Ignorance is Bliss, maybe even Ignorance is Strength? ;)
While I agree that the purely political and strictly national debates can be unproductive ragebait, we in Hawai'i are not immune from national politics as you yourself have pointed out repeatedly. ~25% of Hawaii's Budget is federal dollars and many of the issues confronting Punatics on a daily basis are dependent on federal funds and activities.
Insufficient SNAP funds to feed your family? That's national politics. Trying to get discounts on veggies via Da Bux? That's a federal USDA program, same as how kids get school free/reduced breakfasts & lunches, and take home boxes, and summer food programs. Can't afford to go to Hilo Benioff due to heathcare cuts to ACA / Medicaid / Medicare - national politics. Lumber too expensive to build a jungle shack, and mortgage rates too high to buy any of those 20 available HPP houses - national politics via tariffs and The Fed. Funding for Pohoiki Road repairs and emergency alternate routes - national politics again over FEMA funding. And so forth (EPA and PGV pollutants, fishing in Pacific Refuges, etc, etc). Outside of the hyperlocal backyard issues (trees, chickens, lost dogs, yardsales, etc), the causes of, and solutions to, most problems in Puna are tied to national politics and understanding this helps guide people on how to approach the issues, consider fixes, vote for local and national representatives, etc.
While my personal preference is to try and focus on solutions to these local issues and not just rant, some people like to complain, and some like to complain about people complaining. But to paraphrase Gandhi, bitching about bitching just makes everyone bitchy.
Regardless, no matter the distance from the capital, or how far down the road and into the rainforest, or how much you choose to ignore the news, you can't ever truly escape national politics.
While I agree that the purely political and strictly national debates can be unproductive ragebait, we in Hawai'i are not immune from national politics as you yourself have pointed out repeatedly. ~25% of Hawaii's Budget is federal dollars and many of the issues confronting Punatics on a daily basis are dependent on federal funds and activities.
Insufficient SNAP funds to feed your family? That's national politics. Trying to get discounts on veggies via Da Bux? That's a federal USDA program, same as how kids get school free/reduced breakfasts & lunches, and take home boxes, and summer food programs. Can't afford to go to Hilo Benioff due to heathcare cuts to ACA / Medicaid / Medicare - national politics. Lumber too expensive to build a jungle shack, and mortgage rates too high to buy any of those 20 available HPP houses - national politics via tariffs and The Fed. Funding for Pohoiki Road repairs and emergency alternate routes - national politics again over FEMA funding. And so forth (EPA and PGV pollutants, fishing in Pacific Refuges, etc, etc). Outside of the hyperlocal backyard issues (trees, chickens, lost dogs, yardsales, etc), the causes of, and solutions to, most problems in Puna are tied to national politics and understanding this helps guide people on how to approach the issues, consider fixes, vote for local and national representatives, etc.
While my personal preference is to try and focus on solutions to these local issues and not just rant, some people like to complain, and some like to complain about people complaining. But to paraphrase Gandhi, bitching about bitching just makes everyone bitchy.
Regardless, no matter the distance from the capital, or how far down the road and into the rainforest, or how much you choose to ignore the news, you can't ever truly escape national politics.