Candidates should address aging issue

You hit the mark in suggesting that candidates for state office should be talking about issues related to caregiving and our aging population ("Abercrombie wrong to cancel on seniors," Star-Advertiser, Our View, July 15).

The youngest of the baby boomers turns 50 in 2014, and by the end of the year, 35 percent of the state’s population will have reached the half-century mark. Hawaii residents are living longer, and health and long-term care challenges call for robust discussion of policy ideas and solutions.

As a caregiver for my wife, I know firsthand the challenges families face. I’d like to hear what candidates have to say about how the state can help.

I know there’s no silver bullet, but given the rising number of aging seniors, we can’t ignore the reality that help is needed and not much is being done.

Voters deserve an open discussion of how candidates will address issues related to aging.

Ken Takeya
Kailua

Newbie candidates deserve our thanks

Why would someone with no name recognition, who had never run for office before, decide to challenge an incumbent?

Are they ambitious, egotistical or nuts?

Do they really expect to win, or are they just having fun exercising their rights?

My City Council member, with a half-million-dollar campaign fund, is being challenged by two political unknowns.

Thanks to my neighborhood board, candidates for all races in our district were invited to speak.

The first unknown, a financial adviser by profession, said he was running because he was worried about the city’s financial solvency, that we had a huge bond debt and huge interest on that debt.

The other unknown, a farmer, had ideas to expand and diversify our economy and increase food sustainability by providing support for local agriculture.

I was surprised and impressed. They were putting themselves out there — for us!

Now, if only we had publicly funded elections.

Wynnie Hee
Mililani

Political sign-waving an insult to voters

Sign-waving in Honolulu is a dangerous and sad commentary on the state of the collective intellect of Hawaiian voters.

This practice simultaneously puts drivers, pedestrians and cyclists at a significantly heightened risk for accidents on the road, while undermining the election process.

The very fact that sign-waving yields the intended result of higher voter turnout and votes is a slap in the face to voters.

A sign in your face is a sign to not vote for that candidate.

The nature of their sign being waved in your face is a testament to the fact they think you are an unintelligent voter who will vote by name recognition alone.

How does it possibly make sense that it’s illegal to fly a single American flag from an airplane in the sky, yet it’s perfectly legal to wave thousands of signs in our faces while we drive?

Derek Meier
Manoa

Deedy should have just called police

I’ve been following the Christopher Deedy trial since its inception.

Deedy reportedly was a trained federal law enforcement officer. Apparently, he forgot his training — and policies — when he decided to carry his firearm and drink at various bars while off duty.

The encounter at McDonald’s could have and should have been avoided by simplystepping outside and calling 911. Police officers would have been there in minutes. He was a witness. He should have let the police do their job.

Deedy is not a "street cop." He may be a federal law enforcement officer but he doesn’t handle street confrontations on a daily basis.

His error in judgment by simply not stepping outside, making a 911 call and waiting for Hono-lulu police to arrive has created a sad no-win situation for either side in the trial as well as our community.

Edward Lingo
Kailua

Impose taxes on all foreign imports

A number of major corporations are seeking to minimize taxes by shifting their headquarters to an overseas shell company.

The consequences due to U.S. globalization are that the American Dream no longer exists for the young generation, who cannot find suitable work after costly education.

The solution to this is to impose import taxes on all foreign imports. This would allow the U.S. to rebuild factories and be competitive once again and rescue our children who want jobs.

Milton Allione
Kailua

Many swimmers recall ‘Coach Joe’

It was a joy to see "Coach Joe" at the deck of a pool once again ("Mister Positive," Star-Advertiser, Sports, July 12).

He’s remembered from his years at University of Hawaii-Manoa, plus other places.

In the wake of all the lane markers, Joe Lileikis has left a legacy of teaching behind.

He helped me long ago learn to cut a more graceful languid crawl stroke.

And how many other swimmers — men and women, young and old — have Coach Joe in the back of their minds, even now, to give a shaka to?

How many of us feel more confident now outside of water because of what this remarkable coach has given all of us inside the water?

I know in that vast eternal swimming pool in the sky someday, I’m going to meet up again with Coach Joe holding clipboard in hand and bending over the edge of the pool, and giving tips with a smile.

Thanks, coach.

Dave Baumgartner
Moiliili