Disagree with some points
Johnny,
While I would agree that corruption may a reason the local government that keeps any form of gambling off the Hawaii islands. I'm originally from Seattle, where there are Native American casinos at many locations and also see the negative effects casinos have on the local areas, congestion, drugs and crime at levels way above what was there before the casinos were built. However, if corruption is the key reason for not allowing lottery from coming to the islands, then they are really shortsighted. The revenue brought in by lottery would surpass that of pushing people to Las Vegas ten fold.
My disagreement is the government controlling locals by keeping them dependent on subsidies. People have control over themselves and if they want to get off subsidy programs they can. But there is no motivation for them to get off subsidies because they are making more off the government than working for their money. I like on the west side (by choice) and I see it every day and it's quite frustrating to see. I see 60,000 cars driving to shacks and 5 kids come out with a mother with $1,000's in gold around her neck and breeches, with. $500 hand bag. How does that happen? Lack of oversight by the government is the Mai issue. They receive EBT and more per child, which give incentives to have more children. House and utility subsidies, and so on provide no incentives for people to actually get up and work for their money. It's quite frustrating for me and should be for all tax payers that see our taxes wasted on silly homeless programs that do nothing but push homeless around but don't address the real issues that cause it. Our roads are shit, which is destroying my car and our schools are falling apart and can't get the funds to even get A / see units so that our students and teachers have a more comfortable learning environment. The hypocrisy in this is absolutely ridiculous. They make people wear seat belts inside vehicles, but allow passengers in the back of trucks. They would consider changing the school year dates so that it isn't as hot instead of getting a / see units in classrooms, yet the the dept of education building in town shut down and employees sent home when their a / see broke. It was on the news, but little reaction from the public. That should have infuriated the public to the point where people should have demonstrated in from of the building until a law was passed to fix the issue, yet you see 1,000's protest the telescope on the big island. Come on, seriously? I love Hawaii, but this state is seariously broke and its up to us to want to change it, but our priorities need to be right and use our voice. Ok time to get off my soap box.
No more free local lunches
[QUOTE=AlohaJ;2757968]Johnny,
While I would agree that corruption may a reason the local government that keeps any form of gambling off the Hawaii islands. I'm originally from Seattle, where there are Native American casinos at many locations and also see the negative effects casinos have on the local areas, congestion, drugs and crime at levels way above what was there before the casinos were built. However, if corruption is the key reason for not allowing lottery from coming to the islands, then they are really shortsighted. The revenue brought in by lottery would surpass that of pushing people to Las Vegas ten fold.
My disagreement is the government controlling locals by keeping them dependent on subsidies. People have control over themselves and if they want to get off subsidy programs they can. But there is no motivation for them to get off subsidies because they are making more off the government than working for their money. I like on the west side (by choice) and I see it every day and it's quite frustrating to see. I see 60,000 cars driving to shacks and 5 kids come out with a mother with $1,000's in gold around her neck and breeches, with. $500 hand bag. . That should have infuriated the public to the point where people should have demonstrated in from of the building until a law was passed to fix the issue, yet you see 1,000's protest the telescope on the big island. Come on, seriously? I love Hawaii, but this state is seariously broke and its up to us to want to change it, but our priorities need to be right and use our voice. Ok time to get off my soap box.[/QUOTE]Casinos, if properly administered like in Las Vegas can be beneficial to the public. There should be regulations on chronic behaviors like compulsive gambling habits similar to drug addiction, but what other industry does Hawaii has to offer besides tourism?
The gambling industry could be aimed towards tourism boats the same as in Mississippi away from shops that usually set up next to it.
One of the biggest examples of government control over the masses by utilizing subsidies is the case of keeping secret for over 40 years the faked NASA moon landing that fooled the world. NASA personnel were threatened with heavy penalty including forfeiture of pensions and ruined reputations if anyone leaked information.
A most glaring example of control is currently displayed in the Presidential debates where it seems the only candidate who actually speaks for himself is Donald Trump, a billionaire not beholden to any political agendas as the other candidates because he is financially independent and don't need to abide by certain restrictions that come with receiving subsidies from either corporations or government matching funding.
The original INTENT of EBT or social services was to assist the poverty level masses until they could get back on their own feet. The abuses going on could be addressed by authorities, but because it's a hot political issue that most politicians are too afraid to consider because it also affects their "justification" of receiving federal dollars to supplement their limited resources, which also guarantees their own "empire" building careers in securing top echelon State and City positions that come with well compensative pay and pension benefits. So naturally these beholden bureaucrats will never advocate reducing those on welfare because doing so will threaten their comfortable high paying positions!
It is exactly the same with the bloated Department of Education where the ratio of the administration outnumbers the teachers and rampart corruption occurs between DOE officials and contractors. One fine example is the exclusive multi-million dollar non-bid project of CISCO to replace a functional bell notice system in Waipahu HS. It was approved by a DOE official the father of a son representing CISCO systems that did not work properly because of a copy right clause stating that only CISCO approved systems could connect to it.
That is one of the reasons why DOE keeps asking for more money to "Help the Kids", they should say the truth, "to help them line their own pockets"!
The same is true to the University of Hawaii, I used to work there, as a technical student assistant to regular State workers, who are one of the laziest incompetent slackers on this planet bare none. One electronic technician used to call in sick four times a week, come to work (sleep on desk) on Mondays, call in sick Tuesday to Friday and repeat it for over one year straight without penalty because the Union has a contract clause stating members can call sick for four consecutive days without a doctor's approval.
One of the biggest problems is the "local" attitude of not making "waves" or getting involved in issues that effect their own living conditions. I used to be on the executive board and active shop steward for a union with workers for Verizon and handled dozens of cases, the most glaring one is described on post # 4713 on the Korean Bar Tactics, so I'm not repeating it, but in summary I was deployed at that time and took leave to address the illegal firing of all 100 plus employees on the day before Christmas, we later won that case, but they remained unemployed due to bankruptcy status. Not one single employee has the courage to express their hardships and complaints in front of the federal judge even though they got their partial retirement, separation pay package and limited medical / dental coverage, unfortunately I got stuck with a $850 dollar attorney's summary fee (which I drafted myself) that no one even offered to help pay.
Real good deal huh and the reason why I no longer feel obligated to help these coward locals in general. However I do respect those who voice their opinions and go out to protest rather than those sheep spineless good for nothing.
Commodity Prices worldwide crashing (When Pussy?)
I follow commodity prices daily and everything under the sun is crashing worldwide due to the Deflationary forces taking shape, I wonder if Pussy will soon be affected as well? I know in other parts of the world the price for pussy is dropping like a rock especially in parts of Europe, hopefully Hawaii gets to take advantage of these commodity price drops, unless Nani isn't considered a commodity? I know people have needs and lots of things during recession / depressions have extreme value such as Alcohol etc. But I would think the price of Pussy should start coming down as Liquidity starts to dry up everywhere, maybe wishful thinking??
Awabi.