Thomas Sowell’s latest columns assume that Pope Francis subscribes to Archbishop Rembert Weakland’s comparison of the church’s advocacy for the poor to the 18th-century “Enlightenment” (“Flood of war refugees goes back to failed foreign policy,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 12; “Pope peddles ideology that would perpetuate poverty,” Sept. 26).

Historically, some of the results of the Enlightenment include: ending child labor, women’s suffrage, food and meat inspections, vaccination, and workplace safety regulations.

The end of slavery is another result of the Enlightenment. Sure, it ruined the Southern economy, but Atlanta, Richmond and Miami have subsequently done well as that region evolved.

It was not concern for the poor, as Sowell posits, but factors including the shifting from agriculture and beef to manufacturing, an overreliance on imports after the 1929 Depression, successive coups and juntas, the privatization of many industries and the devaluation of its currency that led to the “ruin” of Argentina.

The pope praised the U.S. for its freedom, power, and wealth and then, like any coach or mentor, exhorted us to use it and “do more.”

William E. Conti
Waikiki

Partisan politics hasn’t gone away

It’s interesting that Thomas Davies points out that U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye were about protecting special interests (“Senator’s job not about ‘popular will,’” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 24).

Yet he fails to mention corporate greed, corruption and money in politics as affecting our current political climate.

If he’s going to claim nonpartisanship as imperative to success, his response should reflect those conditions.

Ryan Tin Loy
Nuuanu

Not all Muslims want theocracy

Jim Wolery’s assertion that Ben Carson is correct about Muslim politics is problematic (“Carson correct about Muslims and politics,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 26).

There are countries where the citizenry is predominantly Muslim, yet separation of religion and state prevails. The Muslim Brotherhood government of Egypt did not last long.

Like any sacred text, the Koran is open to different interpretations and abuse as well as use.

Devout Muslims practice the Five Pillars of Islam, which are not antithetical to the U.S. Constitution and presidency.

While the Constitution affirms separation of church and state, plus the irrelevance of religion for holding government office, numerous examples demonstrate that these are not absolutes. A new president is customarily sworn into office with a Bible. Sessions of Congress begin with prayer. Pope Francis just spoke in Congress.

The U.S. will be a more genuine democracy when an individual of any religion, or lack thereof, can be elected president, and when Islamophobia is extinct.

Leslie E. Sponsel
Hawaii Kai

Some in GOP sound theocratic

When Republicans try to use state law based on religion and use it to deny equal rights to all, to deny women the right to make their own decisions, to discriminate against gays, to teach religion in schools, and to deny someone running from office based on religion, not only is it unconstitutional but it sounds a lot like sharia law.

Jim Quimby
Kapalama

Conservative needs to step up

The resignation of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner should give me joy. But it doesn’t.

I don’t know who will replace him. And since he has a lineup of similar (liberal) Republicans, I fear he will be replaced by someone who is equally ineffective.

So I hope that a conservative Republican will step forward, campaign for the speaker’s job, and make a real change. We seriously need hope and change.

Mark Terry
Wahiawa

Fiorina, Trump: believe their lies?

I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to both Carly Fiorina and Donald Trump on their adopted political modus operandi.

They have completely and successfully adopted the George Costanza philosophy of the truth: “It’s not a lie … if you believe it.” It speaks to the very character of this country.

Kevin Cain
Chinatown

HART board seems clueless

During the discussion of the delay of Ansaldo’s claim against the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, board member Colleen Hanabusa made a profound statement that could possibly apply to the entire rail project (“HART board defers $8.7M delay claim approval,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 26).

Hanabusa said about the delay, “And the reason why we’re doing what we’re doing is we’re not sure.”

Absolutely classic. Perhaps HART should have a rubber stamp made with this statement and apply it to all of their documents.

Roger D. Van Cleve
Waikiki

Stop calling rail a ‘$5.2B project’

Surely by now most people are numb to every announced increase in the price of the rail project, with a $910 million cost overrun, and now $200 million more not even a year later (“Rail shortfall tops $1 billion,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 16).

But now we are told we are also at least one year late in construction.

Some mathematical corrections are needed. It is now noted that the project is well above $6 billion. Prior to December 2014 it was a $5.2 billion project and then the Legislature approved an extension in general excise tax surcharges for five years, which will result in a $1.5 billion to $1.9 billion increase in taxes. So now the project is between $6.7 billion to $7 billion, which is why it should be called a $7 billion project.

Does anyone at this point believe that the cost overruns and construction delays are over and we finally will complete this project with the new schedule and new money?

Shirley Gibbs
Kaneohe

Build homes that are affordable

Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration says it is committed to housing the homeless (“New home for homeless,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 19).

The mayor’s idea of building temporary modular homes for homeless is the right thing to do, but it is not enough. We must also prevent more people from becoming homeless.

Many consider skyrocketing home prices and building luxury condos as signs of prosperity. To the contrary, they diminish the chances for many people of owning their homes. Owning a home is a big part of the American dream. It motivates people to work harder for the pride of owning their dwellings.

Instead of only pampering high-end projects, the government and developers must also cater to the upcoming generation by building affordable housing projects.

Our keiki are Hawaii’s future, not foreign buyers.

Kenneth Lam
Hawaii Kai