Musings: People Problem

The Kauai County Council is again engaged in time-wasting— namely, its plan to vet the idea of a county manager position.

Long the cherished dream of Ken Taylor, Glenn Mickens and Walter Lewis, the manager concept gained traction when they approached Councilman Mason Chock, who just can't say no. So now an idea previously considered and rejected by the charter commission after it conducted road shows to gauge public interest — there was none — is the focus of a fullblown Council subcommittee.

To its advocates, the manager position is code for this belief: The county needs a white guy from the mainland to sort things out.

And of course the Council likes the idea, because they'd get to hire the manager, giving them power the mayor now holds.

For those who think it's a good idea to let the Council choose someone to run the county, consider this: The Council hired Auditor Ernie Pasion, who for years produced nothing of value on a $114,848 annual salary, allowed himself to be used for political retaliation and then sued the county — collecting $300,000 — when they tried to discipline and then fire him.

I've done political reporting in cities with the manager system, and found they were just as corrupt and dysfunctional as the one on Kauai. Only today I noticed an example of how such a system can fail, in an article about a rookie cop who reported two Oklahoma police officers were beating and shooting stray dogs:

The chief has said that when the allegations were made, both officers were immediately pulled from duty and put on administrative leave. However, Konawa City Manager Tony Lowery has decided to allow them to work while they are being investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Folks need to face the facts: The problem isn't the system, but the people in it. And that includes misinformed, woefully ignorant voters.

Like the people who are crying and screaming and wailing because the court struck down Maui's  illegal GMO moratorium. Lacking an education in basic civics, and its three branches of government, they see the ruling as somehow depriving them of their vote and constitutional rights.

So what do they do? They stand out in front of the place they claim is delivering daily doses of toxins, wearing silly masks that would do nothing to hinder the poisons they fear. Because, of course, it's all for show.

Maui Councilwoman Elle Cochran

After reading comments left on Facebook and Civil Beat, it seems none of the moratorium supporters have actually read Judge Susan Oki Mollway's order, which carefully lays out the legal rationale for her decision. Instead, they claim she doesn't know the law, or must be corrupt, in the pay of the chem companies.

Meanwhile, they happily swallow the dogma peddled by paid anti-GMO lobbyists like Babes Against Biotech, which immediately posted an insulting meme of the judge sitting on a papaya and this claptrap:

Judge Susan Oki Mollway suspends democratic initative [sic] voting rights, rules in favor of #‎Monsanto & #‎Dow! Refuses to enforce citizen GMO moratorium vote and compel safety testing!

The Babes and their sheep just can't, or won't, face reality: The language of their law was fatally flawed in numerous areas, and they had a crappy lawyer who didn't actually provide any facts to refute claims made by the opposing parties. Which is why, in toddler temper tantrum fashion, they resort to inane claims like this:

Just because they didn't say we won doesn't mean we haven't.

Uh, OK.....

Sadly, people who should know better, like Maui Councilwoman Elle Cochran and Kauai Councilman Gary Hooser and his son, Dylan, who ran a failed campaign for a state House seat, perpetuate this ignorance of civics. Gary repeatedly bashes seed companies that “refuse to follow our democratically passed laws” — all of which have been overturned by the courts, and thus are no longer actual laws that need to be obeyed.

And Dylan parrots Papa:

Wow. The people on Maui voted to pass their moratorium and a judge overturned it. Pretty lame when the democratic process doesn't mean shit anymore. Many people worked countless hours to get their voices heard amongst the millions of dollars the chemical companies spent just to have it disregarded.

So tell us, Dylan, if a majority of voters on Kauai passed a law banning sunrise shell collectors and wearers of tacky aloha shirts from the island, should it stand, as the will of the people? Or should you and Daddy be allowed to challenge its legality in court?

The BAB-sponsored Mollway bash-fest elicited a feeding frenzy of stupidity and ugliness, as befits the group:

Zach Price – There's a word for women like her
 







Babes Against Biotech – "Judge?" Hahha. "GMO Lover?" Just kidding don't answer that.








Dallin Freestone – Traitorous b#%^# is a fitting title.








Michelle Schumacher -- I hope she gets the first of what ills are coming








Brenton Shaffer – Is "Hell-bound" too harsh?

Scott Baykok Reinke – Remove her from her post....arrest her for reckless endangerment and exile her from the islands








Sharon Lampley – Crimes against humanity. Class Action Law Suite to have her put in prison - Judge Susan Oki Mollway








Michelle Schumacher – Corporate tool.








Norman Bourque – Appeal her ruling....she should be disbarred...huge conflict of interest.


Sheila Storms – The meek shall inherit the Earth. Karma is coming for you Lady.


Jenny McGrath – Stupid. Cow.

So if you rile up people who don't understand, accept or believe in the rule of law, what's next? Mob action? Violence? Not surprisingly, other posts received comments like these:

Peter King – Is Now when the People take the law in their own hands and shut down Monsanto?!?!?!

Kawika Cockett – Burn the fields

Jenna Rosberg – I say we burn all their testing crops hehehe

This is the Hooser-Margaret Wille-Elle Cochran-Russell Ruderman-Josh Green-Center for Food Safety-Earthjustice constituency, folks. 

This is the Hawaii anti-GMO movement, unmasked.

Take a good long look at the true toxins in the Islands.