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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 26, 2008


Educating the Educators
A Message from Dick Rowland

Dick RowlandA recent edition of the Honolulu Advertiser featured an article titled "Needed: Leaders to transform education." It was written by a laundry list of "educators" who are, one assumes, leaders. The 910 word article reflected the honest and accurate concerns of the authors that the government education system needs major transformation.

But the key leader was never mentioned. The leader who knows the needs, wants, habits and potential of each child is not mentioned -- not once in the entire article. What better indicator of mistaken values and priorities than to prescribe correction without even mentioning the parent -- the responsible/accountable one. The one who will suffer consequences for mistakes and rewards for correct choices for life (and for some, perpetuity). That's a fate the authors are immune from.

This reminds me of the memorable national TV interview in which then-Senator Phil Gramm was faced with a devoted educator who spoke with total conviction of his unswerving dedication to each and every child. Gramm asked: "Does that include my children?" After being told "Yes, certainly," Gramm simply said, "What are their names?" That made the point crystal clear.

There is no hope for government education unless we change the focus from top-down to bottom-up. For society to flourish, the top (the authors and the government bureaucracy) is expendable, the bottom (parent) is essential. The authors miss that mark. Should we send them back to school?

This commentary was published in Hawaii Reporter on March 11, 2008.

 

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.

Paying at the Pump: Gasoline Taxes in America
By Jonathan Williams

Over the past century, Americans have witnessed a marked increase in mobility through safe and reliable roadways. This improved mobility has undoubtedly increased the overall quality of life in the United States. Gasoline taxes have provided the required funds to build the roads that brought America into the transportation age.

Gasoline taxes are often mentioned as the best form of taxation from an economic perspective because they provide a system of road funding by simply charging road users when they fill up their tanks. This "user tax" adheres to what economists refer to as the benefit principle of taxation.

Early gasoline taxes in the states were explicitly created in an attempt to charge road users for the privilege of using roads. However, from the very inception of gasoline taxation, public officials have faced temptation to divert gasoline tax revenue to projects that are only tangentially related to transportation and that are often purely politically motivated...

(To read more, click here.)

The Truth About "Alternative Energy"
By Roy Innis

Every week brings new claims that clean, free, inexhaustible renewable energy will soon replace the “dirty” fuels that sustain our economy today. A healthy dose of reality is needed.

Over half of our electricity comes from coal. Gas and nuclear generate 36 percent of our electricity. Barely 1 percent comes from wind and solar. Coal-generated power typically costs less per kilowatt hour than alternatives – leaving families with more money for food, housing, transportation and healthcare.

By 2020, the United States will need 100,000 megawatts of new electricity, say EIA, industry and utility company analysts. Unreliable wind power simply cannot meet these demands.

(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:

Advertiser: "Rail could cost O'ahu more"
REMINDER: OMPO says great public support for HOT lanes
Skytrain noise unacceptable, says BC Ombudsman
Today's Advertiser editorial is incorrect
Please welcome these new members aboard
Latest economic and demographic data hurts transit project
Steel-on-steel rail falters at City Council meeting
Our take on the City's "outreach" at Farrington last night

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.

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Anti-American rhetoric by Obama's pastor accepted as normal in Hawaii

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

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


LIBERTY NETWORK

  1. New GRIH president Jamie Story has arrived and is in the office. Feel free to call her at 591-9193 or email Jamie@grassrootinstitute.org.

  2. GRIH Board Member Paul Smith had an article published in Hawaii Reporter on March 25: "Make No Mistake: HB 2974 Will Cost Hawaii Jobs."

  3. The www.LUV-Hawaii.org website was the subject of the main message of the January 16 Grass in Review. Since then, over 215 people have signed the petition and over 150 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.


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.

 

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

SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY

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CRABGRASS

China is the world’s fastest-growing producer of kosher foods.
 (Source: Los Angeles Times)

Consumers spent $9.7 billion at movie theaters in 2007. They spent $23 billion on DVDs.
 (Source: Wall Street Journal)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“The rich don't exploit the poor. They just out-compete them.”
--- Journalist David Brooks

“Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.”
---- Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817-1872)
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