Letters- Your Voice for Thursday, July 13, 2023

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Trump should go to Russia

The 49-page federal indictment of former President Donald Trump for the willful retention of classified documents should be required reading for all Americans.

However, I am deeply skeptical that many citizens care about the classified document indictment and the possible ramifications for our democracy. For more than a few citizens, democracy is an abstraction that interferes with more important endeavors such as that upcoming Vegas trip, generating a shopping list for a Costco run, or the latest drink offerings at Starbucks.

To place my money where my mouth is, I’m willing to wager my Starbucks gift card that more Americans can recite the names of the Kardashian sisters versus identifying the three branches of government.

The “witch hunt” into the unlawful retention of classified documents is but one indictment facing Trump. Who would have comprehended that a former president of our country — the individual most entrusted as the gatekeeper of our democracy — would cast aside democracy like yesterday’s garbage!

Indeed, as presidential historian Michael Beschloss uttered, “Trump’s indictment makes Richard Nixon look like a schoolboy.”

Don’t know who Richard Nixon is? Google it.

The 49-page federal indictment is ample and compelling evidence that Trump should never, ever be president of our country again. Many individuals would agree to this. But former Acting Solicitor General of the U.S. Neal Katyal went further and stated that Trump is “not only unfit to be president, but he’s unfit to be in this country.” You , Neal!

But as to where Trump should go if he is “unfit to be in this country”? Why, Braddah Kerry has the answer to that: “To Russia with Love,” Donald. “To Russia with Love,” baby! Kerry Meyer

Hilo

HCC program being ignored

I am a lecturer (Nursing &Allied Health) at Hawaii Community College. I have been since 2016 or so.

I started lecturing and was happy with the content and class size. We had a director and five full-time instructors. One instructor retired, and one left for whatever reason, so we fell to three full time.

Then the director left. One of our instructors was made the person in charge, with no official title. We never replaced either of them.

Recently, an instructor who has been on contract applied for one of the vacant positions. It took months before she was offered a position. Meanwhile, one of our teaching positions was given to Welding. As we all know, the shortage of welders is more important than nurses.

This semester, the size of our class has been increased to 28 students on the Hilo side of the island, and 14 on the Kona side. That went from 20 in Hilo, 10 in Kona, with no increase in instructors.

If the university system was really concerned with the shortage, which is real, they would increase the number of instructors.

Where did all the money earmarked for education go? Why do we have to count on the Hilo hospital for expired medical supplies and not be able to buy new and better supplies? Example, sterile gloves. We teach the students how to put these gloves on with sterile technique. How can you teach properly when the gloves are so old the nitrile gloves fall apart.

Please someone who can effect change tell everyone why our department is being ignored and not properly funded?

Martin Katz

Keaau