Saturday, May 4, 2013

Musings: Political Farce

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry as I watched the tone deaf tragicomedy at the last County Council meeting. Because the whole time I was wondering, are people really so politically naive? Or is this a deliberate attempt to discredit and derail the anti-GMO/anti-pesticide movement?

I mean, who thought it would help the movement to have a guy who landed here six months ago — “God asked me to come to Kauai to do my greatest good and greatest service to others” — admonish the Council to “represent us the way we want to be represented or we will be sitting in your chairs”?

Because Hawaii already did the missionary thing, and it didn't go over well. Nor did the remark, which pissed off Councilman Ross Kagawa, who accurately characterized it as “like a threat” (albeit an empty one). Ross then advised the speakers that the “content of the testimony needs to show a little more class” as the aforementioned JOJ called out, “I love you” from the audience.

Which later clapped and used noisemakers to show support for a speaker as drums beat outside. None of which ever plays well in the Council chambers, especially when things are tense. And tense they most certainly were, with County Attorney Al Castillo twice raising the specter of possible Sunshine Law violations since GMOs/pesticides weren't on the agenda, and Councilmen Gary Hooser and Tim Bynum expending valuable, and limited, political capital to persuade their colleagues to let the group speak, and Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura frowning because the process was sketchy, and Chairman Jay Furfaro's blood pressure rising as he struggled to manage the reins. 

Of course, you don't have to go along with the Council's protocol — unless you want to be taken seriously and have your proposed ordinance considered. Which brings us to the Kauai Food Bill of Rights, a fairy tale about a "new island order." Though couched in appealing, familiar terms — "we the people, GMO-free, self-governance, sustainability" — it's a hodge-podge of philosophy and circular thinking that is not grounded in legal or political reality.

To whit: within five days of passage it would ban use of every synthetic pesticide, prohibit all farms that aren't 75% family owned, require stores and restaurants to buy 25% of their food from sustainable sources and allow citizens to bring claims against any perceived violators. The Council would be given the power to consider separating from the State of Hawaii or United State of America if those entities tried to block implementation of the bill. 

Or at least, that's according to the draft I obtained. Kauai Rising, the bill's promoter, hasn't been making it publicly available, which is fine, especially if it's undergoing revisions. But in that case, they really shouldn't be circulating a generic, feel-good petition that they tried to present to the Council as 1770 signatures in favor of a measure that it did not even link to. Which apparently was the whole purpose of Wednesday morning's drama.

It's all quite funny, actually, a true political farce. Unless it tragically discredits the broader anti-GMO/pesticide movement, or distracts people from the real work of getting a serious pesticide bill through the Council this year....

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can find a similar bill, it was copied word for word from other municipalities across the country, it never passed, anywhere...just type in food bill of rights...


Haha, copy and paste at it's finest!

Anonymous said...

That was confusing. Is the Council passing a no GMO bill?

Anonymous said...

The County of Kauai council is working hand in hand to help poison the citizens of Kauai.

If Kauai can get 1000 FDA complaints and Hawaii the University of Hawaii and other non biased Orgs to do soil sample, water, and air testing,

I believe we as citizens will have the right to SUR every GMo and Council member for their Atrocities against Humans, Lands, Ocean, and The Air.

Anonymous said...

I got news. That kook guy perfectly represents the intelligence and sense of anti GMO ers

Anonymous said...

The council is working to poison the people?

Anonymous said...

I think you are on to something Joan, could a group really be so dumb unless they are part of the method to discredit the real need ?
What were the people who signed signing if the Bill of Rights wasn't available with it ?

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that these were just good people buying into a dream. Good and naive people with bad leadership. Their leader has got his head in the clouds (pun intended)and cannot decide which is the bigger threat, gmo's, chemtrails, smart-meters, or the government conspiracy. But the majority just want to live their lives without being poisoned and have bought into his pie in the sky pitch of somehow requiring everyone on Kauai to live by his rules. Go figure.

Dawson said...

> I got news. That kook guy perfectly represents the intelligence and sense of anti GMO ers <

You wish. In fact, that kook guy only represents those who, like him, opportunistically attach themselves to every group that battles the incest of industry and government. They're as much about their own aggrandizement as the corporate creeps they claim to be against.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, the "God sent me a message and led me here; you'd best listen to my divine message or else..."

