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In This Issue: HawaiiVotes.org, Environmental Extremism, Economics and Debate Educator Visit, Youth for Liberty, Podcasts, GRIH at Climate Conference, SPN TV, New Intern, Media Hits and more!
Hawaii Voters Have New Tool
Web Site Offers Powerful Ways to Keep Track of State Legislature
There is now a powerful new tool for anyone interested in tracking the Hawaii state Legislature. Who serves in your district and how did they vote about a particular issue? How did the entire Hawaii House of Representatives or Senate vote on a specific bill? What does a bill really do rather than what it intends to do? Who has missed the most votes? All the answers are now at your fingertips when you visit www.HawaiiVotes.org. 'HawaiiVotes' is a free public service from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii (GRIH), an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research, and educational institution.The purpose of the new site is to inform citizens, media, and public officials about legislation affecting their families, schools, jobs and communities.
"The new Web site empowers voters to hold their elected representatives accountable by being able to quickly and easily identify how their legislator voted on any bill or issue—from tax hikes, to gun rights, to teacher pay," said Grassroot Institute President Jamie Story. " We hope HawaiiVotes.org will demystify the democratic process for Hawaii’s citizens. This is a tool whose time has come, and we are proud to present this gift to the people of this great state."
.(To read more, click here.)
America Under Attack From Americans
Is Environmentalism Collectivism?
By Michael R. Fox Ph.D
Recently Larry Kudlow wrote that "Obama has declared war on investors, entrepreneurs, small businesses, large corporations, and private equity and venture-capital funds." Kudlow’s famous expertise in economics cuts through the fuzzy euphemisms concealing the true agenda of President Obama’s confiscatory tax plans. He also notes that nations which tax their citizens more produce less, and nations which tax less produce more. When a nation produces more, there's also more prosperity, more jobs at higher wages, and more innovation. No nation has ever taxed its way to prosperity.
The "declared war” analogy is much more apt than perhaps even Kudlow and many of his readers realize. Many of our older citizens have personal experiences with the major benefits of energy use in the United States. During the last 60 years, for example, our nation has had abundant low cost electrical energy. This has revolutionized our nation and made it the most prosperous and productive nation in the history of the world.
.(To read more, click here.)
GRASSROOT PERSPECTIVE
Open Doors for Economics and Debate
Educator Mike Winther Holds Seminars in Hawaii
By Lora Burbage
The GRIH Youth Program brought Mike Winther to Hawaii during the last week of February. Winther is an outstanding educator who speaks at Foundation for Economic Education seminars, teaches classes in Northern California, addresses debate clubs across the nation, and serves on the Board of Scholars at The Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is also the founder of the Institute for Principle Studies.
While in Hawaii, he addressed debate students from several homeschool clubs as well as Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii. The university students really appreciated the concepts he discussed, while the homeschool students enjoyed the cross-examination debate exercise.
(To read more, click here.)
FRESH PERSPECTIVE
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. Please contact tom@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.
Youth For Liberty
By Drake Boyer
Generation Joshua is a national organization with chapters in many states. According to their mission statement; "The best way to train the leaders of tomorrow is to have our young people elect the leaders of today! Toward that end, Generation Joshua provides opportunities for members to engage in the best training of all--direct work in real elections." Guardians of Liberty is the first Generation Joshua club in the state of Hawaii, and recently three of their young members spoke at a monthly GRIH meeting.
"Good morning, my name is Drake Boyer. I'm a member of the new Generation Joshua club in Hawaii. I am honored to be here to share my experiences with you. As a member of Generation Joshua, I'm able to serve in civics and in my community. Our group was very active in the 2008 campaign season. We volunteered by sign waving and phone banking for five candidates. A couple of our older members even worked at the polls on Election Day. It was exciting to get involved as young people in the political world. It was also fun to see the reactions we received from the candidates and their staffs. At first these adults were wondering about our work ethic, whether we really could work hard or if we were just there to goof around. Our efforts clearly convinced them we meant business. They even asked if we could return the next day! Free labor, what do you expect? Unfortunately, only one of the candidates won their election. We have nowhere to go but up!
(To read more, click here.)
-GIR-
GRASSROOT REVIEWS
Have you read a good book or viewed a good DVD on liberty or a free market subject recently? Let your follow GRIH members know and share your views with 'Grassroot Reviews'. Please send your book or movie review
to tom@grassrootinstitute.org.
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GRASSROOT TV
Grassroot TV at YouTube.com features videos relating to public issues in Hawaii and beyond, as well as statements from the Institute on various concerns facing our communities. We've loaded the library at the online TV station with new videos from The Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Americans for Tax Reform and more.
Please check out videos at www.youtube.com/user/GrassrootHawaii
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'GRASSROOT INSIGHT' PODCASTS
GRIH Director of Communications Tom McAuliffe interviews VIPs, community leaders, and special guests from the liberty and freedom movement. The audio interviews are available for download to your iPod or for listening via the Internet. This issue features world traveler and MIT grad Jose Cordeiro, founder of the World Future Society and currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan. Also available this issue is an interview with Grassroot Institute Board of Scholars member Professor Ken Schoolland from Hawaii Pacific University and author of The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible- A Free Market Odyssey.
Click here to listen to Jose Cordeiro from IDE in Japan
Click here to Professor Ken Schoolland from HPU
Please check out our other recent podcasts with:
• Jack McHugh from The Mackinac Center and MichiganVotes.org
• Lora Burbage, GRIH Youth Coordinator, discuss education reform in Hawaii
• Ilya Shapiro, Cato Institute Constitutional Scholar, discuss the Akaka Bill and Public Lands case
-GIR-
LIBERTY EVENTS
Information on the Institute’s upcoming events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are always available and updated via our website. The Grassroot Institute has regular meetings on Oahu, Maui, The Big Island, and Kauai. Please contact our office for more details.
