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Issues

Americans Turning Against the Unions

by Pearl Hahn It looks like Americans’ perception of unions is changing. According to Gallup, fewer than half of Americans, or 48 percent, approve of labor unions. A year ago, unions had a 59 percent approval rate. Contributing factors may include backlash against the bailouts and an increasing unemployment rate.

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Giving ObamaCare proponents the finger

By Kenli Schoolland The health care debate is sure getting heated these days as a 65-year-old man who was against socialized healthcare had his pinky finger bitten off in an argument at a healthcare rally. To be fair, he did punch the other guy first, but was biting off a finger in return

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Cutting Costs and Choices for State Workers

by Pearl Hahn State and county workers are in for a few changes to be made in their prescription drug plans next year on January 1. Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) enacted reference-based pricing for three categories of drugs that will feature cheaper alternatives to alleviate

Read More →

Will Kauai Join the Plastic Bag Ban Wagon?

by Pearl Hahn Last year, Maui passed the state’s first municipal ban on plastic bags. The law will take effect in January 2011. The Big Island followed suit, and will eancourage businesses to offer 100 percent recyclable paper bags that must be made out of at least 40 percent post-consumer

Read More →

Health Care and Life Expectancy Among Americans

by Pearl Hahn Following my blog post about health care systems in France and Cuba compared with the United States, a wise reader, Joe Speroni, was compelled to write me an enlightening message concerning data for infant mortality rates and life expectancies. Many (including columnist Paul Krugman) make the mistake

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2009 DOE Trim the Fat Contest Exposes Waste: THE WINNERS!

Contestants Help Hawaii’s Education System by Identifying Waste and Inefficiencies GRIH The first-ever DOE Trim the Fat Contest, co-sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Smart Business Hawaii, generated more than 100 ideas for ways the Department of Education (DOE) can cut costs without resorting to employee furloughs or

Read More →

Superintendent Hamamoto Taking Chancellor Rhee’s Lead?

by Pearl Hahn In June 2007, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty surprised the nation when he selected Michelle Rhee, seen as an unlikely choice, as chancellor of the capitol’s public schools. In doing so, he sent a signal that it would not be business as usual in the district. Problems plaguing

Read More →

Government Waste Not Just On Oahu

by Pearl Hahn Who can forget the time Kauai residents joined together to complete a $4 million road repair, which was estimated to take two years, in only eight days and for free? While providing an uplifting lesson about what is humanly possible, the story also paints a grim picture

Read More →

Before You Move to France, or Even Cuba

by Pearl Hahn   Yes, it’s true that the United States is one of the few industrialized nations in the world that does not have some form of nationalized health care.  Thank your lucky stars. If you move to France, you would be moving to a country whose health care

Read More →

Americans Turning Against the Unions

by Pearl Hahn It looks like Americans’ perception of unions is changing. According to Gallup, fewer than half of Americans, or 48 percent, approve of labor unions. A year ago, unions had a 59 percent approval rate. Contributing factors may include backlash against the bailouts and an increasing unemployment rate.

Read More →

Giving ObamaCare proponents the finger

By Kenli Schoolland The health care debate is sure getting heated these days as a 65-year-old man who was against socialized healthcare had his pinky finger bitten off in an argument at a healthcare rally. To be fair, he did punch the other guy first, but was biting off a finger in return

Read More →

Cutting Costs and Choices for State Workers

by Pearl Hahn State and county workers are in for a few changes to be made in their prescription drug plans next year on January 1. Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) enacted reference-based pricing for three categories of drugs that will feature cheaper alternatives to alleviate

Read More →

Will Kauai Join the Plastic Bag Ban Wagon?

by Pearl Hahn Last year, Maui passed the state’s first municipal ban on plastic bags. The law will take effect in January 2011. The Big Island followed suit, and will eancourage businesses to offer 100 percent recyclable paper bags that must be made out of at least 40 percent post-consumer

Read More →

Health Care and Life Expectancy Among Americans

by Pearl Hahn Following my blog post about health care systems in France and Cuba compared with the United States, a wise reader, Joe Speroni, was compelled to write me an enlightening message concerning data for infant mortality rates and life expectancies. Many (including columnist Paul Krugman) make the mistake

Read More →

2009 DOE Trim the Fat Contest Exposes Waste: THE WINNERS!

Contestants Help Hawaii’s Education System by Identifying Waste and Inefficiencies GRIH The first-ever DOE Trim the Fat Contest, co-sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Smart Business Hawaii, generated more than 100 ideas for ways the Department of Education (DOE) can cut costs without resorting to employee furloughs or

Read More →

Superintendent Hamamoto Taking Chancellor Rhee’s Lead?

by Pearl Hahn In June 2007, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty surprised the nation when he selected Michelle Rhee, seen as an unlikely choice, as chancellor of the capitol’s public schools. In doing so, he sent a signal that it would not be business as usual in the district. Problems plaguing

Read More →

Government Waste Not Just On Oahu

by Pearl Hahn Who can forget the time Kauai residents joined together to complete a $4 million road repair, which was estimated to take two years, in only eight days and for free? While providing an uplifting lesson about what is humanly possible, the story also paints a grim picture

Read More →

Before You Move to France, or Even Cuba

by Pearl Hahn   Yes, it’s true that the United States is one of the few industrialized nations in the world that does not have some form of nationalized health care.  Thank your lucky stars. If you move to France, you would be moving to a country whose health care

Read More →