Proposals for a better Hawaii

[Frankie Stapleton]

Howzit...I'm proposing a couple of resolutions at the County Dem's convention in May...the deadline for submission is today.
One resolution goes to sustainability of the people of Hawaii by urging local gov't study and support of two plants, coconut and cassava, as potential for locally grown food and processing for products (bioplastics) for local consumption, export, and ethanol production.
The second resolution calls for Hawaii to initiate a Constitutional Amendment eliminating the Electoral College so as to have one-man, one-vote nationally. I know, I know, but I thought I'd try.

I'd appreciate constructive input from Punawebbers...don't bother reading them if you're just a naysayer...t'anx eh! Frankie

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RESOLUTION CALLING FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAII TO INITIATE CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELIMINATING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

WHEREAS, the history of the United States of America’s Electoral College is a convoluted and checkered one, with both large and small states benefiting or losing out, depending on the politics of the times;

WHEREAS, the issue of slavery, which was a main factor in the establishment of the Electoral College, was outlawed in the 19th Century;

WHEREAS, the American ideal of one-man, one-vote is no longer seen as a reality by most U.S. citizens today;

WHEREAS, the Electoral College makes some votes worth more than others;

WHEREAS, voters in the 50th State have a difficult time believing their votes count when the rest of the nation has already determined the U.S. presidency while many of Hawaii’s citizens have not had the chance to cast their ballots;

WHEREAS, Hawaii as well as the entire nation continues to experience declining numbers of voters;

WHEREAS, in addition to recent movements on the Mainland that essentially disenfranchise entire groups of voters, young citizens and others are expressing their distrust of the two-party system, specifically through the Occupy Movement that not only went nationwide but international;

WHEREAS, the current Electoral College structure does not support more than a two-party system;

WHEREAS, the movement to eliminate the Electoral College would have more success in the second term of a sitting president; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Hawaii -- whose voters in the past have led the nation in establishing citizens’ rights despite gender, religious, racial, cultural and economic factors – lead the way once again by establishing a panel to study and create a proposed U.S. Constitutional amendment eliminating the Electoral College and establishing a straight popular vote for the nation. The proposed amendment would then be sent to Congress and all state and territorial legislatures for adoption.

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY SUPPORT INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL OF COCONUT AND CASSAVA AS HAWAII CROPS FOR SELF-SUSTENANCE AS WELL AS EXPORT:

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Hawai’I’s 2010 Platform lists preserving and strengthening the future of agriculture in the state of Hawaii;

WHEREAS, Hawai’I’s public and its governmental leaders express “support of energy independence, self-sufficiency, affordability and reliability through the development of renewable alternative energy resources,” and to lessen reliance on fossil fuels, therefore reducing Hawai’i’s carbon footprint;

WHEREAS, state statistics show less than 15 percent of the food consumed in Hawaii is produced in state;

WHEREAS, the 2010 Democratic Party platform also expressed the government’s “vital role in nurturing and regulating our economic system” as “essential for economic expansion, diversification, innovation and entrepreneurship,”

WHEREAS, science has now proven the nutritional, food, and environmental benefits of two plants – coconut and cassava, also known as yucca, manioc and tapioca – which grow readily throughout the state of Hawai’i;

WHEREAS, Hawaii is a tropical place where field research is possible on working production farms, according to University of Hawaii researchers, biosystems engineer Loren D. Gautz, PhD, and Harry “Skip” Bittenbinder, PhD;

Wheras, cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the staple food of nearly one billion people in 105 countries, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization;

WHEREAS, Asian Pacific nations are currently competing to corner the market on its use not only in bioplastic production (as Sony is doing) but as a biofuel; cassava is used to make ethanol in countries not dominated by the corn industry;

WHEREAS, Hawaii consumers are paying a minimum of $1 an ounce for healthful coconut oil, which must be imported from Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines;

WHEREAS, coconut (Cocos nucifera) has many health benefits and uses beyond its nutritional content;

WHEREAS, according to an official with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture, it has been “at least” two decades since government-sponsored scientific study in the state has investigated coconut as a crop of any value;

WHEREAS, a UH study stated, paraphrasing here, it is a challenge to obtain reliable information on implementation of production, harvest and processing agricultural crops for market within the state and for export;

WHEREAS, those seeking an alternative to externally driven tourism and for sustainable crops that would help fill the void left by the demise of Hawaii’s sugar industry cannot afford the costs of research, development and commercialization;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Hawaii urges the state departments of agriculture and business and economic development as well as UH’s College of Tropical Agriculture, citing the above-mentioned factors, to give priority assignments for study of the potential of coconut and cassava as crops for consumption and production for local use and export; and finally, that the State Administrative and Legislative branches do all within their power to advance these goals.

