Musings: Wow. Just Wow

Sometimes, when confronted with something shocking, or startling, all you can say is wow. Just wow.

Like this bit of misogynist hate spouted on Facebook by a Mauna Kea “defender” in response to a petition in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) posted online by Mailani Neal, a bright young student-athlete attending Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea on the Big Island:

Gee, three people actually “like” this? Oh, and great way to build support for your cause, guy. Kinda reminds me of the “dialogue” that characterized the anti-GMO debate. Have any of the TMT opponents publicly denounced it?

Update: A reader shared this denouncement of sorts, or at least, a definite distancing, posted on Facebook.

Like this bit of ignorance, spouted by defeated Kauai mayoral candidate, cage fighter, Mauna Kea-front-liner, anti-GMO activist and self-proclaimed “aloha aina warrior” Dustin Barca:

GMO albezzia? Cross-pollination? With what? Uh, yeah, sure, Dustin. Whatever you say….. And why does all of his rhetoric include a veiled threat?

Like this “CodeFore” blog post on the 1993 rape-murder of 4-year old Lacy Woolsey Ruff that claims “a cover up” by Kauai police and prosecutors has kept the real murderer out of jail, while his brother, who admitted to the rape, is serving a lengthy sentence. 

I had to follow up with Kauai Prosecutor Justin Kollar, who replied:

We have been in touch with the author and many of the individuals mentioned. We followed up on this as we would in any case and will continue to do so.  We appreciate their vigilance and their intent to ensure that justice prevails; we share that intent.

Like the flaming comment thread on Friday's post about the homestay/B&B ordinance. This is obviously a very touchy subject. But tell me, how can it be anti-haole and racist to support a crackdown on B&B/homestays, if they're supposedly being operated by locals trying to hang onto their homes? 

Mmmm, you can't have it both ways, kiddos.

Like the request — deferred at the last Council's meeting until the full panel is present — to expend up to $322,194 paying the final bills incurred defending the county and two others in the Tim Bynum vs. Kauai County et.al., civil suit. The breakdown is $135,525 for the county, $130,189 for former Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri and $56,480 on planning supervisor Shielah Miyake.

This is in addition to the $750,000 inlegal fees already spent, which means the county blew more than $1 million to settle a suit for just $290,000.  WTF? This is what happens when the damage done by a vindictive prosecutor is exacerbated by certain Council members who dragged out a settlement. Bad move, boys — and you know who you are. Your stubbornness, misplaced loyalty and/or sheer stupidity cost the taxpayers a pile of dough. 

Or like this bit of social justice in Finland, where traffic and other fines are assessed on a sliding scale based on the latest income of the offender. Which is how a guy who made $7.2 million ended up with a $60,000 fine for speeding.

Compare that to the U.S., where everyone gets assessed the same amount, and poor people who can't possibly pay their fines endure years-long court ordeals, mounting costs and repeated imprisonments.

“...with liberty and justice for all?”