Family Brain Gain Seminars
Please join us for The Singing Revolution, an award winning documentary film that tells the extraordinary story of the non-violent path Estonia took to free itself from Soviet occupation. A very moving film you won't want to miss!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
6:45 — 8:45 PM (Please note the early start time!)
Trinity Presbyterian Church and School
875 Auloa Rd
Kailua , Hi 96734
Dick Rowland, GRIH Founder and Youth Program Director, will be the moderator. You are welcome to invite friends and family. Please RSVP since space may be limited. Reservations: Please email Lora Burbage – LLburbage@yahoo.com. If you have any questions, call Lora at 772-0787 or Dick at 864-1776. Donations to help defer expenses will be gratefully accepted.
Mahalo nui loa to Trinity Presbyterian Church and School for their support!
-GIR-
Hawaii Liberty Forum
March 22, 2009, Noon - 5:00 PM
Oahu Veterans Center
1298 Kukila St
Honolulu, HI
Essentially a scaled down version of the Campaign for Liberty Conference being held in St. Louis, the Hawaii forum will be the first in a series of events aimed at bringing people together to discuss the related issues.
"The mission of the 'Forum' is to allow citizens who are concerned about the sovereignty of our nation, our constitutional rights and liberties to network and share information that is of mutual benefit to all in a non-partisan environment," said organizer Calvin Griffin. "Additionally, the goal is to inspire those who have adopted the current trend towards political apathy, frustration and anger to stay involved and be part of a re-dedication to defending the principles of American and human liberties," he said. No "politicians" have been invited to speak, although of course they are free to attend.
For more information please contact Calvin Griffin at calvingriffin@rocketmail.com
-GIR-
Heritage Resource Bank
Los Angeles, California
April 23-26, 2009
This year's event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and features management and leadership experts providing strategies for advancing free markets and limited government. This is a valuable session for all grassroots advocates, policy leaders and think tank staff. The two day event features a State Think Tank Dinner, Atlas Liberty discussion forum and the SPN Leadership Development Breakfast. For more information please visit:
http://www.heritage.org/about/community/resourcebank.cfm.
-GIR-
LIBERTY NEWS
GRIH Bites the Big Apple
Grassroot Institute Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn recently attended the Second Annual International Conference on Climate Change in New York City (March 8-10). More than 1,000 scientists, economists, activists, elected officials, and climate experts with a skeptical view of climate change alarmism attended the event.
"The number of people registered was nearly twice as many as attended the 2008 conference,” noted Heartland President Joseph Bast. "And the presenters at this year’s conference were the elite in the world among climate scientists. We were delighted to demonstrate once again the breadth and high quality of support that the skeptical perspective on climate change enjoys." The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was one of the co-sponsors of the event, with The Heartland Institute being the main sponsor.
(To read more, click here.)
New SPN TV
SPN’s NewMediaTV.org
The State Policy Network, of which GRIH is a member, has recently launched NewMediaTV.org, a new online TV channel that facilitates the exchange of information between SPN Members and their friends. The TV station uses new media and Web 2.0 technologies to bring programming to the SPN membership. The online media outlet is also easy to use as there is no software to install and no hassles to view live streaming video or archived shows.
(To read more, click here.)
New Intern
The Grassroot Institute is pleased to welcome another new policy intern, Ben Farkash. Originally from the swamps of north Florida, he studied Middle Eastern History at the University of Chicago, where he barely survived three winters. When he isn't in the sun or the water, he enjoys reading and playing the saxophone. He is happy to now call Hawaii home and is excited about his time at the Grassroot Institute. He will be working on various policy issues, including taxes and spending. Welcome, Ben!
-GIR-
Grassroot Media Hits
 1. The 2009 Hawaii Pork Report created by GRIH and Citizens Against Government Waste is currently being seen by thousands on the State Policy Network web site home page.
2. On February 24th Maui News ran the story ‘ainaauthority: Supreme Court to hear oral arguments Wednesday in Hawaii’s pivotal land case' by Associated Press reporter Herbert Sample. The article also ran on the AP wire service and was picked up by papers locally and around the country and featured a quote from GRIH Founder Dick Rowland.
3. Hawaii Reporter recently published several news releases from GRIH and articles from Grassroot Institute members. You can also read our weekly Hawaii Pork Fact from the 2009 Hawaii Pork Report. Please visit: www.hawaiireporter.com
4. The nationally recognized and popular site www.townhall.com has recently picked up and run many of the articles you read in Grassroot in Review for national distribution.
-GIR-
FAVORITE GRASSROOT BLOGS
Join the conversation and express your views! Use the links below to access these fascinating blogs.
The Mystery of Hawaiian History
http://historymystery.grassrootinstitute.org/
Hawaii Sunshine Chronicles
http://www.sunshinechronicles.wordpress.com
Check out HawaiiVotes for the latest on the Hawaii State Legislature.
http://www.hawaiivotes.org
Read what others have written and add your own thoughts. See you there!
-GIR-
NEED A GOOD SPEAKER?
From taxation to education and health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is excited 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 tom@grassrootinstitute.org.
-GIR-
SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY IN HAWAII!
Please help us continue to provide independent research on issues important to Hawaii! The Grassroot 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.
Will you please consider becoming a supporter today? Donations are tax deductible and it's quick, easy and secure. Click here!
-GIR-
Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network, Townhall.com,
Americans for Tax Reform, The Sam Adams Alliance and more.
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