jobs

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

"protectors" can simply override any decision, permit, court ruling.

Sure. But if they set up their lawn chairs in the path (remember, no cars, no roads) we can just walk around them.

[reni]

"Food and energy sustainability are old ideas that now can benefit from new technology. The Big Island has the potential to be the bread basket of the state and become energy independent."

What a beautiful concept.......if only.

But what I suspect we will become is the bread basket of marijuana growing Op.s, owned & controlled by a major National or world wide corp. with taxes filling the State coffers of the never ending always growing political machine.

https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-rel...unge-prior

[ironyak]

@HOTPE - Why exactly can't we have local agriculture and also a cellphone? When you farmed full-time did you give up electricity, television, and cars? I don't think you have to be Amish to grow stuff.

At least with local food production many consumers are close at hand. I find it hard to see how HI can cut in on the large scale MJ operations in California, Colorado, and Canada given our distance from all the major markets. IMO at least decriminalization will reduce any local funds being spent on largely useless eradication, enforcement, and incarceration actions.

[kalakoa]

hard to see how HI can cut in on the large scale MJ operations

Especially since the "product" can't cross state lines -- can't even move it within the state, because all transportation is magically Federal.

decriminalization will reduce any local funds being spent on largely useless eradication, enforcement, and incarceration

No, decriminalization would cost far too many jobs, can't have that.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Why exactly can't we have local agriculture and also a cellphone?

You can, if the agrarian infrastructure can support it. Individuals living closer to a subsistence lifestyle don't have a lot of extra money, don't pay much in taxes to support government services or private services, and there's a great deal of opportunity for cash sales or bartering which reduces tax obligations even further.

When you farmed full-time did you give up electricity, television, and cars?

Certainly not! I had grid power, a wood stove, and a black & white TV with vise grips clipped on the channel tuner because some of the stations came in better in between the clicks. Had to balance the vise grips just right for an evening of Miami Vice and Magnum P.I. which even in black and white encouraged me to move to Hawaii, especially on below zero nights. Drove my grandfather's '67 Dodge (great cruiser!) and a pickup for work. I didn't have much more than the basics as did my neighbors. I remember a conversation one spring evening around a campfire with 10 or 12 young farming neighbors. The question was asked, do you think you could take your wife or girlfriend on a date anywhere in the county, for dinner and a movie and spend more than $25? For both? To which someone added, "does that include gas money?"

Farming is not a 1% lifestyle is all I'm saying, and island wide it probably won't support a lot of services.

[jrw]

I think it is great idea to grow as much food as we can local .But do you consider jobs that pay $10 per hour and no benefits a Livable job. If they pay more who would be able to eat it.. Local grown is a lot more expense then main land food. Beside this about lost jobs discussion.

jrw

[kalakoa]

jobs that pay $10 per hour and no benefits a Livable job

Employers can simply claim that minimum wage, hours, and worker safety requirements are a violation of their protected religious/cultural practices. Problem solved.

[leilanidude]

Maybe we could learn from the host culture who thrived for centuries
-------------
Like when they were killing themselves left and right? I think that is how they kept the population down to avoid starvation.

[ironyak]

jrw - But do you consider jobs that pay $10 per hour and no benefits a Livable job.

Depends on what you mean "Livable job." There are many people in Puna who are engaged in growing a majority of their own food and living. If you are talking about owning a 3/2 in Hilo with a mortgage and car payment, it's probably not the best means to that end, and never has been, as HOTPE pointed out.

Beside this about lost jobs discussion.
Which ones exactly? Bottle plant workers? Rocket pad construction? TMT operators? Those are all vastly different fields some of which would be filled locally and some of which would need to be brought in (TomK isn't a local FYI). I'm sure the County can take up the slack if you know who to ask

"They've been telling me Hilo isn't going to make it for 50 years now, but it's still here. Just goes to show you..." - paraphrase of a longtime local resident, on a visit nearly 20 years ago

[glinda]

Like when they were killing themselves left and right?

How many acts of genocide were perpetrated by the American settlers during their colonization of the Americas?