GRIH PRESIDENT JAMIE STORY RESPONDS TO THE HONOLULU MAYOR'S PRO-RAIL ATTACK AD
(Click "play" button to start video)
Recently the Mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann took out large, expensive advertisements in all of Oahu's major newspapers taking GRIH President Jamie Story, The Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation (where Ms. Story once worked) to task over her pointing out some facts on the proposed $6+ billion steel wheel rail system.
Among the Mayor's many accusations is that there's a huge "right wing conspiracy" of "monied big oil interests from Texas" that are bent on "interfering in Oahu" and stopping his proposed rail project. Ms. Story has been on television and radio defending the Institute and the idea that the people of Hawaii should be allowed to vote. The video footage above addresses some of the Mayor's assertions.
With your continued support, the Grassroot Institute will continue to shed an independent light on vital public policy issues - like the proposed rail system - that affect you and all the citizens of these islands we call home.
NEW GRASSROOT COMMENTARIES
From Vog to Smog
Contrary to Mayor Hannemann's claims, rail would not solve our traffic woes here in Honolulu - and could harm our fragile environment in the process.
(Click here)
Welfare for Politicians
Schemes that force taxpayers to pay for political
campaigns fail to deliver on their promised results.
Instead, they erode the First Amendment rights of
citizens and candidates, protect incumbents from
challengers, and waste taxpayer dollars.
(Click here)
By now, most Honolulu residents are aware that Mayor Mufi Hannemann purchased more than $20,000 worth of newspaper advertisements under the heading, “Getting Real on Rail.” The ads contained accusations and mischaracterizations of me, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and a number of those who question the financial and environmental viability of the mayor’s rail plan.
Have you thanked Milton Friedman lately? That’s the question PBS asked audiences two years ago, while promoting its retrospective on the life of this hero of freedom. It’s a question we should keep asking. Friedman may have passed away in November of 2006, but our debt to him has not. To help us all remember what Friedman has given us, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is leading the celebration of Milton Friedman Day in Hawaii on July 31, Friedman’s birthday. Along with other organizations sponsoring events across the country, we want to keep Friedman’s legacy alive and help others learn about this patriot.
(Editor’s Note: Lora Burbage recently attended a learning event at the Acton Institute. She describes her experiences for us here. GRIH is proud to have reimbursed her airfare to help her make the most of this great opportunity.)
The Acton Institute, a think tank for the study of religion and liberty, holds a very intellectually stimulating annual event called “Acton University”. I was privileged to attend this four day event in June. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, the Acton Institute has organizations in South America, Africa, and Europe. There were 350 in attendance with 51 countries represented at this event. The ideas discussed at this seminar will surely be spread all over the world.
FRESH PERSPECTIVE Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter. Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here. Contact tom@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE LAUNCHES ONLINE TV STATION
Videos, Comments and More at New YouTube Website
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has a new communications tool aimed at helping educate and inform its members and Hawaii voters. "Grassroot TV" is a new area on the popular YouTube.com web site which features videos relating to public issues in Hawaii and beyond, as well as statements from the Institute on various concerns facing our communities.
"It's an exciting new tool for us to use to help keep our members and the community at large informed about what our government is or is not doing," explained Communications Director Tom McAuliffe. "Video is one of the most effective communications mediums available today, and the Grassroot Institute intends to use it to help educate, inform and - who knows - maybe even entertain!"
Many new videos have recently been added to the library at the online TV station. McAuliffe is also looking for more videos and ideas for the new site. Please visit 'Grassroot TV' at www.youtube.com/user/GrassrootHawaii.
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE PODCASTS 'Grassroot Insight' Audio Interviews
GIR readers and visitors to the GRIH website are now able to enjoy 'Grassroot Insight', a periodic podcast hosted by the Institute’s Director of Communications, Tom McAuliffe. The audio interviews with community leaders and special guests at GRIH's monthly meetings are available for download to your iPod or for listening via the Internet. McAuliffe is a former major market on-air radio personality.
The latest 'Grassroot Insight' podcast features an interview with Hawaii State Senator and the President of Small Business Hawaii Sam Slom. Click here to hear the interview with Sen. Slom.
We hope you'll give 'Grassroot Insight' a listen, and if you have any ideas for the show please let Tom know at tom@grassrootinstitute.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS Information on the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are always available and updated via our website.
Thursday, July 31, 2008 A Luncheon Celebration in Honor of Milton Friedman's 96th Birthday
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM in the Card Room, Pacific Club
All over the country, events will be held on July 31st to honor Milton Friedman's vision and the impact he has had on our society. University of San Diego School of Law professor Gail Heriot will be the main speaker at this event, speaking on the topic “Milton Friedman: The Man Who Chose Freedom.” Co-sponsors include The Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, The Federalist Society, Research Institute for Hawaii-USA and others. Lunch will be a deli luncheon buffet with sandwiches, salads, cookies and iced tea. Cost is $25. A few seats remain. Call Pearl at the GRIH office immediately (591-9193) if you would like to purchase a seat. You must register in advance. No walk-ins.
Read what others have written or add your own thoughts by clicking here.
LIBERTY NETWORK
Institute President Helps Choose Miss Hawaii 2008
Jamie Story, President of The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, was a judge for the 2008 Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant, which took place at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu on July 11th. The six-judge panel selected Miss Hawaii 2008 Nicole Fox who will go on to represent Hawaii at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas this fall. The Miss Hawaii finals were televised live on OC16 TV.
Story, a former Miss Texas and top ten finalist in the Miss America pageant, shared her remarks on the experience: “I paid for the majority of my college education by competing in the Miss America program, so it’s exciting to see other young women taking advantage of this opportunity. I was honored to be tasked with this important responsibility, and I was impressed with the academic and professional accomplishments of the 19 contestants.” Prior to joining the Institute as its President earlier this year, Story completed a year of service as Miss Texas, traveling through the state speaking with tens of thousands of school children, policymakers, and other citizens. The Miss America Organization is the largest scholarship program for women in the world.
In The News
Communications Director Tom McAuliffe was in the 'Pacesetters' section of Pacific Business News on 7/18 and in the 'Tradewinds' section of Hawaii's Business Today on 7/18. He also had a Letter to the Editor in the 6/30 Honolulu Advertiser, 'Mayor should tone down transit rhetoric', which has received several responses. He was also on the Rick Hamada radio show on 7/5 talking about the need for a vote on Oahu's proposed $3-6 billion dollar rail system.
Need a good speaker for your next meeting?
From taxation to education and health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is excited to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at tom@grassrootinstitute.org.
Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network, Townhall.com, Americans for Tax Reform, The Sam Adams Alliance and more.
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America is home to 30 of the world’s 40 top universities, and seventy percent of the world’s Nobel laureates work in the U.S. (Source: Rand Corporation’s National Defense Research Insatiate)
Higher gas prices have led to increased usage of mass transit. Ridership on public transportation nationwide increased 3 percent during the first three months of 2008. (Source: USA Today)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Mass transportation is doomed to failure in North America because a person's car is the only place where he can be alone and think.” --- Critic Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980)
“Our ideals of freedom, set forth and realized in our Constitution, are our greatest export to the world.” --- Senator Robert Byrd
