Democracy was the winner

Our country has once again demonstrated that our society can exercise its democratic privilege.

A president has been lawfully elected. Our government continues, and our citizens will support our president.

Our country has experienced almost every catastrophe that could damage and defeat a free society: revolution, wars, terrorism, natural disasters, political rancor, economic depressions, social upheavals. But every time a free and peaceful election by the people succeeds, the United States proves that democracy works.

Each presidential term is another opportunity for progress. If Americans remember that and continue to value their vote, and if Americans chastise political partisanship by officials who brandish only partisanship, then this country can look forward to many generations of "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Connie Oliva
Kailua

Take down old campaign signs

Mahalo to those who voted. As a candidate, I appreciated their participation and consideration.

Although I did not win, I accomplished a campaign promise: I removed all my campaign signs the night of the election.

I challenge all the candidates to clean up their signs, and I challenge the victors to fulfill their campaign promises and consider the views of all those they now represent.

Jim Hayes
Former candidate, City Council District 5

Romney shows his real self

Suddenly, he was free.

In his gracious concession speech, Mitt Romney’s robotic recitation of right-wing dogma fell away and he showed himself as the deeply human, caring and appealing man he has always been in private. There was no longer any need to posture for the pleasure of his party’s ultraconservative base.

Congratulations, Mitt. You are now free to become yourself again.

Richard Dow
Diamond Head

Brace yourself for 4 more years

It is hard to believe that Americans want another four years of failed policies.

I guess it was the "devil they know," not the "devil they don’t know."

Four more years of recession and probably depression, unemployment as high as 12 percent in a year and the national debt to $26 trillion, based on the past policies.

Otto Cleveland
Pearl City

Romney unable to fool all of us

It seems very appropriate for Mitt Romney to come to mind as we celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

It was Lincoln who said, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." Indeed, how appropriate.

Jean-Jacques Dicker
Honolulu

Special interests tainted election

I want to thank former Gov. Ben Cayetanofor coming out of retirement and pointing out toOahu voters the misinformation that has been sold to residents — startingin the Hannemann administration and perpetuated by both the current mayor and the new mayor-elect — i.e., light rail, when the proposed system is steel-on-steel heavy rail; inflated ridership numbers; rising costs becausemulti-million-dollar contracts werelet prematurely, etc.

In the process, Cayetano has been slandered and exposed to personal attacks.

Given the fighter that he is, he has filed a libel suit against thePacific Resource Partnership.

If any good can come from the loss of this election, my hope is that other cities and states across the nation will take note and take steps to prevent the influence of anonymous, special-interest dollars in their areas.

Rike Weiss
Niu Valley

Waiting in line isn’t always bad

Waiting in line to vote seemed to be a problem in the election.

Why do people not want to wait in line to vote, which is a privilege, right and responsibility in our democracy?

People wait in line often overnight to get the first iPhones or iPads; they wait in line for hours and often overnight to get camping permits for holiday weekends; and they stand in line for the opening of the latest movie release.

Why is waiting in line to vote so different? Many places in the world do not have the opportunity to vote. So waiting in line to vote seems like something we should do and cherish our right to vote.

Claudia L. Webster
Kailua