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+--- Thread: "Can you believe it" (/showthread.php?tid=1588)
RE: "Can you believe it" - PunaLover - 11-18-2007
OR I consider myself human-hawaiian-san franciscian-new orleanian-american-scotch-english-irsh-poi-dog
KEEP PUNA RURAL
RE: "Can you believe it" - PunaLover - 11-18-2007
Well Kapoho poo problems will be taken care of if the New York Times picks up any of these stories.
If only a dozen of the millions in NY zero in on the ponds and decide to move in get ready for some real restrictions, BIG locks to the ponds, green lake, pohiki it's all up for grabs. Hope we can keep it like it is for as long as possible.
For your kids sake.
KEEP PUNA RURAL
RE: "Can you believe it" - shinykapoho - 11-18-2007
You've already proven your own theory. You did take logic, right? And you did move here from somewhere else, right? No matter how much you try to disguise your speech, you'll never be Hawaiian. You moved here from somewhere. You have taken up additional space. You are part of the overcrowding problem. Maybe you did it two months ago, maybe two years ago, maybe two decades ago. Doesn't matter. Still the same contribution to the overcrowding problem.
RE: "Can you believe it" - shinykapoho - 11-18-2007
punapetah, I might be in love with you...
RE: "Can you believe it" - mgeary - 11-18-2007
The dates don't match exactly on the following reference, but for the sake of this discussion, in my 50 year lifetime, the world's population has more than doubled. If I live to 80, and if the projections are anywhere near accurate, then the world's population will have very nearly tripled during one man's lifespan.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762181.html
That's a downer, but it is a general problem, not a Puna-specific problem. Developing strategies to deal with (I hate to use the buzzword "manage"
that growth are important to Puna, and the rest of the world. Duh.All those people gotta go somewhere. Like many other things, I don't have any answers. Setting objectives (KEEP PUNA RURAL) is a good way to start, though, I think. In this day and age, and the way our media works, and the business interests in development (sorry Cat, John, and any other realtors/builders/developers, just being honest), I don't think we can "hide" Puna.
As someone said elsewhere, talking about a problem on a website can get boring. I'd use the word "unproductive", though, because I haven't seen much boring talk about politics, here. ;-) When I become a voter in Hawaii, I'll be able to have an impact (however small) on the way that development is legislated/regulated.
Back to the cultural questions: Are Punatics conscienscious about voting? Does Hawaii have motor/voter legislation? Are there mechanisms or organizations to get out the Puna vote? Do you vote???
(Not you, petah, that's a general, rhetorical question to the audience.)
Aloha.
How do I know?
Edited by - mgeary on 11/18/2007 22:34:12
RE: "Can you believe it" - mgeary - 11-18-2007
The good news, if there is any, on my previous post is the ten-year growth rate. The rate of growth has declined, and is projecte to decline even more.
From 3 Billion to almost 9 Billion people in 80 years, though.... :-(
How do I know?
RE: "Can you believe it" - PunaLover - 11-18-2007
I may have added myself to the total population of Hawaii but I haven't made any keki.....yet
And no need to try to hide my vernacular. I like speak many "american" dialects, my cajun was real enough one old lady on the porch of the Columns Hotel in New Orleans call me a liar when I told her I was from Cali. She swor up an down I was dare fom da swamp. Could never pick up a newyorker accent, thank god.
Yea I voted last time/first time in my life. I got suckered. I know damn well our votes don't mean didlely. It's the pacifier for the public, let them think they get something for their taxes.
I was taught in High School the Presidents were bought not voted in. Teacher was told to go back to the book once that got to a few homes. Hawaii is a Democratic state anyway and they already called it before we even finished voting. Our vote nationally is really irrellevent.
KEEP PUNA RURAL
RE: "Can you believe it" - mgeary - 11-19-2007
It's pretty plain from some of the comments on this website that I don't understand Hawaiian government very well. The Punatics have many real issues, I gather, from planning and zoning to code enforcement, funding and beyond.
At the national level, for sure, there is corruption, influence-peddling, and even legal lobbying by powerful interest groups (Right and Left) who you and I will never be able to compete with, regarding getting our views into the hands of the people who write the laws and spend the money. For the most part, I'll buy the proposition that presidential and congressional elections, and their activities once they get elected, are pretty much out of our hands. It is the only system we've got, though, and if you don't vote, then you've put your voice on "mute" in the forum which really matters, as opposed to e-forums like this one.
I've seen discussions here that indicate that the Governor and the State legislators operate pretty much under the same ground rules as the Federal government, although it's not my place to say that one way or another. The initiative process is the public's end run around the corrupt politicians in California. It's not a perfect process, by a long shot, but there are many instances where a citizen-activist almost single-handedly has gotten a law or a bond passed that none of the politicians supported. The two best examples are a tax-limitation initiative called Prop. 13, and then a term-limits-for-elected-politicians proposition whose number I've forgotten. They hated both of those, but the people got 'er done. Does Hawaii have a statewide initiative process, and is it used frequently, or at least to the benefit of the people sometimes?
The local government, though, should be another matter. I'm not saying it is on the Island of Hawai'i, but local county boards of supervisors (I'm not sure of the terminology for your county units and their legislators), and the departments which work for the county, should be more responsive to their citizens. It is possible, I think, to actually set up an appointment with a supervisor or one of his/her staffers, and talk story. Or present a petition. Whether they do anything beyond smiling and nodding is a separate deal, but at least you should have access. County departments (Planning, Roads, Solid Waste, etc.) should also be accessible at least, whether or not they are responsive.
The key, in my opinion, to getting a positive response out of people to whom you should have access is in the presentation, and in the voter muscle behind the delivery, and perhaps even persistence. Squeeky wheels and all. They do get elected to their offices, so like all politicians, they should be hypersensitive to the media. Do the Friends of Puna's Future have solid contacts with the local media? Would it be worth hiring a media consultant on a really important issue?
There's another weakness on my part, I just check in occasionally to the Trib-Herald and West Hawaii Today websites, I don't know if they just love a local interest story about an incompetent government worker who screwed over some grandma, like our papers do, or whether the paper is bought off.
(Sigh) I've got a lot to learn. But I do vote, always have, always will. If nothing else, if you want to cancel my vote, then you need to vote, too. If we support a cause together, then, well, that's two votes. Two votes are better than none, for any issue which is popular with the people.
How do I know?
Edited by - mgeary on 11/19/2007 15:26:17
RE: "Can you believe it" - PunaLover - 11-20-2007
so who you votin for? in case I need to cancel you out? lol
KEEP PUNA RURAL
RE: "Can you believe it" - mgeary - 11-21-2007
You, dude, I'm votin' for you. ;-)
How do I know?