Regardless of what your political or religious beliefs may be, if you consider yourself an intelligent person with an open mind you might want to truly educate yourself about the science and psychology of propaganda, especially in today’s divided nation where we all question “fake news” and are constantly exposed to many forms of media.

Do yourself a favor and learn how to be able to recognize the truth, using logical thinking to learn.

I highly suggest searching “propaganda techniques” on Wikipedia and reading about more than 50 ways your mind can be manipulated to follow, sometimes blindly, many of these techniques that are directed to you every day. It should scare the hell out of you.

If it does, tell your friends to educate themselves, too. Let’s all be true patriots.

Bill Romerhaus

Haleiwa

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Other waste can harm marine life

One wonders if the researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the state officials at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, who blame cat feces for the deaths of three Hawaiian monk seals, have also considered the effects of massive amounts of human feces in raw sewage the city releases into the ocean, intentionally or unintentionally, on seals and other marine life.

Hamid Jahanmir

Ala Moana

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Feral cats don’t pose risk to humans

Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources unnecessarily provoked alarm by claiming that cats “pose a significant health risk to people” (“Monk seals killed by parasite found in cats,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 18). Just three months ago, the state Department of Health testified to the Legislature that cats “do not pose a public health threat.”

Most cases of toxoplasmosis stem from undercooked food, not cats. It’s exceedingly rare for anyone to catch it from a household cat, let alone a community cat that avoids people.

Feeding bans for cats are not the answer, either. They just encourage cats to search farther for food.

The best approach for Hawaii’s community cats is trap-neuter-return — sound public policy that manages the population while reducing euthanasia. It saves taxpayer dollars and is the most humane and effective option.

Becky Robinson

President and founder, Alley Cat Allies

Bethesda, Md.

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Does Ing have income tax liability?

State Rep. Kaniela Ing’s misfortune may not end with the state Campaign Spending Commission (“Ing fined more than $15,000 for falsifying reports,” Star-Advertiser, June 21).

If Ing used campaign funds for his personal benefit, those amounts are subject to federal and Hawaii income taxes and possibly Social Security and Medicare taxes as well.

Dennis Kohara

Waialae-Kahala