GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

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

 WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW   -    October 3, 2006

A Message From Dick Rowland

A Message From Dick Rowland

What is Ultimate Resource?

There is a big push for an official vision and plan for Hawaii in the year 2050. Based on what I read in the paper, the focus is on “sustainability”, “smart growth”, and  other preemptions of personal, individual choice or preferences. To give the effort a patina of community input there has been one enormous meeting of volunteer attendees and I am sure there will be more. The end result will undoubtedly be proposed legislation which will lock into place all sorts of restrictions on people and businesses with not one thought given to the individual creativity that will be stifled in the process. Pacific Business News reports that most of the leaders in the operation are government officials rather than productive citizens.

As is so often the case, the end result desired in year 2050 is obscure. “Smart growth” implies that we are now suffering from past “dumb growth”, which, by the way, has resulted in the highest standard of living and least abject poverty in the world. My suspicion is that there is a hidden agenda in 2050 planning. The persons engineering the process want more power over the population. They think we are dumb and need their guidance.

They don’t like individual freedom for you and me. We need their intelligent direction. But they want none from us. They don’t want any customer power to choose. In other words they desire a collective with them, the engineers, in charge. They have freedom to an extent, you none.

If you don’t believe me look at their remarks, “We are running out of energy”; “There is not enough land”; “There are too many people.” By the way, there are never too many kangaroo rats or snail darters, bears or elk. Yet, the more people in the USA, the higher the standard of living goes. It has been that way from the beginning of our nation.

Thus, it seems to me that we should tell the 2050 bunch to be explicit and honest in their goals and assumptions. Then we can decide to buy or discard their schemes.

Below are some ideas for 2050 for you to answer:

-Do you want your children to be smarter, richer, healthier, and more happy than you? Do you want it even better for their children?

-Do you want them to have more control over their career and leisure activities than you?

If your answer is yes and yes, it seems to me that the questions for 2050 should be:

-How did we get where we are?

-How can we continue that progress? Is personal self-government essential?

-What will help? What will hinder?

The late great resource economist, Julian Simon, always said that the ultimate resource is the human being. He said “The vision which underlies and unifies the various topics is that of human beings who create more than they destroy.”

In other words, human creativity, if free to thrive, has no known limits over the long run. Your budget may be limited, resources may be scarce but the power of human brains to solve problems like scarcity is limitless.

The 2050 folks want to harness you, me and our children. Instead, we need to put them out to pasture and get on with progress which depends upon people---lots of them.

By the way Julian Simon’s “The Ultimate Resource 2” is a recommended read. I just decided to re-read it myself.   

Dick Rowland, President
dick@grassrootinstitute.org

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.

Deadly Environmental Program Ends

By Michael R. Fox

Grassroot Perspective-September 26, 2006

As reported in the Investor’s Business Daily (9/18/06) The World Health Organization reversed its 30 year opposition to the use of DDT a very effective pesticide.  This is good news for millions of 3rd World citizens, millions of whom have died from malaria, yellow fever, typhus, dengue, plague, encephalitis, and other insect-borne diseases.

To read more, click here!

Eco-Misanthropes Want Better Living Through Mass Death

By Deroy Murdock

"Courtesy: Scripps Howard News
Service."

Grassroot Perspective-September 26, 2006

NEW YORK — Most ecologists want to make life easy for butterflies and waterfalls. Who can argue with that? Some environmental extremists, however, think what Earth really needs is fewer people. In some cases, billions fewer.

“We’re no better than bacteria!” University of Texas biologist Eric Pianka recently announced. “Things are gonna get better after the collapse because we won’t be able to decimate the Earth so much,” he added. “And, I actually think the world will be much better when there’s only 10 or 20 percent of us left.”

Read more here.

Rail Does Not Address the Needs of Seniors

By Dale Evans

Honolulu Star Bulletin-October 3, 2006

During a recent visit to three mainland cities with rail transit, City Council members learned that seniors citizens are a latent market for rail, according to a Sept. 21 Star-Bulletin story. But elders who are physically and mentally able to ride trains and buses likely will continue driving their own cars, to stay independently active as long as possible.

Click here to see more.

Prosperity Sources (P.S.):

Those stellar optimistic risk-takers who are our entrepreneurs are what fuel our prosperity. The items below are offered to help those innovators.  We collect Prosperity Sources and hope our pickings help.

