Commentaries
December 2010
The Dangers of Mail-In Ballots
In the November General Election, 124,000 Hawaii voters chose to mail in their ballots. That was a third of all ballots cast and more than double the percentage of those mail-in votes cast in the 2008 election. More importantly, mail-in votes were far greater than the typical difference in the votes cast for the winning and losing candidates. The danger to all of us is that we really do not have any assurance that all mail-in voters did so free of coercion. Secrecy is vital if we are to assure ourselves that their votes are taken freely. Secrecy concerns should far outweigh the benefit of the mere convenience of mail-in balloting. (more)
Commentaries
December 2010
Dear Governor Abercrombie
On December 6, 2010, Grassroot Institute President Jamie Story was featured in a Honolulu Star Advertiser Editorial Series titled "Dear Governor Abercrombie.." In this editorial, several key leaders of Hawaii were asked to address a personal letter to the Governor himself, detailing what they wanted to see him work on. Please click ahead to read the full text of Jamie Story's letter to Governor Neil Abercrombie (more)
Commentaries
November 2010
TSA Violates Our Rights
Public outrage against the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations has been making headlines for several weeks now. Passengers have expressed rightful indignation at the insults the federal government, via the TSA, has thrown on them. New regulations for "random screenings" have not been proven to actually increase public safety, but they do serve to demoralize and dehumanize the American people, the majority of whom have done nothing to deserve such insults. Nuns in full habit and small children are searched and groped and young women's nude bodies are revealed on-screen to perfect strangers--all in the name of security. Yet the public cannot be safe when the rights and freedoms of any person are violated. In this case, TSA regulations violate the 4th amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects individuals from unwarranted search and seizures. (more)
Commentaries
October 2010
Hawaii's 2010 Ballot Measures
In addition to determining who will be our next governor, on November 2nd, Hawaii residents will be asked to vote on several important ballot measures. It's worth taking a quick look at some of these initiatives. (more)
Commentaries
August 2010
The Real Solution to Social Security Insolvency
As this is written, in August 2010, the Social Security system is running a deficit. Its ability to support future retirement benefits for Americans is rapidly withering away. Fixes have been offered, but they all center in on postponing the inevitable: neither higher taxes nor cuts in benefits will save the system from its demise. Those methods have been tried before and failed. (more)
Commentaries
August 2010
China's Free-Market Summer Camp
Li Zhao Schoolland organized the first China Austrian Economics Camp (CAEC) this summer with Northeastern University (NEU) of Shenyang, China. Those teaching about the economics and ethics of free markets included Tom Palmer of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the CATO Institute, Fred Foldvary of Santa Clara University, Cris Lingle of Francisco Marroquin University in Guatemala, Kenli Schoolland of the University of Buckingham in England, Zhu Haijiu of Zhejiang GongShang University in China, Dean Peng of Beijing, Jeff Crawford and Ken Schoolland of Hawaii Pacific University, and Li Schoolland. Four of these teachers are members of the Mont Pelerin Society, founded in 1947 by Friedrich Hayek to promote an intellectual resurgence of free market ideas.
(more)
Commentaries
June 2010
Follow the Money: Eye-Opening Arithmetic
“Aid...” “Help...” “Equality...” These are the kinds of words that make you feel benevolent. After all, it's good to help those in need who may be contending with financial difficulties, cultural erosion, or lack of opportunities. Unfortunately, the kind of help we’re giving often reflects far more on us and the professional granting and charitable industries than anything else. Which leads to the question of whether all those nice, benevolent emotions we’re enjoying help anyone but ourselves. It was to further examine these kinds of questions that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii launched 4HawaiiansOnly—a Web site and project that examines grants made for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. (more)
Commentaries
June 2010
Land Use Key to Understanding Real Solutions to Honolulu Traffic Congestion
O’ahu residents can be excused for being confused about the current state of Honolulu’s transportation policy. This mid-size city faces big city traffic problems, and practical strategies to mitigate its economic and social impacts are hard to see in the current transportation policy debate. This is unfortunate because near-term solutions to congestion exist, although it will take leadership and fundamental rethinking of how the city is changing to give them the priority they deserve. (more)
Commentaries
May 2010
The Big Gamble
The currently pending version of the Akaka Bill promises that the new Hawaiian Government will not have the power to introduce casino gaming to the islands. Granted, that’s a rare moment of specificity in a piece of legislation that is curiously vague on the other powers that the Hawaiian government would have. Will Native Hawaiians be tried for criminal acts under a separate court system? Don’t know. Will they be subject to the same federal and state taxes? Who can say? But at least there will be no casino gambling. (more)
Commentaries
May 2010
My Experience at Reagan Ranch: Cameron Hughes
Cameron Hughes' is a student that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored to attend Young America's Foundation at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara. The following are remarks that Cameron made in his speech delivered on May 31st. The full text of the speech is after the jump. Enjoy. (more)
Commentaries
April 2010
Hawaii Needs Free Markets, Not “Sustainability”
In Hawaii, one of the latest buzzwords to take policymakers by storm is “sustainability,” and in 2005, the 23rd Legislature of the State of Hawaii established the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force. The Task Force defined sustainability as the “preferred future” for our islands , in which “systems replenish themselves. They don’t rely on the consumption of economic, social and environmental assets for progress.” Who could possibly be against that, right? But there’s only one problem: That kind of “sustainability” comes at the cost of a government-dictated economy and it is a model whose origins do not come from our island values or founding American traditions. If this vision of sustainability prevails, we are headed for Paradise Lost. (more)
Commentaries
April 2010
7 Hawaii Economists Issue Letter Opposing Proposed 25 Percent General Excise Tax Hike
Seven local economists released a letter today saying they oppose a proposal by lawmakers to increase the state's General Excise Tax by as much as 25 percent. They are sending the letter to all lawmakers today, including House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro and Senate Ways and Means Chair Donna Mercado Kim. (more)
Commentaries
March 2010
Business Owners to Lawmakers: Tax Bills Kill Business, Cause Layoffs, Hurt Consumers and Taxpayers
While dozens of Hawaii’s small and large businesses have closed their doors in recent months because the economic recession has hit Hawaii hard, the majority of Hawaii business owners are struggling to find ways to stay in business and keep their employees by cutting costs, boosting revenue, and attracting new business.... (more)
Blogs
The Mystery of Hawaiian History
Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.
Hawaii Spendometer
How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?
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