COMMENTARY
New kind of party can bridge differences

By Zenko Paul Sakomizu

Considering the recent politics of Hawai'i, there may be a need for a Conservative Democratic Party.

Gov. Linda Lingle was elected on the strength that a good majority felt a need for a change. Hawai'i has been staunchly Democratic since the 1950s, but a bridge between the Democrats and Republicans may find a place among the population here.

To begin with, a Conservative Democratic Party would satisfy a good many people here who are somewhat to the right, but liberal when it comes to social issues such as a creation of a sovereign Hawaiian autonomy.

I had the good fortune to meet a brilliant Hawaiian man many years ago who argued that Hawaiians should have mineral rights underground just like the Aleuts in Alaska enjoy rights to petroleum and various minerals.

But what the Hawaiians would have rights to here in the Islands would be the water underground. Those of Hawai'i's population with proven Hawaiian heritage would collect from monies gained from a collective tax levied on the usage of water here. The tax per household and business may not have to be large for the Hawaiians to have a prosperous income for what is rightfully theirs.

There would be no need for gambling here, something most conservatives are against. This would serve to right a wrong that happened with the overthrow of the monarchy and enhance the standard of living for Hawaiians today.

Another implacable issue that voters may have to decide upon is abortion.

I noticed a bumper sticker the other day that said "It is not a choice. It is a child." That sums it up for most conservatives here, and liberals should reconsider their stance about it as far as a Conservative Democratic Party is concerned.

Many a time I have heard that Hawai'i is a state unfriendly to business with no tax incentives to start a high-tech company here. They went on to say that the workers have all of the leverage while the businesses have to pay so much to maintain their employees.

If Hawai'i hopes to keep its best and brightest instead of having them go to the Mainland to find employment and remuneration equal to their worth, businesses centralizing around high-tech research should be given incentives such as tax breaks.

With high-tech products developed from research here, we can envision either licensing agreements or outright manufacturing agreements in China, Taiwan or Asia in general.

The foundation of high-tech research firms would draw from the talented and gifted on the Mainland who would be overwhelmed with joy to find employment here, working for a better and prosperous state of Hawai'i and countries that we would do business with.

Doing business this way would increase tax revenues to support needed services. For instance, the State Hospital would not be denied its need for an increase in bed space for our mentally ill, and there would be money to help our homeless people who can be seen everywhere.

I know the need. I have been homeless twice in my lifetime here, the last time for about 300 days. Taking care of our own with the spirit of aloha is something unique in all of America.

This is something that both Democrats and Republicans see a need for and is an example of how a Conservative Democratic Party may be of greater service to our population.

Needed money for our elementary schools would provide a better education for our keiki and consequently give them more hope for their future. As far as our university institutions are concerned, higher salaries for the faculty would keep our best teachers here in Hawai'i.

Yes, indeed, we may all find a Conservative Democratic Party a bridge for the division of our residents. We don't need all of the nonsensical bickering that consumes our precious time in our land of aloha.

Zenko Paul Sakomizu is a writer and researcher who lives in Honolulu.