Letters to the editor: 09-25-19

I like Ike’s quote

I’ve been watching and listening to the seemingly endless viewpoints expressed regarding Maunakea and TMT. Here’s another: Try reading “Accessory to War” by astrophysicist and director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson.

It might give pro-TMT apologists reason to doubt the often espoused glories of science, seemingly at any cost. The backer of TMT is Cal Tech and by extension, the Military Industrial Complex.

As Ike said, “Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.”

Dave Lucas

Holualoa

Give teachers a real break

If we here in Hawaii are serious about improving education, then there must be a sincere attempt to attract and retain quality teachers.

I propose exempting teacher (not administrator) salaries from state income taxes. This would have an immediate, across the board, impact, and show that we value educators.

Donald Gross

Kailua-Kona