We got a notice from cable provider Spectrum in May that it was going digital on June 12. We have digital televisions so I didn’t do anything about it until I got phone calls from them saying we had to get new cable boxes for each of our two receivers.

On June 11, the repeal of Federal Communications Commission rules took effect, ending network neutrality regulation in the United States.

On June 12, we only received cable broadcasts through the new boxes, each of which we are expected to pay an additional $6.99/month apiece to rent. We lost a few stations we liked, too. All for an increase of more than $175 more a year for basic service, hidden in additional fees.

On June 13, a federal judge approved the $85 billion merger of wireless giant AT&T with media conglomerate Time Warner.

Be prepared to pay more for less.

Richard Duggan

Kaneohe

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Mahalo to Sister Joan of Arc Souza

I was saddened to read about the ousting of Sister Joan of Arc Souza as head of St. Francis School in Manoa (“Longtime leader of St. Francis School is ousted,” Star-Advertiser, June 14).

Sadly, it was not her choice to leave. Her mother superior, Sister Barbara Jean Donovan of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities (SSFNC), made that call.

Sister Donovan has that authority. Religious take the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty. I do commend Sister Donovan and another leader, Susan Crossett, of the SSFNC for talking directly with her about being relieved.

Feathers have been ruffled, including mine. There might be negative consequences in recruiting of future nuns and monetary development. These are two biggies staring at most religious communities, including SSFNC.

Mahalo nui loa to Sister Joan of Arc Souza for her many years of dedicated and distinguished service at St. Francis School, where my deceased sister graduated from, and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.

Lawrence M. O. Chun

Kailua

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Correct some ‘Hawaiian values’

Let’s reject “Hawaiian religious fascism” that gives a theological justification for Hawaiian racial supremacy in our state’s political and cultural life.

A twisted version of the beautiful Kumulipo creation legend is being taught in the public schools. It says anyone with Hawaiian blood is a child of the gods and a brother/sister to the ‘aina in a way nobody else can ever be.

Let’s deplore Kamehameha Schools’ race-based admissions policy which excludes 80 percent of Hawaii’s children solely because of race — worse than Southern segregated schools which excluded only whatever percentage of kids were non-white.

Let’s embrace the aloha spirit, including its twin pillars of unity and equality. Let’s not divide the people and lands of Hawaii along racial lines, such as by creating a Hawaiian tribe.

All people, regardless of race, are equal in the eyes of God(s) and deserve to be treated equally under the law by our government. Stop socially divisive racial entitlement programs.

Kenneth R. Conklin

Kaneohe

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Stop carnage of Trump presidency

It’s been more than 500 days into the Trump presidency. There have been roughly 20 people indicted by the special counsel’s team, and our president is calling this investigation a witch hunt? Isn’t he concerned about the Russians interfering with our elections?

Now he wants to invite Russia to the G7 summit after what they did to our elections? What happened to the sanctions the U.S. was to put on Russia? What’s wrong with our Republican congressmen and Republican Party? Do they really want to make America great again, or make Trump richer?

What are we Americans to think if he pardons Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and, of course, fixer Michael Cohen?

Our democracy is being challenged by this crooked president and his Republican supporters who will be embarrassed and hurt in the long run. Next thing they’ll vote for is Trump continuing as a dictator president, as Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping are now.

We must stop this carnage of our democracy, whether Democrat or Republican.

William Pirtle

Waipahu

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Check candidates’ records, then vote

It’s that time again — elections. Time to hear the campaign promises and speeches.

If you are like me, you are tired of all the broken promises from politicians just trying to get elected. Politicians promise the moon just to get our votes.

Our ignorance needs to stop. We cannot afford to vote party lines and popular names anymore. The consequences will be dire. So what can we do?

We have to do our homework and check how our politicians voted. Did they vote for what is important to Hawaii? Did they listen to the people? We have to vote smart and vote for the politician who will do the best job. To do this, look at past history and see how well the candidates did their jobs.

Alan Kim

Moiliili