Make vaccines free for limited time only

The naysayers and anti-vaxxers will most likely never get a COVID shot. It’s time to go after the procrastinators. The only way to do that is to put an end to free COVID shots.

If the government were to put a reasonable deadline — perhaps the end of August — on a FREE first shot, then after that charge $25 to anyone over age 12, the procrastinators would rush in. In a two-dose vaccination, the second shot would remain free, as would the first shot for anyone currently ineligible for No. 1.

Terry Joiner

Waialae-Kahala

Community, civic actions are patriotic

There was a stimulating article in the Star-Advertiser on July 5, “Measuring the state of freedom in the U.S.,” that started me thinking about our expressions of patriotism. I’m bothered by the way our recognition of Independence Day has become so nationalistic and militaristic.

The best way to be patriotic would be building communities of justice and equity; challenging unjust laws and policies.

As my friend, kahu Dick Walenta, wrote, “True patriotism does not come by the flags you fly … (but) in the commitment to universal justice without personal privilege.”

Other expressions: community service; planting a tree and practicing environmental stewardship; accepting people who are different; reforming our systems of justice, education and immigration; and helping someone register to vote.

We need to embrace the entire history of the U.S. — good and bad, learn from it and implement the necessary changes.

John Heidel

Kailua

Remember, visitor spending helps us all

The vocal minority is clamoring to decrease the amount of tourists coming into Hawaii and overcrowding our public facilities, to the point where the tourist opinions on Hawaii have been dropping.

In raising facility usage fees and tourist taxes, we always feel that it’s OK to tax the tourists since it doesn’t affect us — notwithstanding that we are pricing Hawaii out of the market. There’s always a cause they espouse on to get the naïve public to give them support.

Does anyone wonder how much these visitors financially contribute to our society/community? Hawaii has always been a capital-short economy, which means we need outside money and investment to survive. Government rules and regulations have costs, and these are the main reasons for the affordable housing problem and homelessness.

It would be nice if this vocal minority put their money where their mouths are, instead of our money.

Carlton Chang

Waialae

Road work maroons Kailua residents

On Monday the Board of Water Supply began repairs on major pipes at the Kalapawai intersection, the only access way to Kailua and Lanikai beaches. Obviously, the disruption to the community was not well thought-out. For the first three days it was total gridlock.

All parking in Lanikai was prohibited from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — but that didn’t stop visitors from pouring in, oblivious to the warning signs.

Gridlock. All day.

Here’s what needs to be done:

1. Ban all street parking from Kalapawai throughout Lanikai.

2. Route traffic into Kailua through the beach park parking lot that exits just past the worksite at Kalapawai.

3. Make a concerted effort to persuade tourists and all beachgoers to leave their cars at home and only access the area by bus.

Those of us who live south of Kalapawai cannot get into town to shop or for appointments unless we go by bicycle or walk. We are marooned.

Mollie Foti

Kailua

Fiscal irresponsibility brings down mighty

Empires collapse not from the assault of opposing armies but from debauched currency due to profligate spending of borrowed money.

The USA may be at that point where the empire is collapsing because the money is no good. Money is merely a store of value; it holds no real-world worth. Things of real value are property and skilled labor. The U.S. dollar’s value has been progressively diluted and destroyed over the last 100 years by fraudulent bookkeeping in government and big business.

Today just a handful of mega corporations control all aspects of the world economy. Fiscal discipline is nonexistent. Living within your means and building a safety reserve through savings is scoffed at. Pricing mechanisms are broken. Failed enterprise is not allowed to fall away, as it should in a healthy economy. All unsustainable and misguided policies by global leadership.

Monetary inflation has been and is being used at an ever-accelerating rate to hide economic distress. Hardest hit initially is the general public, but the severe consequences will ultimately visit everyone.

Gary Pardy

Haleiwa

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter