11-23-2023, 11:45 PM
I'm grateful for the working class of the Big Island.
The people that commute 1-2 hours a day to support their family, and their extended family, and their hanai family.
The people that work multiple jobs to cover the ever rising expenses.
The people that pay the taxes that pay for all the EBT and WIC, sometimes thousands a month to a single family.
The people that pay the inflated grocery prices at the grocery store thanks to all the EBT and WIC.
The people that pay for the Medquest and Section 8 and COFA.
The people that pay for all the government salaries, especially the cushy ones like mayor and county council.
The people in government that actually put in an honest days work, and don't make enough money to put up with our crap.
The people that pay the oligarchs (directly or indirectly) for the privilege of working or renting their land to make a living.
The people that pay huge rents and put in long hours to make us good affordable local food.
The people that pay huge rents to live in dilapidated plantation houses.
The people that put blood, sweat, and tears into building or improving their own homes.
The people that donate their time and effort to actually improve things for others.
The people that can never attend "listening sessions" or free community events, because they are at work.
The people that actually do stuff, instead of just complain about stuff not being done.
The people stuck in the middle, supporting everyone else with every effort and every paycheck.
I doubt the people enjoying their free dinners or relaxing in their mansions this Thanksgiving will give you a second thought.
But working people of Puna, thank you for everything you do, every day, to make our lives better.
The people that commute 1-2 hours a day to support their family, and their extended family, and their hanai family.
The people that work multiple jobs to cover the ever rising expenses.
The people that pay the taxes that pay for all the EBT and WIC, sometimes thousands a month to a single family.
The people that pay the inflated grocery prices at the grocery store thanks to all the EBT and WIC.
The people that pay for the Medquest and Section 8 and COFA.
The people that pay for all the government salaries, especially the cushy ones like mayor and county council.
The people in government that actually put in an honest days work, and don't make enough money to put up with our crap.
The people that pay the oligarchs (directly or indirectly) for the privilege of working or renting their land to make a living.
The people that pay huge rents and put in long hours to make us good affordable local food.
The people that pay huge rents to live in dilapidated plantation houses.
The people that put blood, sweat, and tears into building or improving their own homes.
The people that donate their time and effort to actually improve things for others.
The people that can never attend "listening sessions" or free community events, because they are at work.
The people that actually do stuff, instead of just complain about stuff not being done.
The people stuck in the middle, supporting everyone else with every effort and every paycheck.
I doubt the people enjoying their free dinners or relaxing in their mansions this Thanksgiving will give you a second thought.
But working people of Puna, thank you for everything you do, every day, to make our lives better.