Working for a better economy, better governance and a better society
Turn off the TV
by Pearl Hahn Is election chaos giving you a headache? Do yourself a favor and turn off CNN, MSNBC, and all the other cable news channels on which talking heads are squabbling over the “future” of the Republican and Democratic parties. In times like...Obama’s Economic Advisor Admits to Trouble
by Pearl Hahn Christina Romer, who heads President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, made a surprising admission on October 22 before the Joint Economic Committee. It was widely predicted and believed that Obama’s massive stimulus package would...Human Climate Control Up In the Air
by Pearl Hahn How much control do humans have over the Earth’s climate? This is a topic I have covered in a policy paper and commentaries. A reader recently wrote to me to express his concern that it is premature for either side to announce they have an...Two Key Reform Proposals for Health Care in Hawaii
Hawaii’s lawmakers continue to introduce reform schemes that focus on the uninsured population without instituting any provisions that would actually lower health care costs. Growth in managed care and regulations has resulted in the opposite of their intended...Feel-Good Politics of a Styrofoam Ban
by Pearl Hahn Environmentalists love banning items they claim are destroying our natural ecosystems. Ban paper, ban plastic, ban Styrofoam. I suspect they would prefer to carry around their shopping items stacked on their bare hands while balancing on a bicycle on...Councilman Yagong Upholds Accountable Government
by Pearl Hahn On the Big Island, Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong has introduced a measure, Bill 132, that would bolster transparency in government land sales. At present, when property is sold, the council does so through sealed bid, lease, trade, or adopts a...Will Hawaii Become the Next California?
by Pearl Hahn Sunny climates and beautiful beaches aside, Hawaii is starting to experience some of California’s growing problems. The national spotlight on California’s deepening economic crisis continues to shine as its poverty rate rises and its...Swiss Health Care More “Free Market” Than U.S. Health Care
by Pearl Hahn Misconceptions concerning the United States and its supposedly broken health care system abound, especially the assertion that nations in Europe have superior health care systems because they are more socialist. As has been indicated repeatedly,...Why Obama’s Public Option Would Lead to No Option
by Pearl Hahn American citizens who value choice and freedom have done it again. They rallied enough to force President Obama to back away from single-payer health care following his election. This week, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen...