"Local Politics, Rapozo's chutzpah..!"

(Editors note, on January 11,2011, a plastic bang ban was initiated on the county of Kaua'i, many people are up in arms including yours truly.)

Mahalo Nui Loa councilman Rapozo for your chutzpah to review the plastic bag ban and to introduce an amendment exempting food service establishments.(Reported in TGI 02-02-11)

May I suggest amending it for farmers markets and supermarkets too. I say put it to the vote of the people and bring back plastic altogether, this ban was insane, replacing plastic with paper. Paper is actually more polluting than paper, read the study

http://www.savetheplasticbag.com/

If plastic and paper had both been banned in the recent bill co-authored by Tim Bynum and Lani Kawakara that would had been a different story, but replacing plastic with paper is one hundred giant steps backwards, on top of that the paper bags have to have printed on them with polluting inks that they are biodegradable.

Did you know Walmarts alleged cloth bags are made of plastic in China, read the label.

Our council adopts bills, then amends bills , they run in circles accomplishing nothing, in fact if they did nothing, it would be better than what they do now.

I still cannot get over county council members making over $1,000 per meeting and accomplishing nothing, in fact if they accomplish nothing it would be better than what they do now.

"You Betcha..!"

The other day I was filling out a coupon for a free item entree for Panda Express restaurant, basically if you fill out a survey online next time you go and buy a two entree platter you get a third entree for free. Since free is my favorite word, and free just stimulates my senses.

I was feeling great filling out this survey and reminiscing about the great kung pao chicken, Beijing beef, shrimp with walnuts, egg rolls and an array of sensually delicious dishes. Then for the last question it asks; What is your age? I just turned 55 and to my dismay 55 and older is the highest ranking on the age chart, from now on, I am in just one category. I guess it's good news I made it to the top, but in some ways I wish there were still more ladders to climb.

The great news is many restaurants now give me a senior discount! The young high school girls look at me like I am an old man, and ask, senior discount? I say with great pride, "You Betcha'!

Under 18

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 or over

Prefer not to answer

"Bring on da lotto..."

There are currently seven states without a lottery. Those states are Wyoming, Utah, Mississippi,, Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii and believe it or not Nevada.

With the "Aloha State" of Hawaii on the verge of financial collapse and the newly elected governor finding himself for a lack of funds for everything, why not start a lottery!?

The first recession may be over, but a new one is upon us. A lottery would solve quite a few financial problems. Of course there are pro's and con's to everything, but why not let the people dream of being rich? Every week someone will have the chance of financial freedom, many others will never win, however giving the people something to dream about while helping the states financial crisis seems better than cutting funds to medicaid, medicare and taxing everything from soda pop to bubble gum.

I believe everyone would buy lotto tickets, vsitors and kamaaina alike.

It's time to bring on da lotto!

"Sure beats dying..."

Facebook, we all use it, in fact that's most likely the way you accessed this blog.

I am 55 years old and like you have friends from many different times of my life. There are friends from elementary school, junior & senior high school, junior college, college and graduate school.

I have lived in New York, Florida, California, Canada, Japan, Alaska and currently reside in the "Aloha state" of Hawai'i.

It's like my life flashing before my eyes everytime I visit Facebook.

They say (whoever they are?) when you die your life flashes before you in slow motion, for me everytime I access 'Facebook' my life flashes before me in slow motion, sure beats dying! :D)

"A Foreigner as Governor..."

(Trivia; Governor Abercrombie was born and raised in a suburb of Buffalo N.Y, something I should be proud of because I was also raised in a suburb of Buffalo , N.Y.)

Hawaii's newly elected Governor is off to a delusional rein as Governor.

First he created a special election costing the state 670,000, which could had been avoided by quitting his congressional responsibilities a few months later.

Neil is now calling for major cuts for the poor through medicare and medicaid cuts and wants to initiate a soda pop tax. On top of all this he has negotiated for our incarcerated out of state prisoners to come back to Hawaii and finish their terms of sentence, which costs almost two times as much money as housing them on the mainland. The reason Gov Lingle sent them to the mainland was to save the state money, now Neil is looking for ways to balance the budget when the simplest start would had been to keep the prisoners were there at. Why treat the prisoners so special when the general population is in duress?

The Governor was in Washington many years as a congressman representing Hawaii, however right now with less than a month as Governor he is  acting as a foreigner and breaking  his campaign promise of no new taxes.

"Sabbath everyday..!"

The working class people need a day off, a day of rest, a sabbath so to speak. People need a day to put themselves into a different consciousness besides that of their daily grind.

Being retired I face a dilemma, a good dilemma if there can be such a thing. I enjoy my leisure lifestyle. I exercise, pray, garden, watch movies, eat well, blog and have a constant four legged companion best friend.

I used to go to weekly sabbath (shabbat services) when I was a working class person. Back then I needed a sabbath, to get away from the grind and put me into a relaxed consciousness.

Sabbath is great for the masses but for myself and few others sabbath is everyday! Hallelujah, Praise the lord!

"Why not lead by example.."

Hawaii's newly elected governor Abercrombie is off to a rough start.

Do you think our governor was thinking about the state budget when he quit his job as a Hawaii congressman? Quitting cost the taxpayers 670,000 since a special election was required. If Neil had waited until August, no special election would had been required since his replacement could had been on the ballot for the November election with everything else.

Neil is now asking state workers to take a pay cut and has said he is going to cut Medicare and medicaid benefits to the poor. He spoke of a soda pop tax during his recent state of the state address. What's next taxing every food item separately depending on it's nutritional value?

While campaigning Neil made everything sound simple, he said he'd been in Washington many years and knows how to get federal monies, no worries about anything was his attitude.

Mr. Governor, as the head of state why not lead by example, be the example for all politicians that are already financially set for life and be the ultimate public servant and either take a major pay cut or work for free yourself. A state lottery wouldn't be a bad idea either.