Don’t fear AI in war, fear autonomous weapons
There’s no question that artificial intelligence will transform warfare, along with pretty much everything else. But will the change be apocalyptic or evolutionary? For the sake of humanity, let’s hope it’s the latter.
Rethinking Hawaii’s conveyance tax
Hawaii grapples with a daunting challenge: the urgent need for 4,000 to 5,000 affordable rental units annually over the next five years to tackle our lack of affordable housing. This acute shortage of housing drives both the houselessness and outmigration crises. The state Legislature has a pivotal opportunity to address this situation by reevaluating conveyance tax rates on the sale of multimillion dollar investment properties.
No waiting line for vets’ care
Plastics. Paint. Petroleum. Metals. Munitions. Medical waste.
Letters to the Editor for March 16
Support needed for SB 3126
Westside Stories: What’s wrong with this?
What’s wrong with this picture?
Katie Britt’s speech does a terrible disservice to sex trafficking victims
Scarlett Johansson’s “Saturday Night Live” open was hilarious, and there have been so many more great jokes about the oddly amateur theatrics of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt in her response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. But we can’t let the humor mask a patently cruel lie that was one of the cornerstones of her speech.
Letters to the Editor for Friday, March 15, 2024
Pele cleansed Puna of ‘wrongdoing’
Biden plays into the hands of Hamas terrorists
President Joe Biden continues to dangerously play it both ways regarding Israel. His misguided public comments rouse Hamas terrorists and cost more lives.
Measles is making a comeback. Should we be concerned?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an uptick in the number of measles cases around the nation since early December. If the pace of infections continues to follow this trajectory, 2024’s total will top the surge reported in 2014 (667 cases), or even the 1,274 cases reported in 2019. Should we be concerned?
Making smart budget choices: Biden plan is rooted in common sense
With a $7.3 trillion budget plan for fiscal year 2025, President Joe Biden laid out priorities that include a heavy emphasis on anti-poverty and quality of life while taking aim at Donald Trump’s efforts to roll back taxes on the rich.
Biden hams it up during stemwinder
In poll after poll, American voters have expressed overwhelming concern about Joe Biden’s age and fitness for office. Which explains the president’s over-the-top delivery in Thursday’s State of the Union address.
Dealing with false facts: How to correct online misinformation
Deepfakes of celebrities and misinformation about public figures might not be new in 2024, but they are more common and many people seem to grow ever more resigned that they are inevitable.
Letters to the editor for Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Reach agreement regarding Punalu‘u
What a doctor sees when Joe Biden hesitates
As a geriatrician, I discuss the effects of aging with patients every day. I wish I had a chance to give my usual talk to everyone who chortles or tears their hair out about President Biden’s fitness for his job.
Letters to the editor for Tuesday, March 12, 2024
How many more people need to die?
Ask the right questions
“That’s the wrong question.”
What’s better for the planet: Going vegan or going solar?
When salespeople knocked on my door a year ago attempting to sell me solar panels, I declined, explaining that I couldn’t afford them and that I was already doing my part to combat the climate catastrophe by being vegan. But when they asked if I’d be open to hearing more information, I agreed, mostly out of curiosity. Six months later, I had solar panels installed on my home.
Make this your year for civic resolutions
If you failed to visit the gym, cut back on sweets or start a new hobby in January, never fear. Experts say it’s best to make resolutions a little later in any case. And the most important resolutions you make in 2024 may be less about self-help than about the nation as a whole.
Letters to the Editor for March 9
Nahale-a should have been approved
As I See It: Historical stunts
In 1942, George H.W. Bush was the youngest Navy pilot to be shot down. He was 18. He survived and went back up again. He followed the Navy with a distinguished career in public service. In 1988, he ran for president. It was not clear why but the opposition started calling the war hero a wimp. His candidacy looked dim until he arrived at a campaign rally driving a heavy-duty tanker truck, not just blowing the horn. The wimp label fell away.