• Just asking • The New Depression • Dear vendors, Hanapepe welcomes you • Don’t emulate Mainland movement Just asking Regarding the Nov. 1 TGI article about the disabled fishing boat from just a net, what about all the debris
• Just asking • The
New Depression • Dear vendors, Hanapepe welcomes
you • Don’t emulate Mainland movement
Just asking
Regarding the Nov. 1 TGI article about the disabled fishing boat from just a net, what about all the debris coming here from Japan in less that two years?
Are the fishermen ready for all the repairs their boats are going to need?
Is our landfill ready for all the extra off-island garbage?
Is the county ready to pay for clean-up of all the beaches?
Volunteers can only do so much — heavy equipment and big trucks are going to be needed. And this of course, will not be a one time thing, it will continue for many years.
Just asking.
Helena Cooney, Kapa‘a
The New Depression
America is in a bad way. This is the new Depression. High unemployment, people unemployed so long that they have exhausted their benefits, poverty rising. The shibai that the agents of the ruling class are flinging isn’t sticking to the walls anymore. The cruel reality of the gross income inequality we are mired in has become clear.
There is an alternative: building a new sustainable American economy built around infrastructure upgrades, green-tech, super-enriched information tech, and economic justice for all Americans. If we tax investment transactions, remove tax write-offs and subsidies for large corporations and the rich, and end our seemingly endless wars — then we do have the resources to create that new economy, We protect that new economy with strengthened controls over the financial industry (a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with real teeth, re-instating the Glass-Steagall Act); getting a Constitutional amendment to reform campaign finance for good, and strengthening environmental protection laws to insure that future generations have clean air, clean water, and safe food.
Achieving this reality will be the fight of a lifetime. The big corporations and the greedy super-rich (can you say “Koch Brothers”?) have lots of money to buy political influence. We just have numbers and our determination to give future generations a real chance at a decent life. If we organize effectively and stand together we can prevail. A bright future or dystopia – we decide. Our Greatest Generation parents gave us a precious gift — let’s pass it on.
David Thorp, Koloa
Dear vendors, Hanapepe welcomes you
I have been the manager of two Hanapepe art galleries and have attended nearly every Art Night for over eight years. When I first became involved, things were quite different. There were virtually no street vendors and the only option for food was the Hanapepe Cafe. Visitor attendance was often very light. It was a challenge to encourage visitors to enter all of the galleries because there were many dark areas of the street in between clusters of light and activity.
It became clear that to attract more visitors, the town needed to be both livened and lightened up. Galleries began putting up more lights. Musicians, and street vendors began participating and were encouraged to do so. The crowd size grew steadily and more visitors began going all the way from one end of town to the other. In addition, they seemed to be enjoying the event more thoroughly. An enjoyable event is a memorable event and likely to be listed as a highlight by a visitor discussing his or her vacation with friends and family.
The street vendors represent a net benefit to the Hanapepe businesses. They attract more visitors, expand the range of offerings and help to spread the word of mouth advertising which is vital.
To the vendors who may now feel unwelcome at Art Night after reading Arius Hopman’s words, please realize that he is but one business owner and does not speak for the whole town. There are others who see your value and welcome your attendance.
Kent Kobakoff, Hanapepe
Don’t emulate Mainland movement
I attended the get-together in front of the county building Saturday. I had the pleasure of meeting some great folks that were very informed on today’s issues.
The reason I went is because I believe the “Occupy movement” on the Mainland is not a cohesive movement nor is it accomplishing anything other than a bad reputation in some cases. I wanted to see if Kaua‘i was the same way.
Thankfully it was not; there were no mindless zombies repeating: “We are the 99 percent” over and over. Instead we had people that actually submitted ideas and solutions. I believe this is the best way to go.
My main message was that we should not follow Mainland occupy movements by example nor should we end capitalism. Kaua‘i needs to set its own example.
I do not consider our get-togethers an occupy movement. I would encourage the folks that are using the occupy wall street screed to get rid of it and come up with out own.
The Mainland occupy movement had proved that six weeks into the movement they still dint have a solid idea on whom or what exactly is the cause.
We need to lead by example being on an island where we can effect change through local politics.
Please stop trying to emulate the Mainland movement. I also believe that if we did that we would gain respect from the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Just a thought.
Dan O’Flahery, Koloa
