Public paying price for Citizens United

Kudos to the Star-Advertiser for the political cartoon on the Oct. 28 editorial page ("The Tsumoney").

It is an extremely appropriate reminder during this voting season of the immeasurable damage done to the electoral process by the Citizens United decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

How will history view the key concepts expressed in that decision — "corporations are people" and "money is speech"? There is a painfully long process underway to nullify that decision.

One wonders how many elections conducted under the current court ruling will ordinary citizens have to endure before that ruling is overturned and some sanity is returned to the process?

Ed Sullam
Aina Haina

Complaints about coverage dubious

Reading the letters to the editor these past couple of weeks (biased poll numbers? Irresponsible editorial board?), I’m left to wonder whether we would have heard from these folks if their candidates had come out on the positive end of things — not to mention the fact that using the ballot box to "get even" with those who disagree with us is a strike against fair play and good citizenship ("Paper irresponsible to publish poll," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 28).

David Jones
Ewa Beach

Galuteria misleads with endorsements

Please correct the record! State Sen. Brickwood Galuteria has deceptively quoted a Star-Advertiser editorial about the primary election ("Experience makes the difference," Star-Advertiser, Our View, July 23).

I sense Galuteria believes readers will connect the paper’s primary election discussion with the upcoming general election endorsements, which, in your words, referred to Chris Lethem’s "spirited" challenge ("Incumbents in state Senate tough to beat," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 20).

When quoting the earlier editorial, Galuteria changes the record. He quotes: "Galuteria correctly assesses housing, homelessness, kupuna concerns, public safety and tourism as the top concerns in the district," but deletes the sentence’s conclusion: "yet it is on precisely those issues that outspoken challenger Carlton N. Middleton insists the incumbent has dropped the ball."

Myself and voters from Ala Moana, Kakaako, Waikiki, Moiliili and McCully want the truth in reporting candidates’ positions on issues. Please correct the record by informing readers of accurate and current quotations.

Anne Stevens
Waikiki

Farmers can thrive without GMO crops

Watching all the ads paid for by the big GMO companies, there seems to be only one option for farmers: working for these corporations to produce insecticide-laden foods. These scare-tactic, big-money ads say that many jobs will be lost if people vote against them, as if the only foods that can be grown are the ones that require more and more poisoning as weeds grow more resistant.

Working for Monsanto and Dow are not the only way to make a living if you want to farm, and Hawaii definitely needs to be more self-sufficient when it comes to growing food. But growing healthy, clean and, better yet, organic food also provides jobs.

The Maui GMO measure is a very important initiative to vote on, but let’s not be fooled by these scary ads that imply that they are the only option that we have. We also can grow food that is not GMO.

Jody Green
Waimanalo

An exciting time with ‘Hawaii Five-0′

Hana hou, "Hawaii Five-0!"

We hosted a "Hawaii Five-0" shoot at my residence recently. And though it’s good to be back to normal (no gunfire in the street), what an exciting experience that was (gunfire in the street!). And what a well-oiled machine of utter chaos it was. The amount of equipment and personnel that it takes to produce a hit prime-time TV show is mindboggling.

From beginning to end, the professionalism and courtesy demonstrated in planning, execution, follow-through and after-care were most impressive. One could not help but notice how everyone in every department of the show was personable, polite and cooperative.

A special shout-out goes to Timmy, Shane and Rita, who handled us with special care throughout, and all the behind-the-scenes unsung heroes of the show.

When the show comes knocking, answer the door. Support the show. Never say no to "Hawaii Five-0."

Dave Akers
Kahala

Bring Riley Wallace back to UH hoops

I urge University of Hawaii Athletic Director Ben Jay and the UH Board of Regents to bring back former UH basketball coach Riley Wallace, who notched more wins in tougher conferences for more years at half the salary of the recently deposed coach in Manoa.

What does this tell you about dedication?

This is a man who was separated prematurely from Hawaii, who still bleeds green and white, and who can lead the resurgence of sports both on the UH campus and in the state of Hawaii.

Chip Davey
Downtown Honolulu

Pass law outlawing truck-bed riding

For the second day in a row, I read about a fatality resulting from a fall from a truck bed ("Man who died in fall is ID’d," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 29).

Normally, when someone dies following a vehicular or automobile accident, the use of a seat belt or lack of it is mentioned. And if a driver is caught not wearing one, he suffers a hefty penalty.

Why are truck-bed riders not required to wear seat belts? Better yet, why is truck-bed riding allowed at all?

It is time a rigid law is passed against this convenient but very dangerous activity.

Ignacio Torres
Downtown Honolulu