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 GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

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

 

 WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW   -    March 19, 2008


Fuzzy Faith in Government
A Message from Dick Rowland

Dick RowlandIt is well understood that government action is often clumsy, slow, fraught with unintended consequences, and always short of resources. The real puzzle to trying to understand why so many continue to call on government to solve problems despite knowledge of past failures. It is rather like a religion --- akin to a belief in God. This time it will be different, they say. It isn’t, but they try again. What was that definition of insanity? Wasn’t it doing the same thing over and over again and expecting (but not getting) a different result each time?

Now comes an essay from our friends at Pacific Research Institute pointing out some of the major environmental successes of Wal-Mart. These successes were achieved in total absence of government mandates.      Perhaps there is a lesson here for those suffering from a bad case of government action insanity.

 

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.

How Wal-Mart's Environmental Conservation Can Top Government Regulation
By Amy Kaleita, Ph.D.

In January, H. Lee Scott Jr., chief executive of Wal-Mart, announced that the company would begin working on its second wave of environmental conservation initiatives. The move follows Wal-Mart's 2005 plans to create less waste, reduce energy use at stores, and sell more environmentally friendly products, including organic produce.

The new plans include increasing the availability of low-cost energy efficient appliances, and pressing Chinese suppliers to conform to environmental regulations. A major retailer like Wal-Mart, by leveraging their significant influence in the marketplace, can spur advancement and improvement in ways that government regulation cannot.

(To read more, click here.)

The Ultimate Scholar
By Donald J. Boudreaux

February 8th marked the 10th anniversary of the death of the great economist Julian Simon. Although he never received the professional or popular acclaim of economists such as Milton Friedman, Paul Samuelson or F.A. Hayek, Simon's insights and work rank with those of history's greatest social scientists.

Simon's most important contribution was to crystallize and explain an insight that even the best economists before him only glimpsed -- namely, that human beings in free societies are "the ultimate resource." Nothing -- not oil, not land, not gold, not microchips, nothing -- is as valuable to the material well-being of people as is human creativity and effort.

(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:

City Council to hear the "technology bill" and related issues
FHWA issues its latest report on toll lanes
Star-Bulletin: "West Oahu residents take issue with transit":
Another word on the effects of noise
Honolulu third worst road conditions in the U.S.
San Francisco's BART extension to the airport failing

You can read these and more at HonoluluTraffic.com.


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.

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>City of the Rich

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Berlin Smokin’ Again

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

  1. New GRIH president Jamie Story moves to Honolulu March 24th and will be in the office starting that week.

  2. The www.LUV-Hawaii.org website was the subject of the main message of the January 16 Grass in Review. Since then, over 200 people have signed the petition and over 140 have posted comments. A few of the comments were published in Hawaii Reporter on 2/8/08, 2/23/08, 3/1/08, and 3/11/08.  Please read them and sign the petition if you have not already done so. 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.

  3. Greg Rehmke of Economic Thinking was in Honolulu March 12-18. He held a three-hour seminar (sponsored by FEE and GRIH) for over 40 HPU students about "Development Economics in Africa." Greg, Wendy and Dick attended the Christian Home School Conference March 14-15. Greg presented a one-hour workshop on "Common Sense Economics" on the 14th. Ken Schoolland presented a well-received one-hour workshop on “Teaching Economics with Jonathan Gullible Parables." On March 17th, Greg held a workshop for over 25 home school debaters and some of their parents on interventionist dynamics as it relates to campaign finance reform. Later that afternoon he gave a talk on "Environmental Economics" at the University of Hawaii, hosted by the Economics Club. Greg mentioned that a book he co-authored, “The Complete Idiot's Guide to Global Economics,” is available for sale on Amazon.com. Unfortunately the home schoolers bought all the copies Greg had with him so we will need to order a copy for the office.


UPCOMING EVENTS

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

Michael Quinn Sullivan1.  On March 27th, from 11:45 AM - 2:00 PM, Michael Quinn Sullivan, President and CEO of Empower Texans and its premier project, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, will speak at the Pacific Club on "Government Transparency in Texas: A Growing Success Story and Suggestions for Hawaii."  The event is $25 paid in advance and includes a Deli Luncheon Buffet.  More information can be found here. This event is by invitation only.  All those who wish to attend must reply to their personal e-mailed invitation (to be sent in the next week) or call the office.  Invitees may bring guests if the office is contacted in advance. No walk-ins will be allowed.


2.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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CRABGRASS

Air pollution reduces China’s overall output by up to 7 percent per year, mostly due to employee illness. The World Bank estimates that air and water pollution cost China $100 billion annually, or 5.8 percent of its gross domestic product.
 (Source: The Economist)

Wal-Mart’s new “green” store opening in Las Vegas will use new cooling technology to cut overall energy use by up to 45 percent.
 (Source: Associated Press)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“Those who speak most of progress measure it by quantity not by quality.”
--- Philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952)

“Political ideology can corrupt the mind... and science.”
--- Scientist E.O. Wilson
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