Government union bosses hammered the public again, as Richard Borreca describes, “with little turmoil won pay raises from the taxpayers” (“Hawaii’s lackluster politics in 2017 should make for contentious elections in 2018,” Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Dec. 17).

With Sam Slom gone from the state Senate, no one will stand up to the Hawaii Government Employees Association/United Public Workers beast.

More raises in the current term only means higher pension liability in the longer term, and the prospect of still higher taxation to shore up the radically underfunded retirement system.

Borreca’s headline is right: The 2018 elections will be “contentious” as Republicans are stepping up to challenge wasteful, clueless and spendthrift Democrat governance.

Michael G. Palcic

St. Louis Heights

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U.S. aid should not be used as UN threat

Donald Trump is continuously embarrassing the U.S. in the eyes of the international community.

Threatening members of the United Nations General Assembly with the withholding of financial aid if they disagree with you can easily be viewed as an unashamed and blatant attempt at influence peddling and blackmail (“Trump threatens to cut aid over U.N.’s Jerusalem vote,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 21).

The message that he is sending to the world is that we are rich and purchase other nations’ friendship and loyalty. Relationships built in such a way are often doomed to failure, especially if a higher bidder comes along.

Besides needlessly insulting some of our allies, Trump is showing a complete lack of understanding in how the game of international politics is played. Aid to other countries is seldom (if ever) given with no strings attached, but a competent politician will at least pretend that it is being given as a gesture of goodwill and not being paid as a bribe.

Kurt Lemon

Kailua

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Tax bill adds to debt, will slash social aid

The final version of the tax reform plan is a classic example of the Pareto Principle, since the wealthiest 20 percent enjoy 65 percent of the benefits until 2025 and 100 percent thereafter, with the upper 1 percent getting 87 percent of that.

It is a perversion of Luke 1:53 (“He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty”). It now reads, “He has filled the rich with good things, and the hungry he has sent away empty.”

Unless there is a miraculous increase in the gross domestic product, the plan will add almost $1.5 trillion to the national debt, prompting the speaker of the House to savage Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security while decreasing federal employee wages and benefits.

Oh well, we can always wait until 2020, when we have intelligent, respectful, nuanced debates between presidential candidates John Kasich and Elizabeth Warren about the proper role of government in American lives.

John Priolo

Pearl City

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Recalling fond times in Natatorium pool

The Waikiki Natatorium was completed in 1927, 90 years ago, to honor those who died and the thousands who served in World War I. The saltwater pool, 100 by 40 meters, was built as a living memorial to our heroes.

The Hawaii Department of Education had a mandatory “Learn to Swim” program. Many public school children benefited from the use of the pool, learning to swim and acquiring the ability to survive in water.

Growing up in Kapahulu, I have great memories of the happy times shared with my brothers and friends at the Natatorium. The beaux-arts facade at the entrance of the Natatorium and the Roll of Honor plaque are nice, but it was the saltwater pool that had true meaning.

The once-beautiful structure and safe confines may be demolished to give beachgoers more room. I’m for restoration, but know that there are many reasons why it isn’t possible. I honor all WWI veterans who made sacrifices for their country.

Larry Tamashiro

Downtown Honolulu

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Turn Natatorium site into public beach

I am writing in support of restoring a public beach where the Waikiki Natatorium now stands. The entire south side, the most populous part of the island (except for Kaimana Beach) has been totally crowded out and virtually blocked from public use by hotel development.

I was forced to compete in “the Nat” in its heyday and we hated it. The waters were unpleasant and stale, the walls slimy with moss. Such total restoration is not possible since a swimmer in distress at the bottom of the pool could not be seen and recovered.

Mandy Bowers is correct (“Move memorial for public beach,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 20). We are all footing the high bill and should have something that we want and need. Liability should be considered. Someone spraining an ankle on a city facility could sue. A sprained ankle on one of our open beaches carries no such liability.

The suggestion of T. Alfred Morgado to clog up the area with the Hokule‘a and the Hikianalia is not OK (“Natatorium good site for Hokule‘a,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 20).

Jane Wylie

Makiki