contact info
e-mail: vantanabe@yahoo.com
PMB #290
4725 Bouganville Dr.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96818

changing government

"Changing Government"

Many people get the wrong idea when they hear that I want to change how government works. What I am saying is the people of Hawaii should participate in the process of deciding what bills will or will not become laws in our state. Currently we elect our politicians to represent us in the decisions that will ultimately effect all of our lives. But there have been many instances in the past where the decisions made at the square building do not reflect the opinion or wishes of the public. Somehow our politicians only have ears for special interest groups and have lost touch with their constituents. For example, having lived in Hawaii all my life I grew up with certain traditions such as popping fireworks on new years eve. Our politicians often talk about banning the sale of fireworks even though 80% of the people would like to see this tradition continue in Hawaii. Another issue that always seems to make it to the legislative floor is same-sex marriage despite a 85% disapproval rate. Our legislators think that by legalizing same-sex marriage this will help our economy by attracting all of the gay and lesbian couples here to get married and have their honeymoons here. But what if this scares away all the straight couples from coming here or even reduces the number of tourist that visits Hawaii. Since we're on the subject of same-sex marriage I believe that the word "marriage" should be reserved for the union between a man and a woman. We should use another term to refer to same-sex couples "common union" or "life partners". The real issue here is recognition, not by society because society already recognizes this alternative lifestyle and by and large excepts it. But to be recognized by the insurance industries so that they may cover their partner under their insurance plan since most insurers will only cover ones spouse. It is also my understanding that even the hospitals will not allow a gay person to visit a partner during their last moments of life because this also is restricted to ones spouse and immediate family only. There must be legislation to correct these wrongs. As for the insurance companies, this cannot be resolved at the state level, but must be addressed at the national level or even the world level since it involves the whole world! Getting back to "changing government", I truly believe that as many as 75% of the people in Hawaii would like to see Hawaii legalize a state lottery and more than 85% would like to see the "Ohana Lottery". But yet no politician will even talk about this issue. How I would address this and all major issues in Hawaii is to let the people decide for themselves how they want to live their lives. This will be accomplished by taking a statewide poll to decide if a bill is to become a law or not. The bill will only pass if it obtains at least 67% or more of the votes. This is to guarantee a better that 2 to 1 margin of victory. We live in a democratic society where the majority rules but it seems as though the majority is being ignored.

Aloha and Mahalo

Van K. Tanabe