State Rep. Cynthia Thielen’s commentary was well stated but is not practiced by her or the other GOP elected officials (“GOP needs to return to moderate roots,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March Opens in a new tab26) Opens in a new tab.
There is a lot to be said for being conservative fiscally but liberal on some social issues, particularly in ultra-liberal Hawaii.
While Thielen spent much of her column extolling the federal actions of President Dwight Eisenhower — more than 50 years ago and light-years from today’s politics — she said nothing about how to bring that to Hawaii today.
Hawaii needs a conservative GOP now more than ever. The building of a fiscally irresponsible $10 billion rail system, a $12 billion underfunded employee retirement system, millions in programs that do not work — such as the GEMS loan program for solar system installation — should have been met with vocal and frequent criticism by Hawaii’s GOP, but were not.
Thielen has been a stalwart of the party, but touting federal politics from more than 50 years ago does not speak well for Hawaii’s current fiscal quagmire.
Pam Smith
Ewa Beach
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Centennial Park a cooling sweet spot
Thank you for your editorial on the yet-to-be-developed Centennial Park in the middle of Waikiki (“Support green space in Waikiki,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, March Opens in a new tab27) Opens in a new tab.
The choice for this park’s location is terrific since the tradewinds are most prevalent here on most days. It is Waikiki’s sweet spot for enjoying the cooling tradewinds when the rest of Waikiki is blocked off with high-rises and concrete.
Thanks to Dave Benson of the Rotary Club of Honolulu.
Jay Pineda
Waikiki
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Don’t take beds from Medicaid patients
House Bill 1396 is about allowing two private-pay clients to be cared for in the same community care family foster home (CCFFH).
The bill was introduced because of the situations of two particular couples, one of whom had been married for more than 68 years. While the stories are very touching, the important thing to remember is that private-pay clients are not required to be in licensed facilities; Medicaid clients are required to be in licensed facilities.
CCFFH’s would prefer to take private-pay clients for obvious reasons; they pay a lot more than Medicaid. While it appears that there are safeguards to prevent care operators from choosing private-pay over Medicaid, the state Department of Health cannot monitor this; they are already unable to complete necessary tasks regarding residential care facilities (e.g., posting, or perhaps even completing, nursing home inspections, due to lack of staff).
If this bill passes, it will be even more difficult to find beds for Medicaid clients.
Barbara J. Service
Waialae-Kahala
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Abercrombie’s complaints nonsense
Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie flew off the rails against killing the assisted-suicide bill (“Abercrombie slams House committee for shelving death bill, advises recall,” Star-Advertiser, March Opens in a new tab25) Opens in a new tab.
Did he attend any of the hearings? There was heartfelt testimony both for and against, but there is a lot seriously wrong with Senate Bill 1129, as was clearly demonstrated in the words of health professionals, legal experts and well-informed citizens.
Abercrombie’s arguments, including “you can’t defer death,” are nonsense and do not deserve the prominent coverage given.
Michael G. Palcic
St. Louis Heights
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Broad support for medical aid in dying
In an emotional and heated session, the House Committee on Health deferred the “Death with dignity” bill because “there were too many kinks to be worked out before the legislative session ends in May” (“Bill to let dying patients take own lives is deferred,” Star-Advertiser, March Opens in a new tab23) Opens in a new tab.
Nonsense. The session was packed with too many people wearing shirts that read, “There is no aloha in suicide,” and the committee perhaps was led to believe that the community is split on this matter. We are not split; a November 2016 poll showed 80 percent in favor of medical aid in dying.
In fact, the law is fine as it is written, and the shirts should read, ‘There is no aloha in denying a terminally ill patient a death with dignity.”
To paraphrase Harry Truman: If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the House of Representatives.
Malcolm Slakter
Makiki
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Fukumoto unfair to her GOP voters
I am concerned about the party change of state Rep. Beth Fukumoto (“Fukumoto leaving Republican Party,” Star-Advertiser, March Opens in a new tab23) Opens in a new tab.
I am having a problem with someone who was voted in by the Republican Party wanting to move freely to the Democratic Party with no concern for the voters who placed her in office.
I don’t think that it’s fair to allow her move to the Democratic Party when she won her seat with Republican votes.
If she wants to represent the Democratic Party, she should be voted in by Democrats.
Kelii Ching
Kapolei
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Suing Trump could cause problems
In the current atmosphere of pending federal budget cuts, Hawaii shouldn’t be very optimistic.
Suing the federal government over a presidential executive order — one that would have little or no impact on Hawaii — hardly fosters an endearing relationship with the holder of the purse strings. Biting the hand that feeds you is never a good idea.
Geoff Boehm
Waikiki
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Legal immigration worth the effort
A good letter from Stephanie Keolanui-Cachola (“Don’t break the law, immigrate legally,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March Opens in a new tab20) Opens in a new tab. My late husband had a green card to work in the U.S. He didn’t get it easily. It took paperwork, lawyers, money and time. All that, and he was coming from an English-speaking country.
He would get upset seeing illegal immigrants taking benefits from the government. If you are here illegally, isn’t that a crime?
Pat Paterson
McCully-Moiliili
