DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

LEADERS LOSING SIGHT OF MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa has lost sight of the idea of democracy (rule by the people) in the Democratic Party.

After seeing caucus turnout beyond anyone's imagination that gave Barack Obama 14 out of Hawai'i's 20 pledged delegates, Sen. Hanabusa still suggested that the nine superdelegates from Hawai'i could still break for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, thereby giving her more support from Hawai'i than Barack Obama.

Hello? Did she miss the fact that Sen. Obama swept all 51 voting precincts in the Feb. 19 caucus to gain more than three-quarters of the votes cast?

To suggest that the local Democratic Party officials could justifiably disregard the will of the people because of their own supposed political genius is a troubling indication of what they think of Hawai'i's Democratic voters.

Do they somehow know what's best for the people of Hawai'i despite an overwhelmingly clear statement about who they preferred in the presidential preference poll?

The people of Hawai'i have called for change, and for that we need to look much closer to home to get local leaders who truly reflect (and respect) our desires.

SEN. INOUYE MUST HEED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Sen. Barack Obama prevailed in the Hawai'i caucuses by a 3-to-1 margin over Sen. Hillary Clinton.

It is time for Sen. Daniel Inouye and the other Hawai'i superdelegates to courageously abide by their constituents, and cast their superdelegate votes for the candidate chosen at the caucuses.

However, Sen. Inouye apparently stands poised to override the will of Hawai'i Democrats. Commenting on the impressive turnout at Hawai'i's Democratic caucuses, he stated, "It makes no difference what the outcome is, but the fact that the turnout was so extraordinary shows that democracy works."

Wrong, senator — democracy works when elected officials heed the will of the people.

To the extent that Sen. Inouye intends to cast his superdelegate vote for Sen. Clinton, he refuses to heed the will of the people, despite the clear mandate from his party.

REINVENTING EDUCATION

ACT 51 TRANSFORMATION REMAINS A KEY FOCUS

I would like to offer updates or a status report about the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, known as Act 51, referenced in Dave Shapiro's Feb. 13 column about the Hawai'i's 2050 Sustainability Plan.

The Legislature passed Act 51 with a July 2004 effective date. That's 3 1/2 years ago.

Act 51 spelled out 38 specific actions. To date, 36 have been completed and two are underway. This is substantial, not "disappointing," progress.

Today, education transformation remains a key focus. Legislators have not ignored Act 51, but are still engaged and have continually revisited the act during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 sessions.

Principals are charged with improving student achievement, accountability and transparency. They are empowered and responsible for spending 72 percent of the Department of Education operating budget, with the weighted student formula portion totaling $908.9 million, or 43 percent. Principal empowerment and the weighted student formula are "real" and continue to be refined.

Lastly, school community councils statewide provide important input and recommendations to school academic and financial plans and other matters regarding student achievement, safety and well being, and civic responsibility. Community councils are making an impact as they continue to understand their role in student achievement.

MAHALO

MANY HELPED VICTIMS OF NORTH SHORE THIEVES

I want to give a public mahalo to those who assisted my friends in need.

My friends were visiting O'ahu from Colorado Springs. They were on a North Shore beach when they dropped their guard momentarily and thieves broke into their car. The thieves got away with a large sum of money, a camera, a cell phone, IDs, credit cards, and Polynesian Cultural Center and Dole Plantation tickets.

My friend came to Hawai'i with her dear friend, who recently helped her through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. They spent a lot of money to come and enjoy a well-deserved vacation.

It was nearly ruined by selfish petty thieves who don't think past themselves. This is an all-too-familiar scenario here in Hawai'i.

I want to thank the wonderful people who helped my friends, from the police officer who took the report, the staff at the Polynesian Cultural Center, the staff at Dole Plantation and the Pearl Harbor Morale, Welfare, Recreation office.

Mahalo to those who helped them to restore their vacation.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

OBAMA NEEDS TO GIVE DETAILS ON KEY ISSUES

I was one of the few believers in Sen. Hillary Clinton who sat in silence at my caucus site, and watched the spectacle before my eyes in disbelief.

It was my first caucus experience. I could sense this among the few Hillary believers, who sat and waited to complete their choice.

The site was dominated by the excitement of the Sen. Barack Obama frenzy. For a moment, I thought I would be carried with the surge, too.

But then I realized that the future of this country where I raised my sons rests on leadership, experience and knowledge, not on media pundits.

If there are remaining caucuses around the country, I have no doubt that Obama will sweep them, too.

He has become a folk hero, to the point of losing a principled process of true choice and accurate results that our Founding Fathers had fought for. I only hope that when the dust settles, Obama will give clear details of his health program for children, the mental health program and the underserved aging populations in Hawai'i.

IRAQ

U.S. LACKS COMMITMENT THAT IS NEEDED TO WIN

We live in a nation of double speak, where torture is not torture and where war is not war.

We are not at war! Only Congress can declare war. They have not done so. We are failing in Iraq because we have not declared war. Consequently, we do not have the commitment required for victory.

The Vietnam War was not a war. We lost to a nation that used oxen to till the soil. We need a sea change in our mindset if we are to save our country from the trash heap of history. We need to withdraw our forces, heal our nation and reassess our priorities. We have been led into a briar patch without end.

To continue onward is crazy and will slowly bleed us to death. It is clear that we are in Iraq to control their oil, which was once controlled by big oil.

If they want to use military force to get foreign oil there are closer and more convenient countries to invade. Next time they should employ Blackwater to do their dirty work.

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

LEGISLATORS SHOULD REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY

Isn't there enough money in politics? Apparently our state legislators don't think so. Our legislators are moving House Bill 2455 House Draft 1 and Senate Bill 2204 Senate Draft 1, which lift the $1,000 cap on the total amount of money corporations can give to campaigns. Corporations would be able to give to as many candidates they wish, at $2,000 to $6,000 a pop.

These bills increase the campaign money flow from special interests, which in turn gives them better access to elected officials. There is no doubt that this results in less time and attention that legislators can give to ordinary constituents.

These bills will make Hawai'i's campaign laws even more obsolete. Congress banned corporate donations to federal candidates in 1907. Twenty-two states have banned corporate donations to candidates as well.

A healthy democracy requires a decent level of equal opportunity to participate. But most citizens don't have the vast sums of money that corporate treasuries can dish out every campaign season. Raising the limits for corporate donations squashes any chance for a citizen to make a difference through his or her participation.

Legislators say they are "clarifying" the law, and they never intended to put such a limit on corporate donations. But we urge our legislators to do the right thing by reducing the influence of money in politics. There are so many innovative methods to improve our political process, such as public funding for campaigns. The Legislature should embrace those great ideas, and shelve the bad ones like HB 2455 and SB 3141.