When you picture special interest groups and government lobbyists, you probably imagine corporate fat cats hiring sleazy lawyers to get them favors and interests from legislators. (This also indicates that you’ve heard too many John Edwards speeches.) Putting aside whether the unfairness of this image (unfairness to the business owners, that is–I wouldn’t dream of [...]
Want to know how big and unusual an endeavor a research project like the 4hawaiiansonly site is? As of October 2010, the Federal Register listed 565 Native American tribes as Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. Federal funds flows to those tribes, just as it [...]
It has been a great couple of weeks for our friends at Hawaii Reporter, who even scored a Drudge mention and a Tonight Show one-liner out of their coverage of the Obama family vacation (see below). So how about a quick round-up of things that cost us money? John Carroll has an examination of the [...]
Confession: I do not listen to National Public Radio. Except in cabs. I have no idea why taxi drivers so universally listen to NPR, but there’s probably a very dull sociological paper in there somewhere. Admittedly, my NPR aversion is not even particularly interesting confession material. Outside of the beltway, I think people would be [...]
Imagine for a moment that you had a few thousand dollars in loose change and bills behind the cushions of your couch, in your old jacket pockets, a spare wallet or two, and spread out through a few pairs of pants. How big a jerk would you be in this situation if you then went [...]
So, who do you think pays the most in state taxes in the US? New Yorkers? That would have been my guess, simply based on how legendarily expensive it is. (Not to mention how bad a beating my wallet takes every time I go there. Ok, technically speaking, the nice restaurants shouldn’t count as a [...]
Today, I have a guest article for you from Elaine William of CERA (Citizens Equal Rights Alliance). Many of those who are acquainted with the problems of tribal law, federal policy regarding tribes and reservations, and the financial issues that abound there are watching Hawaii carefully to see how those same factors will come into [...]
When I grow up, I want to be an editorial writer for the Honolulu Advertiser. What a sweet gig that would be. I’d just have to get up in the morning, come to the office, change around a few sentences in a press release from some favored organization (or on a really strenuous day, check [...]
For the longest time, the small businesspeople of Hawaii have comforted each other with rueful laughs and their club’s secret motto: “Hawaii: Live in paradise, work in hell.” To put it mildly, Hawaii has not traditionally had the most business-friendly reputation. At least not for the non-Doles and non-Hiltons among us. And while some progress [...]
With tax day looming tomorrow, how about something that reminds us of how much we all loathe the IRS and the politics of taxation? (Not you–IRS employee who reads this blog and could conceivably audit me. I think you’re a fine, upstanding person, a great dancer, and have fabulous hair. I’m talking about a completely [...]
