As Sarah Palin stated, death panels are here. She was right — although it’s not the government, but the insurance companies.

Hawaii Medical Service Association is now making a “death panel” for doctors and patients to seek permission to have procedures, including MRIs (“Not what the doctor ordered,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24). Some with heart conditions will have to sit by and wait weeks or months for this permission, to save money for HMSA.

I am waiting for the first person to die waiting, and I hope to be on the jury that awards significant damages against HMSA.

Shame on HMSA for treating the patients and doctors so shabbily.

Joseph Alexander

Waipahu

Don’t interfere with good doctors

Why does society spend millions of dollars developing technology to find out what’s making us sick, and then deny the patients who need that technology the use of it?

Does the Hawaii Medical Service Association really think doctors are involved in some scam in ordering imaging tests?

There are a few bad apples in every profession. Perhaps they could be weeded out instead of threatening the lives of deserving patients and interfering with professionals who know what they are requesting and why.

Judy Mick

Kailua

LNG will chain us to dirty fossil fuels

There are hidden costs to Hawaii Gas’ promises of cost-saving liquefied natural gas (“Hawaii Gas in $200M deal to bring LNG to islands,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 20).

LNG isn’t a bridge to Hawaii’s clean energy future. It’s a gangplank to dependence on dirty fossil fuels that will delay renewable projects. The hundreds of millions of dollars spent on LNG infrastructure would be better spent transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 as required by Hawaii law.

Natural gas extraction destroys habitat and makes people sick. Dependence on LNG accelerates climate change, while bringing more bulky tankers to Hawaii’s coast that will pollute the air and water and endanger whales, sea turtles and reefs. Wind and solar are already competitive with LNG, so there’s just no need for a so-called bridge fuel.

Hawaii should continue to be a clean energy leader and not succumb to the siren song of the fossil fuel industry and its local boosters.

Miyoko Sakashita

Oakland, Calif.

Low poll numbers show frustration

The Star-Advertiser recently shared the results of The Hawaii Poll, which reflected the public’s rankings of economic and social issues in Hawaii (“Homelessness push earning poor marks,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 19).

Only the homeless issue garnered a rating of 20 percent as the issue of highest concern. Nearly all the other issues were split in the single digits.

Very odd, indeed.

I believe these low polling statistics represent the public’s frustration with politicians and government in general.

Voters have lost almost all faith that anything meaningful will be accomplished by our legislators.

Perhaps it’s time to vote out career-class politicians in Hawaii.

Dave Moskowitz

Waikiki

Don’t lose 9 holes at Ala Wai course

I respect Mark Rolfing’s contributions to the sport of golf; however, his idea of reducing the 18 holes of the Ala Wai Golf Course to nine holes is definitely not the way to go (“Half an Ala Wai is better than none, Rolfing says,” Star-Advertiser, Further Review, Jan. 13). Saying nine holes are better than none is not acceptable to the avid golfer.

Presently, Ala Wai is in the best playing condition of my 50-plus years playing there. Superintendent Jordan Abe and his dedicated staff have made play there enjoyable.

The back nine holes have greatly improved, with brush cleared on the 14th and 18th fairways along the canal. The Ala Wai is convenient for all golfers and is one of the few available outdoor recreational activities enjoyed by seniors.

Let’s keep Ala Wai one of the busiest and most played course in the U.S., if not the world.

Robert A. Morimoto

Aina Haina

Police should test motorcycle mufflers

City laws should allow police to stop straight-pipe motorcycles, administer decibel-meter tests on the engines at high revs and, if appropriate, issue an order to install regulation (original factory issue) mufflers.

It’s an odd social policy that allows a vehicle carrying one or two riders to make more noise than a full city bus.

Some urban noise is expected, but unnecessary noise is awful.

Murray Leslie

Waikiki

‘Comfort animals’ allowed in condos

When I first moved into my condo tower, no pets was the association rule (“Pet peeves,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24). Now the condo has at least a dozen animal residents. Why?

Because of the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, owners got their pets classified as “comfort animals,” which give them the same protection as “service animals.” I am seeing more and more animals in business establishments, too.

Owners just have to say their animal is a service/comfort animal and no one can challenge or ask them for proof.

The only time you can ask the owner to remove the animal is if the animal is being disruptive and the owner cannot control the animal at all times.

Judy Lee

Kakaako