GRASS IN REVIEW
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII
Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.
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WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW - February 20, 2008 |
Government Needs to be Kept on a Tight Leash
A Message from Dick Rowland
 "Why not let public finance elections," shouted a headline in a recent Honolulu Advertiser ‘Focus’ section.
The essay, by Kory Payne, who represents a special interest group, Voter Owned Hawai'i, lamented the prevalence of special interest groups in political fundraising.
His solution? Put the largest, most powerful special interest group in a more overwhelming position. And what is that group? The government, of course.
Every career politician has a vested special interest in a larger, more intrusive, all-powerful government. To put them in a position so they can better assure their own reelection or the election of their friends is unconscionable.
We should be empowering private-sector individuals. They are the asset producers in our society. Government consumes those assets and needs to be kept on a tight leash. And that is one of the "special interests" of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
This article originally appeared as a ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the Honolulu Advertiser. |
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.
New York City Launches Nation's Largest School Bonus Program
By Kate McGreevy
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled a new program designed to reward teachers who increase student achievement at high-needs schools. School reform advocates say the program does not give the bonuses directly to teachers who actually increase students’ performance.
Standing beside Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) leader Randi Weingarten, Bloomberg presented a plan to use private funding to attract top teachers to the city’s most challenging schools. Bonuses will be aligned with the U.S. Department of Education’s new progress reports.
(To read more, click here.)
Why Conservatives Root for Obama
By John Hood
I’ve talked to many conservatives in the past few weeks about their preferences in the race for the 2008 presidential nomination.
The Democratic one, I mean.
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And in my experience, most conservatives prefer Obama, recently rated most liberal-voting member of the Senate.
How can this be?
(To read more, click here.)
HONOLULUTRAFFIC.COM
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:
HONOLULUTRAFFIC.COM co-sponsors Seattle rail talk
HawaiiReporter.com: "City's Proposed Rail Will Cross Ceded Lands"
Lowell Kalapa on the Highway Fund disaster in HawaiiReporter.com
"The Politics of Gridlock" from the Progressive Policy Institute
Advertiser today: “9,100 may find jobs working on the rail”
Please welcome our new members
'Experts Panel' met yesterday
We must stop raiding the highway funds
You can read these and more at HonoluluTraffic.com.
Other items of interest:
- Should Indian drivers be denied a $2,500 car to offset CO2 generation of
wealthier nations?
"The Conspiracy to Deny the Poor Mobility - and Opportunity" by Ivan Osorio,
Competitive Enterprise Institute, 1/17/08
- 10-year highway plan cuts out $2 billion in projects to provide communities
realistic timeframe for funding and construction in order to layout how
projects would be built and funded.
" NH governor submits 10-year highway plan," Associated Press, 1/15/08
- In AP article, Hawaii state gas taxes shown as 16 cents, but this does not include 4.712%
GETax on retail price of gasoline; an additional 16 cents ($3.35 x 0.04712) -
or $.32 total - makes Hawaii's taxes among the highest on gasoline.
"A glance at state gas taxes," Associated Press, 1/15/08
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. |
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TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.
Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Putting Whales First
Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Lingle-Aiona Initiatives 2008 - Energy for tomorrow
The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>An economist’s view of the Akaka bill
Read what others have written or add your own thoughts by clicking here.
LIBERTY NETWORK
- The www.LUV-Hawaii.org website was the subject of the main message of the January 16 Grass in Review. Since then, over 150 people have signed the petition and a number of them have posted comments. A sampling of these comments is being published in the Grassroot Perspectives section of Hawaii Reporter. The comments are anonymous and cannot be viewed on the LUV-Hawaii website at this time.
If you have not already signed the petition or gone to the website to learn more about it, please do so today.
- GRIH Board Member Dale Evans had an article published 2/12/08 in
Hawaii Reporter: "Hawaii
Cannot Rely on Federal Transportation Funds Because They Are Running Out."
- 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.
 The 2008 Preserving the American Dream conference: "Preserving Freedom and Mobility"
May 16-18, 2008 in Houston, TX
GRIH will be co-sponsoring the sixth annual Preserving the American Dream Conference in Houston (Omni Hotel near Galleria District) on May 16-18, 2008. Registration is $249 regular or $175 student and low-income. There is an optional lunch and tour of Houston on Friday the 16th (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) for $25. Last year’s attendees really enjoyed the tour of San Jose.
For more information or to register, please visit the American Dream Coalition website. |
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.
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Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network and Townhall.
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SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
The Institute operates only through the generous donations of friends and benefactors from around Hawaii and the United States, and even the smallest of donations can be used to accomplish great things for the future of our beloved state.
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CRABGRASS
Rudy Giuliani spent close to $60 million on his presidential campaign. He won just one delegate.
(Source: Newsweek)
John McCain missed 57 percent of the Senate’s votes in the last year. Barack Obama missed 40 percent, while Hillary Clinton missed 27 percent.
(Source: Associated Press)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"Democratic institutions form a system of quarantine for tyrannical desires."
--- Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
“The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting.”
--- Poet and novelist Charles Bukowski (1920-1994)
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