Can tell this guy is new to Kauai, and just doesn't get it. Someone explain to this guy, and quick. I hope God will give him a nudge.

Leads to story from TGI, about Hilario Denied Retrial:

"Intimidating a witness is to threaten or influence the testimony of a person, or induce them to absent themselves from testifying. The felony charge carries a possible five-year prison term, and Mendes said the charge was a back up in the event the jury did not convict Hilario of murder."

Forget about back up--stack these charges as due. It's over.

What did Hilario text his victim, "I can't wait to get you?"

Hilario has earned Life in Prison Without Parole; it's where Hilario belongs.

I don't want to pay onr more tax dime toward one more court appointed, private attorney for this killer.

Too much taxpayers' hard earned money has been wasted on Hilario. The end. Throw away the key.

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:18 pm, so what's your point? Apples or oranges? I don't get how a Hilario's Retrial Denied fits into the discussion. Seems distorted, almost delusional.

Anonymous said...

Is the council passing a no GMO bill or is it poisoning the people? They should make up their minds.

Anonymous said...

Those aren't the only choices 10:46. simplistic either-or thinking won't solve the problems this island taces.

Anonymous said...

I have a scientific background. I work in the food industry and I oppose GMOs foods. I even have a bumper sticker saying as much.

That being said the proposed food bill of rights is a joke. Joan, you got it right on this one. Some people (Kauai Rising) are definitely out of touch with current reality and I don't support the quasi fascist reality (the rights of nature) they are trying to create.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Joan this needed to be said. Thoy are blowing it for the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

Until these groups popped up no one knew they as well as our aina were being poisoned. If you who are posting are so smart and have such great backgrounds why is Monsato taking over our land and poisoning it? What are you going to do to stop it? Maybe the message wasnt delivered nicely but I'm sure the council got the message! Thank you to all who showed up. Its not our job to right bills its are job to let the ones who are know what we want them to write. Evict Land and people poisoners

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you.

Anonymous said...

been away from computer, just caught up on my reading and want to say , truly a great piece from Tues. 4-30. Really great writing. The pot is also really heating up in the TVR debacle. Fantastic work Joan !!

Anonymous said...

"The Council would be given the power to consider separating from the State of Hawaii or United State of America if those entities tried to block implementation of the bill."

The all powerful Council, ready to take on the USA!

Anonymous said...



To Anon who said
Until these groups popped up no one knew they as well as our aina were being poisoned
Are you so naiive you think the people of the westside needed these guys to tell them they are being poisoned? You are silly, people are quite aware, they just have the good sense to not act like idiots.

maybe you did not know, but most of the rest of us sure did. Kauai Rising are late , they are followers,and showed themselves to definately not be leaders with any credibility.
However successful or unsuccessful, many have worked on this issue for years.

Demanding the council follow kauai rising is laughable. Busting in the council meeting shows no class, and it's not like the message was so well delivered you all jus had to say it that minute.You guys alienated rather than educated councilmembers and the people who watch.
So yeah, Joan is pretty akamai in asking if that was the intention.

Anonymous said...

Im not familiar w/Kauai Rising and I'm sure the council does not need education on the poisoning,they just need to know that there are more people who are aware and upset about what they are doing w/these companies therefore they should be siding with the health of the people and the land, not the corporations, the more people who speak up, the merrier, however they do it...

Anonymous said...

It's really sad that, while there is considerable legit scientific evidence to support the anti-GMO position, so few of the people on that front have the inclination...or perhaps the ability...to actually read it, understand it, and then use it constructively to do reasonable battle with the chem companies, those who take their money, and those skeptics who see anyone who opposes any given technology (no matter how invalid or harmful) as "kooks." The noisemakers and drumming made them all look like idiots, I'm afraid. They're not...but they're also not doing much to alleviate that impression.

Anonymous said...

keep banging drums till those who have the power to do something about it, do it! We are pass the debate, it is now time for action. Write those bills, pass those laws, evict the land and people poisoners....