Voting rights stance skips over the facts

Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara’s commentary is typical of the shameless and pathetic false narrative gushing from the left in the effort to propagate a negative view of any opposing ideology ("Decision on Voting Rights Act is more than a disappointment; it’s an injustice," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 26).

It further illustrates with crystal clarity the progressive movement’s inability (or unwilling- ness) to engage intellectually, instead opting for the more convenient emotional manipulation of an under-informed constituency.

It comes as no surprise that the minute sensible regulation is proposed for a process proven to be easily manipulated, the race card comes out. How is a measure requiring all voters to produce identification — as is the current requirement in Hawaii — in any way racist? It surely doesn’t target one group, a la the IRS, and in fact ensures that those who would game the system to an unfair advantage are not allowed to defraud those of us abiding by the law.

Steve Hinton
Haleiwa

Customer happy with hybrid cars

This is in response to the headline for the letter on hybrid cars ("Hybrid batteries expensive, toxic," Star-Advertiser, June 27). First of all, there is no such thing as "hybrid batteries." The hybrid cars use nickel metal hydride batteries for propulsion, along with a gasoline engine that has a lead acid battery for starting.

The plug-in hybrid cars use lithium ion batteries for propulsion along with a gasoline engine. All these batteries are used in all types of household applications such as power tools, cell phones, computers, and are considered non-toxic for normal use.

Many of my friends have been using hybrids for many years and are extremely happy with their experience. I bought a hybrid in 2006 and a plug-in hybrid in 2012 and have no problems whatsoever. The hybrid gave me 45 mpg and the plug-in 100 mpg. I have had no trouble with any of the batteries in all these years of use. A plug-in hybrid is highly recommended in Hawaii compared to an all-electric vehicle because you don’t have to worry about recharging the battery in the middle of your trip.

Arabinda N. Dey
Hilo

Liberal news media ignoring scandals

The American people deserve to know the truth about the White House scandals of Ben-ghazi, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and the National Security Agency. There appears to be mass cover-ups by the Obama administration regarding these disgraceful events. You will find minimal reporting of these scandals by the liberal news media like MSNBC and CBS News.

Many Americans who are liberals, conservatives and independents have turned to Fox News because it appears to be the only major network that keeps the public informed daily about these scandals.

Robert Hatakeyama
Salt Lake

Boston bombers didn’t have WMDs

President Barack Obama called the Tsarnaev brothers’ assault on Boston "terrorism" without a retraction.

But now Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is charged with using "weapons of mass destruction." They had two pressure cookers, five improvised explosive devices, a Ruger P95 semiautomatic handgun, ammunition, a machete and a hunting knife.

If President George W. Bush knew that these counted, he would have found choke WMDs in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

Hey, to be on the safe side, why not toss in teapots, rice cookers and baby rattles?

Richard Morse
Makiki

Hawaiians should avoid roll calls

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has dirtied his hands by signing Kanaiolowalu legislation, including House Bill 785, that passed the Legislature this year. The legislation contained unconstitutional clauses that undermine the Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of association as well as the corollary: the right not to associate.

Hawaiians who have registered in any Office of Hawaiian Affairs registry, Kamehameha Schools database, Kau Inoa, etc. are now forced members of Kanaiolowalu, the Native Hawaiian roll.

Hawaiians are now a captured Indian tribe instead of members of a nation with the potential, once we resurrect our government, to be recognized in the family of nations with the right to have the United States compensate us handsomely for its illegal invasion of the Hawaiian Kingdom and forced abdication of Queen Liliuokalani.

Lela M. Hubbard
Aiea

Democracy needs public defenders

It is shocking and unbelievable that sequestration will lead to layoffs among the Hawaii federal public defender’s staff ("Cuts may jeopardize U.S. public defenders in the isles," Star-Advertiser, July 1).

In our system of law, an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

For those who may qualify for a public defender, the loss of this service will affect the right of the accused to obtain justice.

Our congressional delegation should join with fellow members to exempt this important service from sequestration.

Congress was able to find a solution for funding for air traffic controllers.

Why not solve the problem of protecting the rights of citizens accused of a crime as mandated by the U.S. Constitution?

Leonard Leong
Manoa