GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

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

 WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW   -    December 19, 2007

Dick's Christmas List
A Message from Dick Rowland

Below are six actions our elected officials can take to make the coming years good ones for the residents of Hawaii:

1. Stop government overspending. If we cannot pay our bills, our kids and grandkids will. Wise individuals don’t overspend on an annual basis, because consequences are personal. We need to find a way to make overspending a personal issue for our elected officials.

2. Sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. This will force them to look at spending cuts when money gets scarce.

3. Usually I try to avoid new laws as they tend to backfire, but I like this one: “All lawmakers must sign a notarized pledge that they have read a proposed bill before they will be allowed to vote for or against it.” Just to add some accountability, the penalty for violation will be expulsion from the office held and a $10,000 fine or a year in jail, as the offender chooses.

4. Pass another law. (I’m on a roll.): “Effective immediately, there will be no new government retirement plans for any elected official in Hawaii.” Elected office was never intended to be a career. All current retirement plans will be frozen with no more funding. Period.

5. Starting 1/1/08, elected officials must start taking their oath of office seriously. That means that each of them must seriously ponder whether they have constitutional authority to vote to pass a law. Wow! Is that revolutionary or what?

6. Every official would sign a pledge affirming that every citizen will be treated equally under the law, no matter their ancestry, national origin, sex or religion, wealth, etc. There would be a penalty for violating this pledge, such as ten years in prison.

Now for my promise. If all the above is done and enforced, I will retire and start a career of enjoyable watching. Somehow I find myself doubtful of that retirement. Am I a pessimist, merely cynical – or a realist?

TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Grab Your Popcorn and Watch “The Great Global Warming Swindle”

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Aloha to the Constitution - October 25, 2007

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>How High Will Gas Prices Go?

The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>B.J. Penn, famous ultimate fighter, beats up a police officer and then OHA makes him the star of a Kau Inoa commercial glorifying violence and racism

Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Personal Injury Extortion - Chevron/Texaco in Ecuador

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts. Click here for more blogs.

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.

• Did you miss Paul Jacob's keynote speech at the November 3rd Annual Dinner?  You're in luck, as it will be broadcast on Channel 54. Here's the schedule:
  
              Sunday, December 23, 3:30 PM
              Monday, December 24, 8:30 PM

• 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 US 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, as well as 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 tentatively scheduled Chuck for a luncheon speaking engagement at the Pacific Club on Friday, January 18th starting at 11:30 AM.  Tickets will be around $25.  If you do not regularly receive invitations to the Honolulu Calabash and would like to be invited, please e-mail dick@grassrootinstitute.org or call him at (808)591-9193. More information forthcoming. 

• Small Business Hawaii's Annual Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, January 9th at the Ala Moana Hotel, 8 AM - 2 PM.  Rocker & entrepreneur Gene Simmons will speak on "Ten Points to Make You Rich Like Me."  Click here for more information.