Some seem upset that we do not elect our president based on popular vote, and want a “true democracy” (“Electoral College needs to be ditched,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 10).

Our founding fathers wisely gave us a republic, not a democracy. The vote is decentralized into 51 independent contests that encourage the voice of small states and rural communities, and acts to circumvent fraud. With the Electoral College, Hawaii enjoys more than our “democratic” fair share of influence. If implemented, a popular vote would effectively let the 10 largest cities pick our presidents. Do we in Hawaii not care that our voice would not matter?

Shamefully, back in 2008 our Legislature passed Senate Bill 2898 and overrode a veto to join the National Popular Vote initiative to forego an important piece of our state sovereignty.

Wise citizens would learn the history of debate about the Electoral College, and not be quick to discard it unwittingly.

Dave Beers

Waipahu

Trump begins to tear nation down

How gratifying that our president-elect wants, first of all, to deprive 20 million Americans of health care coverage. Then he wants to deport 10 million people (and our food production). He promises to bring back manufacturing jobs from overseas, but obviously for much lower wages and few benefits.

As for his beloved wall, the East Germans found out that the Berlin Wall was really designed to keep them in, not to keep their enemies out. Oh yes, and it’s apparently open season for rich white men to harass women, who will be sued if they complain (and so will anyone else who criticizes him).

The 1 percent now controls both the economy and the entire federal government, so find a box to sleep in on the street.

David Chappell

Kaneohe

Democrats’ loss their own fault

Watching and listening to the media experts explain how Donald Trump won has been as entertaining as some of the letters on your editorial pages.

Did anyone in the Democratic Party consider that this was a self-inflicted wound? Start with Hawaii’s primary, in which heavy support for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was ignored by the party elite. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard resigned rather than be a part of the stacked deck at the Democratic National Committee. Emails established the fact that the DNC had decided that Clinton was its choice.

In so doing, it selected the one person who was so widely considered dishonest, scheming, ego-driven and divisive (no white males need apply) that voters chose a less openly dishonest, equally ego-driven and divisive man who has never read the U.S. Constitution. Sanders would have won. Congrats, Democrats!

Russ Webster

Nuuanu

Djou a winner during campaign

When Charles Djou’s sign-waving event wound down after sundown on Election Day eve, the gracious and humble candidate took great pains to sincerely thank each of the dozens of volunteers.

An elderly woman from the group began to depart into the darkness, and despite the frenzy around him, Charles spotted her and broke away from the clamoring throngs to approach the woman to ask if she needed a ride home.

Ignoring his bone-crushing mental and physical fatigue, this compassionate man offered his precious time to a person whom he had just met. Such kindness speaks volumes about his true character and underscores how tragic it is that in Hawaii, honest politicians who truly represent the aloha spirit are trodden over by monopoly party special interests.

Luckily for Honolulu, Charles Djou is a winner in life, where it really counts.

Barbara Feather

Waikiki

Clinton, Obama graceful in defeat

Unlike some in Hawaii’s delegation at the Democratic Convention in July, Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama were gracious in defeat.

Remaining contentious once you’ve lost is pointless. A fine lesson for anyone involved in politics.

Steve Chong

Mililani

GMO companies can buy influence

Having recently attended the Hawaii International Film Festival to see the films “Poisoned Paradise” and “Island Earth” about the GMO controversy in Hawaii, and as a physician who specializes in treating people damaged by environmental toxins, I came away with one simple question.

With Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow and other companies giving major campaign contributions to most of our elected officials on both state and federal levels, how can we expect these officials to vote objectively and not be influenced and feel beholden to these large contributors?

Somehow a system that allows such a conflict of interest must be reformed.

Michael Lebowitz

Waikiki