11-19-2007, 11:17 AM
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
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
Aloha! ;-)