Cut spending to boost economy

The only way to reduce our $15 trillion federal debt is to cut our spending in Washington. Our country is broke. America is paying interest of about 43 cents on every dollar we borrow. Two of our major lenders are China and Japan.

We must cut spending by reducing social-ills programs like welfare, food stamps and Medicaid. We must eliminate waste in the size of our government by getting ride of unproductive agencies and consolidate departments with similar operations. We must reduce our national unemployment rate by lowering corporate and small-business taxes so employers can start hiring workers. We must condense excessive bureaucratic regulations to stimulate growth in our economy.

It appears that our politicians in Washington have little concern for the American people and care only for their own personal gain. Now it’s time President Barack Obama and Congress stop their political shenanigans and solve our country’s financial crisis.

Robert G. Hatakeyama
Salt Lake

Move bus stop near HPU

The crosswalk by Hawaii Pacific University is in a very dangerous location. How about moving the bus stop closer to Pali Highway and taking away the crosswalk? There is a traffic signal about 100 yards away, where it is much safer to cross with the traffic lights.

Possibly the bus stop could be located in the triangular area where the traffic merges from Kamehameha Highway to the Pali.

I drive in that area about once a week and I look out for students, but the traffic is very heavy. I, myself, would never cross in that crosswalk.

Pam Mori
Kaneohe

Rail foes waste public money

Unlike the Hokulia or other private development, rail is a government-funded project. Similar to past lawsuits filed against public projects, including the H-3 freeway, in the end it is the taxpayer who pays for these legal challenges as well as the delays.

The H-3 was delayed for decades, but when it was opened, Windward residents found the freeway beneficial by providing a third access across the Koolaus, particularly when accidents block Pali or Likelike. Like the H-3, all residents will benefit from rail as an alternative transportation mode when H-1 freeway is choked off due to rush hour congestion, accidents or bad weather.

I hope the courts rule quickly and dismiss this lawsuit against rail. We have been down this road before, and it’s time we build rail.

Lyman McCallum
Kaneohe

Seal habitat plan restricts growth

Former Gov. Linda Lingle is right to bring this issue to the attention of Hawaii residents ("Lingle opposes monk seal habitat proposal," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2). The critical habitat rule would hurt Hawaii’s economy by adding an additional permitting process to any coastal project that has even a limited federal dimension. These projects could then be held up in court by radical environmental groups whose sole purpose is to prevent any type of development from happening on Hawaii’s shores.

The federal government would be better off delegating this authority to the state to allow local regulators to create a flexible, adaptive system that could better balance the needs of wildlife protection and economic development.

John Monaghan
Heartland Institute, Chicago