-A group of 41 House conservatives on September 22, expressed to House leadership their opposition to bringing legislation to the House Floor  this  year. They wrote:

“Small businesses tell us that when the minimum wage goes up, jobs go down. Employers tell us that when wages are artificially set, it is harder to hire the new entrant to the labor force who is just trying to get his foot in the door. It’s time we listen.”

-Source SBEC Weekly Briefing 9/29/06

www.sbecouncil.org

-Unfortunately, Health Savings Accounts (HAS’s) are not available to Hawaii businesses because of Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act. These savings accounts which are connected to individual high deductible policies offer several advantages: Premiums often go down and increases are virtually always less than group plans; they are portable, the employess can take the policy with him when he leaves and overuse of medical providers and drops dramatically. Last year policies in force went from 1 million to 3 million. Discussion with policymakers is appropriate.

-“The most successful high growth companies effectively utilize an advisory board strategy made up of individuals who offer deep exercise to help bring in business. It is a powerful tool for growing your enterprise.”

SBEC Weekly Briefly 9/22/06

www.sbecouncil.org

Call Karen Sighinolfi at (202) 785-0238 for more info. Tell Karen we asked you to call.

Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers

Recently, these candidates for state and federal office demonstrated their dedication to the taxpayers of Hawaii by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. By signing the pledge, they commit “to oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” 

To see who signed the pledge, visit the Americans For Tax Reform website.

Try Our Blogs:

Use these links to access various topics.

Dash of Calabash » Blog Archive » The Myth of Sprawl

Dash of Calabash » Blog Archive »The Myth of Smart Growth

Dash of Calabash » Blog Archive »The Rutledge Blog

Dash of Calabash>>Blog Archive >> Leaving the Left Behind

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts.

Opportunities for Young Adults

All of the Institute’s information for young adults is available on our website.

Fresh Perspective

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of young adults.  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.

Contact: Roz@grassrootinstitute.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

HHUA Panel Series Number 4

When: Monday, October 23, 2006 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Lunch at 11:45 AM)

Where: Hale Koa Hotel, 2055 Kalia Road

Cost: $30 Includes hot luncheon menu and validated parking

Register by Wednesday, October 18th

Download registration form from the GRIH events page here.

Keynote Speaker – Robert Poole, Founder, Reason Foundation – “The Highways Dilemma: Funding, Pricing & Equity”

Panelists include:

Randal O’Toole, Sr. Economist, Thoreau Institute – Urban Rail & Transit Oriented Developments

Panos Prevedouros, PhD, UH Manoa – Traffic Flow Operations

Robert Poole, Director, Transportation Studies, Reason Foundation and MartyStone, PhD, Tampa-Hillsborough Tollway Authority – Hot Lanes & Non-Tax Financing

Hillsdale College January 2 – 5, 2007

GRIH will host some special guests from Hillsdale College January 2 – 5.  Professor Gary Wolfram will be one of them.  As many of you know, he is a superior economist and entertaining/provocative speaker.  If you have any ideas for speaking engagements for him, call Dick Rowland.  Also, plan to attend a Hillsdale/GRIH reception on January 3 or 4.  More details later.

Pacific Rim Conference May 23 – 25, 2007

GRIH is helping the State Policy Network (SPN) host a regional conference of their group held at the Sheraton Waikiki.  It is being joined by Pacific Rim nation policy makers and think tanks.  More details soon.

Mark Your Calendars NOW……

Grassroot Institute Annual Awards Dinner

November 11, 2006

Our keynote speaker for the Annual Dinner in 2006 is none other than Wall Street Journal editorial writer John Fund.

Also, please join us in honoring Randall Roth, J.D. co-author of “Broken Trust,” who is the 2006 recipient of the prestigious George Washington Award from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Call Roz at the office, 591-9193 or e-mail roz@grassrootinstitute.org to make reservation.  More details to follow.

How fast does the state spend your money?

State spending is out of control.  Watch the dollars fly out the window.....

These meters have been recently updated and are current.

Have an Institute Speaker At Your Next Meeting!

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 grassroot001@hawaii.rr.com.

Grassroot Institute is a proud member of

the State Policy Network and Townhall..

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