REAL ISSUE NOW IS TRUST IN GOVERNMENT

Keith Haugen (Letters, Aug. 12, "Critics forget Bush created the mess") is missing the boat. The question is not whether Bush or Obama caused the political, economic and social problems that we have. The resounding answer to that question is, yes! They both have; and their predecessors; and Congress; and the Senate; and the Judiciary; along with most leadership all the way down to the local jurisdictions.

The real issue now is that a growing number of Americans don't trust their government; just as the founders of America, by design, intended civilian participation. And that is a good thing.

What Mr. Haugen and those Americans that he says are too quick to forget need to focus on is the wholesale power grab that every new thousand-page bill does for the sake of the "common good" or for a "free lunch." No matter who is peddling the legislation, the freedom that we so preciously take pride in will, piece by piece, be squandered away. Simple observation over time will confirm that most problems are not resolved through federalized government involvement, but instead through localized community and business participation in free markets.

Guy Monahan | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

LEFT'S HYPOCRISY WON'T BE FORGOTTEN

I provide for my family, including elderly parents. Although my husband and I are healthy, we're also aging. I am satisfied with my current health insurance, but sweeping change will affect us all. I'd like to know that leaders are making informed decisions and not rubber-stamping the left's agenda.

In a democracy, we each have a voice. But I have seen the way the left marginalizes any voice that tries to be heard above the constant pressure to push their agenda. During the previous administration protesters were given center stage to exercise their freedom of speech. Town hall protesters in recent weeks have been cast as ignorant Limbaugh devotees.

I had assumed that our Democrat elected officials wanted to hear the people's voice during the August recess. I was wrong. Rep. Abercrombie's town hall meetings are campaign love-fests. Rep. Hirono isn't planning any town hall meetings. And the silence from the Senate is deafening.

In the next election cycle, I will definitely be supporting candidates who will challenge this hypocritical mo-notone coming from the so-called Democratic Party, which does not care to hear any dissenting voice.

Elizabeth K. Lyons | Honolulu

MAKUA VALLEY

DENYING SOLDIERS IS UNCONSCIONABLE

Malama Makua's continuing effort to deny our soldiers Makua training is unconscionable. And the millions of dollars they have cost the taxpayers in this effort is almost criminal.

Why should the Army have to guarantee what's gathered from Makua's ocean is safe to eat? Contaminants of every kind coming from land runoffs during heavy rains have already been confirmed. Even our two huge rubbish dumps in Nanakuli cannot make that kind of guarantee.

Identified cultural (Hawaiian) sites, e.g. rock piles, terraces, stick people carving on a rock, etc., have been determined on the basis of speculation; in other words, opinions. The valley was a cattle ranch in the 1930s with animals having no regard for "iwi" (bones), much less anything cultural.

The question is, was the use of Makua Valley justified in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars? Were laws broken? And should the Army today be held to answer for how the valley was used then?

Our soldiers are being sent to fight in the war on terrorists declared by those we elected to Congress and the White House. We therefore have a responsibility to support our soldiers and provide them with what they need. They need Makua Military Reservation.

Bill Punini Prescott | Nanakuli; former commander, VFW Post 849

NEWS COVERAGE

REPORT ON MARINES, COLUMN ADD TO PAPER

Dear editor, thanks for two things that I especially appreciated in today's (Aug. 13) paper.

• The extensive coverage, and photographs, of the Kane'ohe Bay Marines and their action in Afghanistan. It is so important to be reminded of the bravery, courage and sacrifice these men make on a daily basis.

• The Victor Davis Hanson column. He makes a wonderful balance to Ellen Goodman, et al. — despite the occasional sniping at him from those who can't tolerate a contrary opinion (and facts to back the opinion) to their own.

Please continue in both these endeavors. They add depth, veracity, balance and relevance to your newspaper.

Jim Long | Kane'ohe

HANSON COLUMN

NAYSAYER COLUMNIST NEEDS TO BE DUMPED

I am deeply offended that your newspaper publishes Mr. Hanson's editorial comments. I expect a more reasoned editorial from your newspaper than he consistently presents. His comments are inflammatory at worst, and severely slanted at best. In his Aug. 13 piece he accuses the administration of becoming "Big Brother" and tries to exonerate the Bush administration from the mess they left to the current administration. He states, "Bush is somehow culpable for the newly projected $2 trillion deficits." Well, yeah!

He was at the helm when the financial crises came crashing down. Naysaying does not solve problems, and that is all he is: a naysayer.

In this time we need reasoned thinking, fair mindedness and a spirit of cooperation in this nation to get us out of the mess the prior administration left us in. Mr. Hanson presents none of those qualities. Dump him.

Pattye Wright | Kailua

CIVIL UNIONS

ISSUE IS ABOUT BASIC HUMAN CIVIL RIGHTS

In response to the narrow, hypocritical minds on civil unions, especially Greg Ching (Letters, Aug. 17), and those that oppose civil unions for gay couples: So many gnaw on the elements of "traditional marriage and traditional families." However, the civil unions issue is about basic human civil rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States.

There are many gay relationships that last far longer than traditional marriages and the lack of civil unions prevents access to 1,100-plus basic human civil rights that are supposed to be available to all American citizens, including the gay community. There are also many gay couples that provide a very loving and stable family environment for their families. There are no laws that dictate or define what a traditional family is supposed to look like.

How dare you judge something like that. Maybe we should revert back to women not being able to vote, and interracial couples not being able to marry, then let's see how you feel as an American citizen about your civil rights being taken away.

Those that don't support civil unions are as unAmerican and hypocritical as they come. This is not a "traditional marriage or families" issue. This is a civil rights issue. Very simple.

Kent West | Kane'ohe