I’m shocked. Shocked! (“Fewer women applying for judge positions,” Star-Advertiser, July 1).

Here’s the most prominent news reporting position in the paper, the top of the front page, abused to create a fake statistical category: “gender disparity,” that no doubt will be trotted out to justify a bogus affirmative action program to advance less-qualified, but gender specifically and, no doubt, politically correct, persons to the bench.

The incomplete analysis in this story fails to note that women experienced an 8 percent increase in the number of sitting judges, while men actually suffered a 7 percent decline. Will we see mandated quotas for hiring and promotion based upon “gender similarity” across all categories of employment and economic advancement?

Shall we also imagine, for example, that “fake men,” the ones who want to be declared winners in women’s athletic contests, advance under the terms of such plans? What a mess!

Michael Palcic

Diamond Head

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Today’s news filled with twists and turns

Alternative facts, or what:

>> Unemployment rates dropped as the silver wave crested, with people retiring in droves and creating thousands of job vacancies. We can’t even fill these vacancies.

>> National debt is at $21 trillion and tax cut savings have not been realized yet. We were broke at $12 trillion.

>> I heard on Fox News the “R” word — no, not “Republicans.” Recession, already?

>> Form 1040A/Form 1040EZ can be folded in half – the new postcard 2018 Form 1040. Missing are specific lines for Schedule C, Schedule D, Schedule E income, and more.

>> President Donald Trump’s audience of one, Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be pleased when we become his satellite. He may be satisfied with our broken union, like his Soviet Union.

Joyce Matsuo

Kalihi Valley

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HI-EMA fixing issues, so give staff a break

Sure, the false missile alert impacted the daily lives of thousands of people throughout the state. But a false alert is better than the real thing. There were undoubtedly mistakes and unpreparedness from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and the state.

But that “error” is a wake-up call so that the cause won’t recur. The Jan. 13 incident could have happened regardless who was leading HI-EMA or who was governor. People are quick to judge those who were responsible. Put the blame aside and let those responsible correct the problem and make it right this time.

Employees sit glued to the many monitors to observe any kind of possible activity — not a job for everybody. It takes a person with a special skill and concentration to perform these tasks. I certainly couldn’t do it. Could you?

So before we judge these employees who work to warn our Hawaii and keep us safe, be mindful and respectful of these individuals — they are human beings just like you and me. Live aloha!

John Keala

Waianae