I enjoyed the excellent piece by Arthur van Benthem (“Lost opportunity,” Star-Advertiser, May 3).

What a lost opportunity, that our Legislature adjourned without passing House Bill 1580, which would have established a goal for Hawaii’s ground transportation to be run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. Many thanks to the senators and representatives who supported this legislation.

Despite this setback, I encourage readers who may be considering a new car to test-drive a plug-in, all-electric vehicle. They are quiet, powerful, fun to drive, and you will never having to line up at the gas pump (and thus directly support the fossil fuel industry) ever again.

No gas cap, no tailpipe, no exhaust, minimal maintenance — how cool is that? Analyze your driving needs and think about it.

Ron Reilly

Volcano Village

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GOP’s health bill the real death panel

Remember when the GOP railed against the Affordable Care Act because it would create “death panels” that will decide on who gets medical treatment? The House declared itself to be the “death panel” when it voted to repeal Obamacare.

Congressional Budget Office analysts said that the previous version would result in the loss of medical coverage for 24 million people. The new bill is expected to have even higher numbers of uninsured as it eliminates an expansion of Medicaid, allows insurers to place lifetime and annual caps on benefits, allows large employers to apply health benefit regulations from any state to their own, and allows insurers to increase the amount the elderly pay.

States can allow insurers to charge higher premiums to those with pre-existing conditions who let their coverage lapse and offer skimpier plans that will not cover all expenses.

Who benefits? The rich will have their taxes reduced, as the House did not repeal the $250 billion a year tax break for health insurance for the rich.

Jon Shimamoto

Mililani

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Drug abuse is not a victimless crime

I am an inmate of the Halawa Correctional Facility, and an addict of 35 years. Each of us a similar story, each story its own tragedy, each tragedy our own cause.

I believed drug use was a victimless crime. The tears on my mother’s face, my children missing their television, toys, their father, proved otherwise.

My mother passed while I was in prison. I have not said goodbye. I remember her pleading, “We have nothing more you can sell” and, “Can’t you stop?” The grief, the guilt is overwhelming. I miss her love every day.

There are other victims of my behavior. Each dollar paid for illicit drugs supports mayhem and murder around the world.

Only I am responsible for my choices, yet others pay the price. There are no “victimless crimes.”

Michael Spiker

Halawa

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Fewer legislators, more decisions

Gov. David Ige was right when he said that an “extension of the legislative session would be a waste of time.” He could have also added that it would be a waste of money.

We have too many legislators. They cannot make a decision. Our legislative districts should be greatly enlarged so that we have at least half as many legislators, thereby saving millions of dollars every year. Those savings can be applied in a myriad of other vital services.

A less contentious, smaller body would be able to make some decisions.

A special session will not solve anything.

Mark Webster

Waialae-Kahala