The Democratic National Committee has shown bias for Hillary Clinton and against Bernie Sanders from the very beginning. How can we make the Democratic Party democratic?

Meanwhile, the Republican Party has shown bias against Donald Trump from the very beginning. How can we make the Republican Party democratic?

American voters no long trust either party to honor their promises and platforms.

Throw the bums out, and vote for the Greens.

We can only pray that at least one third party will be included in the debates. Keeping third parties out of the debates keeps new ideas from being discussed.

Our Constitution says nothing about a two-party political system.

We will never accomplish real change with the two-party system, as both are entrenched and corrupt.

Bill Russell

Mililani

We need more muckraking

The media and Democrats’ finger-pointing at the Russian government, when emails showed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) acted to subvert Bernie Sanders’ primary election bid, reminds me of the break-in at DNC offices at the Watergate building in 1972.

My ultra-conservative grandfather laughed it off as President Richard Nixon merely getting caught “with his pants down.”

My father retorted, “He pulled them down himself!”

Likewise, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is wholly responsible for the blowback to her actions.

More to the point, the Watergate break-in and its organizers were exposed by The Washington Post. Why in 2016 do we depend on foreign intrigue and WikiLeaks to inform Americans about who is working to corrupt the integrity of our government?

In the not-too-distant past, muckraking journalists investigated and reported these things. Today, it seems the media acts as a lapdog to the Democratic establishment that they could and should be investigating.

Ritxard Weigel

Salt Lake

Don’t inter ashes in ocean waters

We are island people surrounded by the ocean, which is a living and breathing entity. The ocean is the sacred realm of our Hawaiian akua Kanaloa.

It is not pono to encase cremated ashes in concrete balls to go into man-made artificial memorial reefs in Maunalua Bay (“Eternal reefs,” Star-Advertiser, July 24).

With Hawaiian burial practices, we naturally disintegrate into Hawaii so our mana becomes part of the aina and the kai. It’s so we don’t become a permanent fixture. The memorial reef will be a permanent structure in the ocean, and it’s a commercial venture.

Traditional Hawaiian practices of canoe paddling, fishing and surfing take place in Maunalua Bay. To add an underwater cemetery to these waters is not appropriate. Who wants to paddle or fish over an underwater cemetery?

It’s not pono for the ocean waters of Maunalua, and it’s not pono for ocean waters anywhere else in Hawaii.

Kaleo Paik

Ann Marie Kirk

Maunalua

Dems shouldn’t support Djou

Ben Cayetano forgets that he became lieutenant governor and governor because he is a Democrat.

Walter Heen forgets that he became a state judge because he is a Democrat.

Ann Kobayashi forgets that she has won repeatedly in Manoa because she is a Democrat.

Yet they all are supporting Charles Djou, a Republican, for mayor.

As a state representative, Djou opposed funding to repair schools and voted against cost-of-living increases for state and city retirees. All teachers, retired teachers and other public sector retirees should remember this.

While on the City Council, he proposed budget cuts that the city administration said would force the closure of police stations and eliminate other critical city services.

It is bad enough for these three to be totally disloyal to the Democratic party. It becomes even worse when they support a Republican who has no empathy for our people.

Ed Manglallan

Ewa Beach

Mayoral race will decide rail’s fate

It is not very often that the people in a city are given several chances to correct a great mistake.

Voters in 2008 voted to allow the city to build “a steel-wheel-on-steel-rail transit system.”

At the time we were told it would cost $3.7 billion, with the federal government paying about $1.5 billion.

In 2012, voters were given the chance to change mayors and stop rail when it would cost $5.7 billion.

Now in 2016, voters have their last chance to vote on a $10 billion rail system that is five years behind schedule.

Will voters finally bring rail under control and elect a mayor who never once voted to raise taxes to build it?

Shirley Gibbs

Kaneohe

‘Animal cops’ falsely depicted

The movie, “The Secret Life of Pets,” does a disservice to animal rescue officers.

It portrays the officers as “bumbling bad guys” who capture pets with sadistic glee. The audience is led to cheer when the pets are able to escape the rescue worker’s nets and loop sticks.

The “animal cops” at Hawaiian Humane Society diligently work to help animals. They know that wandering animals risk injury, starvation, dehydration and even death. These individuals are compassionate and care deeply for animals.

It is concerning that thousands of children and adults will see this movie and walk away with a negative image of animal rescue workers.

We need to end the false portrayal of animal protectors for the sake of laughs.

The entertainment industry should to be more cognizant on its messaging and take responsibility in shaping a respectful and compassionate society.

Bonnie Oda

Kakaako

Takai did much for public schools

The passing of U.S. Rep. Mark Takai is a tremendous loss to Hawaii and the nation.

I joined with him when he worked tirelessly as a state legislator to improve public schooling for Hawaii’s children, especially those attending schools that experienced high student turnover due to military transfers.

He spearheaded changes that recouped millions of dollars in federal impact aid funding to supplement state school funds.

He recognized the special needs of these military-impacted schools and streamlined the transition of these oft-traveled military children to blend in with Hawaii’s diversified student population.

His personal efforts resulted in improving the schooling of thousands of students who not only achieved higher test scores, but “lived aloha” to bond lifetime relationships.

Hawaii’s military and local families are extremely grateful, and I am certain that Congressman Takai was very proud of the fruits of his labor.

Charles Ota

Aiea