[Rene Siracusa]

Re Electoral College: how about another Whereas: Whereas the technological capability now exists for the accurate filing and counting of a popular vote,that which was a logistical problem in the past is now do-able...

[Frankie Stapleton]

I like that, Rene. Gonna add it...

[Frankie Stapleton]

Can't find the edit button on my PW screen so here is the amended proposal for elimination of the Electoral College...

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RESOLUTION CALLING FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAII TO INITIATE CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELIMINATING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

WHEREAS, the history of the United States of America’s Electoral College is a convoluted and checkered one, with both large and small states benefiting or losing out, depending on the politics of the times;

WHEREAS, the issue of slavery, which was a main factor in the establishment of the Electoral College, was outlawed in the 19th Century;

WHEREAS, the American ideal of one-man, one-vote is no longer seen as a reality by most U.S. citizens today;

WHEREAS, the technological capability now exists for the accurate filing and counting of a popular vote, eliminating a past logistical problem;

WHEREAS, the Electoral College makes some votes worth more than others;

WHEREAS, voters in the 50th State have a difficult time believing their votes count when the rest of the nation has already determined the U.S. presidency while many of Hawaii’s citizens have not had the chance to cast their ballots;

WHEREAS, Hawaii as well as the entire nation continues to experience declining numbers of voters;

WHEREAS, in addition to recent movements on the Mainland that essentially disenfranchise entire groups of voters, young citizens and others are expressing their distrust of the two-party system, specifically through the Occupy Movement that not only went nationwide but international;

WHEREAS, since 2001, Gallup polls have consistently found that “a majority of Americans have continually expressed support for the notion of an official amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow for direct election” of the U.S. president and vice president;

WHEREAS, the current Electoral College structure does not support more than a two-party system;

WHEREAS, the movement to eliminate the Electoral College would have more success in the second term of a sitting president; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Hawaii -- whose voters in the past have led the nation in establishing citizens’ rights despite gender, religious, racial, cultural and economic factors – lead the way once again by establishing a panel to study and create a proposed U.S. Constitutional amendment eliminating the Electoral College and establishing a straight popular vote for the nation. The proposed amendment would then be sent to Congress and all state and territorial legislatures for adoption.

[PaulW]

Nice idea, but do you mean for the Presidential election or the primaries or both?

"voters in the 50th State have a difficult time believing their votes count when the rest of the nation has already determined the U.S. presidency"

I don't see how that can be avoided, we're less than 1% of the population. Or have I misunderstood something?

I certainly think it's a good idea that whole state don't get allocated to one party just because they got 51% of the vote.

[oink]

I don't know. Although imperfect, I see the electoral college as a form of defense against "tyranny of the majority".

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[punaticbychoice]

Paul W:
Two things-
We are less than 1% of the population, 1,360,000 out of more than 310,000,000.
Second, the up to 6 hour time difference across the country together with things like exit polling have an effect on voters too.
I like proportional representation more than winner take all, if that is what you mean.
More truly representative politics one would hope, or at least a better chance.

[oink]

I prefer the idea of a Republic with strong States rights. Each State should be able to apportion it's delegates however it likes. I like the "winner take all" but each State should decide for itself. I believe that proportional delegates weakens the power of the respective State. However if that's what they chose to do, so be it.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[PaulW]

Yes, I know how to work a calculator.

The exit polls - do they even publish them before voting is over?
In any case, if they do and the result is heavily one way then what
Hawaii votes won't matter anyway. And if it's very close then Hawaii
could actually be the decider.

Yes, it should be up to the States but the current situation where
a candidate can win with less votes than his opponent is not good.

[punaticbychoice]

Paul W:.
Be nice.
They do or have released formally and informally exit polls while voting is going on.
Proportional representation would make it more likely that the the political representation would be more representative.

Oink:

In a presidential election, you are actually voting for the electors who are pledged to vote for the particular candidate,in all other cases the candidate is voted for directly.
As to a republic? In theory, that's what we have. Strong states rights? The Civil War settled that issue.
I think that the only state that didn't have popular elections was South Carolina before the Civil War. Only slave owners could vote until 1865.