Kavanaugh’s woeful environment record

By pushing our federal government to fulfill its duty to protect people and our environment from dangerous pollution and climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld our bedrock environmental laws. However, Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination signals trouble for many environmental actions like conserving clean air and water as well as mitigating the climate crisis.

A close look at Kavanaugh’s record shows he is no friend to the environment. His rulings have limited regulations to reduce pollution from power plants and argued that the Environmental Protection Agency’s jurisdiction does not extend to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Kavanaugh’s nomination holds huge stakes for the future of people and the environment, especially since he will likely serve as the deciding vote if President Donald Trump attempts to dismantle key environmental and public health protections.

The U.S. Senate should oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination because he would negatively impact our aina and the health of many people, including those living in Hawaii.

Mahealani Daniels

Kaneohe

—

Beware of high costs of Medicare for all

Several candidates for Congress advocate Medicare for all.

Currently Medicare expenditures are approximately $710 billion, covering 58 million folks over age 65. Candidates never discuss how to pay for universal health care or how to administer such a huge program.

There have been problems administering two smaller government health care systems, for veterans and Native Americans.

Nationally, advocates for single payer say the wealthy will pay — except we have case studies in states showing that it’s not just the wealthy, but every business and taxpayer that will experience tax increases. Maryland recently found that a universal health care system would require a 10 percent tax on every business and $2,800 from every man, woman and child.

Vermont abandoned its single-payer health care system in 2014 when costs doubled the state’s annual budget.

Free stuff sounds great until the law of unintended consequence comes into play. Be wary of what you wish for and for whom you vote.

Jim McDiarmid

Mililani

—

Update us on Marco Polo fire starters

I am a longtime resident of the Marco Polo condominium tower. We are all devastated by the tragic fire in our beloved building. There are so many stories about the fire and the aftermath. But there have been no reports on what happened to the people who started the fire.

They seemed to have disappeared and I am mad about the way the authorities and management are tight-lipped about what happened to them. Who are these people who started the fire and where did they go? Is there still an investigation going on?

They turned our lives upside down, and we are still rebuilding what is left of them.

Armando Gonzales

McCully-Moiliili

—

Early College pupils motivated to succeed

As someone who teaches Early College, my experience has been completely different (“Early College: Walk before running,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 18).

One hundred percent of my students are stellar and none of them “find themselves with pretty dire unintended consequences.” All of my students are underserved and first generation. They work hard, persevere and achieve. There is no “senioritis.”

Perhaps it is not a failure or inability of the student, but a failure of design, instruction and student support.

Ricardo C. Custodio

Associate professor of health science, UH-West Oahu

—

Add Bikis to Waikiki, Kapiolani Park areas

I’ve lived in Hawaii since 2001 and have been a bike commuter for most of those years, and continue to commute by bike most days. I’ve been so impressed with the expansion of biking infrastructure in the city, and would love to see that continue. The growth of the Biki bikeshare program has been (and will continue to be) a huge part of the improved quality and safety of biking and pedestrian options in our beautiful city by the sea.

Even though I use my own bike most days, I find Biki invaluable for quick trips downtown or to Waikiki, when I can’t take my own bike. I love to have the option to drop off a bike at a secure station and continue on with my day.

But a huge gap exists in Kapiolani Park and the Kaimana/Gold Coast area. These are prime spots for tourists and locals to ride bikes to key locations, and Biki would be an awesome addition to these areas.

Andrea Bertoli

Kaimuki

—

Use minimal camps for asylum seekers

During World War II, we were able to house Japanese-American families in camps with just a few day’s notice, which we now consider inhumane. Why can’t we give this same minimum treatment to those who seek asylum in our otherwise great country?

Richard Elstner

Chinatown

—

$12 million parade should be stopped

On Nov. 10, President Donald Trump will hold a military parade using 5,000 to 7,000 active- duty service members. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin is someone Trump wants to impress, I would not be surprised if Putin’s invitation to come to Washington, D.C., coincides with the parade.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if Trump shows up in a quasi-military uniform even though he has never served in the military. Uniforms are esteemed by authoritarian leaders to inflate the perception of strength.

The parade is estimated to cost $12 million — $12 million better spent to fight climate change, or resolve homelessness or thousands of other uses.

I am not surprised at Trump’s parade to impress his buddy Putin. The one thing I am surprised at is no one is trying to stop him.

Judith Pettibone

Makiki