Hawaii Needs Free Markets, Not “Sustainability”

Daniel de Gracia II

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)

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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)

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