

Jim Kennedy

Ewa Beach

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Double-lined fuel tanks only solution

Ernest Lau of the Board of Water Supply is to be applauded for his article informing people about the fuel leaks coming from the Red Hill Navy storage tanks (“Install double-lined fuel tanks at Red Hill,” Island Voices, Jan. 9).

He is absolutely right in demanding double-lined fuel tanks at Red Hill. There are no other solutions. The upgrade alternatives offered by the Navy are headed for failure.

The Navy has in fact installed double-lined fuel tanks on its sites mainly at fuel storage tanks and gas stations. Why are they not offering the same fix for the Red Hill fuel storage tanks that sit over our precious drinking water?

Double-lined fuel tanks at Red Hill to include a leak-detection system is the only solution, no matter the cost.

Jane Nishiguchi

Pearl City

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Country put deeper into serious debt

Regarding “President presides over strong economy” (Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 14): For all its praise of President Donald Trump, the letter neglected to explain or note why our country is presently unable to pay its current obligations due to insufficient income (taxes).

Further, there is no note or explanation why we are a debtor country, nor why the recent tax “reform” burdens us to borrow more money and send our country deeper into serious debt.

I have no idea what defines the U.S. economy, but I certainly know, whatever the definition, it certainly has no connection to a worker’s hourly wages.

Sad, very sad, very, very sad.

Joseph E. “Joe” Kelleher

Waikiki

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Let Denny’s have its liquor license

As a long-time Waikiki resident next to Jefferson School and a block from the zoo, I find the petition to deny a beer and wine license to the new Denny’s restaurant nearby most exaggeratedly unwarranted.

An 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. license to a no-bar family restaurant with a security plan can hardly impact children at Jefferson, who leave school at 2:30 or 3 p.m.

And what in the world does it have to do with proximity to the zoo? It’s a ridiculous stretch by folks who unreasonably equate any alcohol use with automatic chaos.

This is paranoia “people power” most perversely and unnecessarily exercised to deny family restaurant patrons a pleasant accompaniment to their dining. The Waikiki Neighborhood Board sees nothing amiss, so I say, cease and desist.

John W. Conner

Waikiki

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Media overreacted to missile false alarm

The reaction to the missile false alarm was mind-boggling. If people were only slightly in tune with current events, they would have known that the North Korea issue was in a stage of compromising detente with both sides talking, including partaking in the Olympic Games.

Actually, I was a bit angered when the TV warning interrupted a captivating movie.

For a senior, thinking only of myself, a demise by any means is a reprieve from a decrepit, old-age future. I hope the overreaction by the media does not protract into weeks and months of tiring discussion.

Finally, the reaction was a bit embarrassing to the country and a delight to the North Korean regime.

Lawrence Makishima

Pearl City

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Biki bicycle riders need safety lessons

Something has to be done better to educate the people who use Biki bicycles.

Every day, I see people riding on the sidewalks and the wrong way on one-way streets.

I think the operators of the rentals need better information at the site of the rentals before someone is seriously hurt.

Bill Fuson

Ala Moana