The Dark Side of Force

GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.

WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW - January 9, 2008

The Dark Side of Force
A Message from Dick Rowland

The other day someone asked me what could possibly be wrong with giving Native Hawaiians their own government. In the course of answering her question I asked some questions and quickly determined that she thought that a new Native Hawaiian Governing Entity (NHGE) would have no connection with the State of Hawaii. When I explained to her that she was now under the jurisdiction of three separate governments (USA, State of Hawaii, and City/County of Honolulu) and that all had jurisdictions over her, her family and her property, she said she sure understood that. But when I went on to say that the NHGE would add another government to the mix and that she would not be able to vote there, but that they (members of NHGE) would be voting in all four jurisdictions, she replied that it was not fair, opining that those in the new government should not be connected to the State of Hawaii in any way. As we continued to discuss the issue she said. "Why would any rational person want to add one more government onto themselves"?

Good question.

Read the essay below by John Hood of the John Locke Foundation. After you do that, visit our Hawaiian history blog and give us your thoughts about why or why not a brand new added government is desirable.

IN THE NEWS - HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTARIES
Grassroot Institute is regularly featured in news articles and broadcasts around the state. Here is a sample of some of our recent articles, research stories, and other articles of interest.

The Dark Side of Force
By John Hood

The details of public-policy debate are complicated.... But the fundamental question in public policy is pretty simple. When is force justified?

We're used to hearing the phrase "justify the use of force" in the context of, say, the war in Iraq or the conduct of a local police department. But these are merely explicit applications of the idea, not the only ones. At its root, all government action is forceful. Governments do not request, they demand. Governments do not beg, they tax.

(To read more, click here.)

Federal Department of Toilets & Light Bulbs
By Chuck Muth

How many congressmen does it take to change a light bulb? 400.

That's how many members of Congress recently voted for a bill which will force American consumers to change the 50-cent incandescent light bulbs they're currently using and replace them with expensive new, $3 "energy-efficient" light bulbs. As Shane Cory of the Libertarian Party sarcastically put it, "If you outlaw light bulbs, then only outlaws will have light bulbs."

(To read more, click here.)

HONOLULUTRAFFIC.COM

PLEASE NOTE: The Honolulu City & County Transportation Committee will be holding a hearing on Bill 80 (concerning rail or bus technology) on Thursday, 1/10 at 9:30 AM. For more information or to register as a speaker, click here.

The mission of HonoluluTraffic.com is to seek cost effective ways to reduce traffic congestion on Oahu. Add your name to the list of supporters. Here are the most recent posts/additions to the site:

Orski on the coming year in transportation
Excellent cartoon Friday from the Star-Bulletin's Corky
Our quotes page is most interesting

You can read these and more at HonoluluTraffic.com.

Other items of interest:

Click here for the case against rail - and more taxes.
Dr. Panos Prevedouros, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Hawaii, is one of the most experienced traffic analysis experts in Hawaii. Click here for his qualifications and links to his various reports, notes, summaries, etc.
Paying More at the Pump: Energy Bill would Increase Gas Prices by William Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D. (Heritage Foundation, 12/10/07)

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Opportunity for Young Adults:
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: wendy@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Too Much Good Sense

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Regional Tax Competition Intensifies in the Balkans as Bosnia’s Federation Slashes Corporate Tax Rate to 10%

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Cartoon of the Day and Mencken’s Political Wisdom

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>The Coen Brothers’ Green Guilt and Their Purchase of Eco-Indulgences: The Eco-Extortion Scam

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>The Five Worst CEOs of 2007

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Dream or Nightmare?

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Index of Economic Freedom 2007

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Film Exposes the ‘Dark Side of Environmentalism’

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>School Choice Book a Quick, Compelling Read

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Welcome to USASpending.gov

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>London tax on cars in city center fails to decrease congestion

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Education Levels and Self-Employment

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Emerging Global Challengers

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Failures in medical care

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Greed

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Marijuana Arrests: Another Record Year

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts by clicking here.

LIBERTY NETWORK

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a member of an extensive international liberty network of organizations that promote more individual autonomy and less governmental involvement in human affairs.

Congratulations to GRIH Board Members Dale Evans, Cliff Slater and Paul Smith, who Hawaii Reporter named as "People Who Made a Difference Here in 2007".
Cliff Slater had an article published in Hawaii Reporter on 12/30/07: "American Institute of Architects Rejects Plan for Proposed Elevated Rail Line".
One of our members reports that the deadline for the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS) scholarships is approaching, January 11, 2008. Only high school seniors who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply and need not be related to a member of the Elks. Applicants are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. Click here to see the details and download the application. The Elks are planning to award 482 4-year scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per year! Let's find some good applicants from Hawaii.
GRIH seeks one or more individuals willing to endure up to six months of clerical work (to learn the center-right think tank business) who could then be promoted to handle some amount of program work. Funding for program work in the youth program and government/tax areas is available now. Funds for programs in other areas forthcoming. We seek college graduates or individuals with an equivalent amount of work experience. Applicants must be able to type and format Word documents; send, reply to and forward Outlook e-mail with various attachments; enter data in Excel work sheets; and have fair understanding of Windows XP file management and experience with standard office equipment. We are looking for individuals who have something to show from their life experience that they can bring to the job, good writing skills, and knowledge of current events or American government. If this sounds like you or someone you know, call Wendy at the GRIH office -- (808)591-9193 -- or email resume to wendy@grassrootinstitute.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.

Chuck Muth, president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government public policy organization dedicated to putting the "public" back in public policy, will be in Honolulu during January. We have scheduled Chuck for a luncheon speaking engagement in the Card Room at the Pacific Club on Friday, January 18th from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Lunch is a buffet which will be ready at 11:00 AM, so feel free to come early. Tickets are $25. If you do not regularly receive invitations to the Honolulu Calabash or have not already received an e-mail invitation and would like to be invited, please e-mail dick@grassrootinstitute.org or call him at (808)591-9193.
A Kauai discussion group meeting will be held Friday, January 11th at 10:00 AM in the Princeville Community Center Meeting Room on Emmalani Drive, across from the North Shore Library.

Mark Spengler, who runs the Center for Law & Social Strategy on the Big Island, will be on Kauai to moderate a discussion on the opportunities for change that might exist through a state constitutional convention. The meeting is being organized by Walter Lewis, Kauai Ohana supporter and columnist for the Kauai Garden Island. If you'd like to attend, please call the GRIH office ASAP -- (808)591-9193 -- or e-mail mika@grassrootinstitute.org so we can let Walter
Lewis know you're coming. It may be necessary to secure a larger meeting room at the center. Be sure to give us your phone number so we can let you know of any changes.

How fast does the state spend your money?
State spending is out of control. Watch the dollars fly out the window.....

Have an Institute speaker at your next meeting!
From taxation to education, from health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is ready 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 wendy@grassrootinstitute.org .

Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network and Townhall.

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