Editor's Note: Jeremy and Justin San Nicholas are home-schooled twins from Kaneohe who both participate in a Christian homeschool speech and debate league. Jeremy recently returned from competing at the National Christian Forensics and Communication 2008 National Championship Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. They both received a scholarship from the Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation to attend the SBH Economic Summit on May 13th. Here is what stood out for Jeremy regarding the event speakers. Justin's comments may be read here.

“There is no energy shortage, there is a knowledge shortage.” was the response of Dr. John Rutledge when presented with the issue of efficient energy sources and energy shortage. At the Small Business Hawaii 2008 Economic Summit, Dr. Rutledge approached the issues of energy sources and the relationship between Hawaii’s small business community and the government.

Dr. Rutledge criticized Hawaii’s government for failing to urge the development of Hawaii’s small business. “When Gov. Lingle claimed Hawaii is open for business, perhaps she meant as a museum because there's a lot more the state government can do with taxes and with regulations to help the small businesses of Hawaii to grow.” Supporting Dr. Rutledge was state senator Sam Slom, who stated that many small businesses may be forced to lay off workers in the coming months, which is a large scare to the community because of the recent loss of the Molokai Ranch, Aloha, and ATA Airlines. “During the past ten years, it’s been small businesses that have created two out of every three jobs,” said Slom. “So when small business is hurting, then everybody in the community is hurting."

Dr. Rutledge also spoke on the issue of ethanol, which has increasingly been putting pressure on Hawaii’s consumers. With the rising food, oil and living costs, Dr. Rutledge pins the United States for causing food riots across the globe. Why? Rutledge says one-third of the U.S. corn crop has been diverted to ethanol production, leading to higher food prices and food shortages worldwide. “This is a cruel, cruel thing to do,” he stated, “I think they should rescind these mandates today.”