GOP'S GOAL TO 'BREAK' OBAMA IS PATHETIC

Republican rants against "Obamacare" remind me of a tyrannical head of household who gambles away the rent money, then terrorizes his family for eating too much (or receiving medical care). Look at any 40-plus year chart of our national debt and it's clear that most all of it is due to irresponsible budgets, not vetoed but submitted by GOP presidents.

Economists worldwide recommend deficit spending in times like these, which is why the TARP program was initiated by the Bush administration. It it absolutely hilarious that the Republicans are now suddenly deficit hawks. Any good ideas coming from Republicans, such as tort reform, are wasted.

Instead of compromising an inch in solving the serious economic problem of health care, their aim as stated by one GOP senator, is to "break" Obama. Pathetic!

Daniel Laraway | Honolulu

EDUCATION

CHARTER SCHOOLS NEED EQUITABLE FUNDING

I am writing to present my concerns regarding the funding cuts that will adversely affect the children of Hawai'i. Our two children are attending a public charter school on the Big Island and have been thriving. The 33 percent proposed tax cut will significantly impact the public charter schools that currently receive only about half of what the other public schools are budgeted per student.

These cuts come out of money that directly supports our children. We, as hard-working taxpayers, feel we should have a say in where our tax dollars are spent. The long-term impact on the economy of Hawai'i rests in part on the education of its youth.

I implore our government to recognize that the goal of charter schools — to educate the whole child requires funding the whole child!

JoAnn Grahn-Kaneshiro | Kailua, Kona, Hawai'i

ROAD REPAIRS

STATE CAN'T KEEP TAXING THE PUBLIC

State Department of Transportation Director Brennon Morioka's only solution to fixing the "worst roads in the country" is to tax the public more. What happened to all the monies the state receives each year from already high taxes and the federal government? Doesn't Mr. Morioka know how to plan and budget monies to fix the roads with what they have already? This is typical waste and bureaucracy again at government levels.

Everyone needs to do more with less, as you cannot keep taxing the public.

Steven Sofos | Honolulu

SEN. GABBARD

DEMOCRATIC PARTY MADE A MISTAKE

The Democratic Party really screwed up by reprimanding Sen. Gabbard for voting against HB 444, the civil unions bill. I'm 73 years old and have been a Demo-crat for over 50 years.

Are the leaders of the party telling me that I'm no longer welcome because I believe that marriage is a sacred institution for a man and woman? If so, they're going to lose a lot more people than me come the 2010 elections.

I thought we lived in America and everybody was free to make up their minds about these kinds of things. If people are already trying to shut down the politicians who disagree with them, it won't be long until they target our churches. Auwe!

Julie Parker | Honolulu