Posted on 12/22/2009 2:42:01 PM PST by Lorianne
Public schools in Hawaii are closed most Fridays, rats scurry across bananas in an uninspected market, and there may not be enough money to run a Congressional election.
About the only parts of the state untouched by the struggling economy are its sparkling beaches and world-class surfing.
Hawaii’s money troubles are creating a society more befitting a tropical backwater than a state celebrating its 50th anniversary and preparing to welcome President Obama home for Christmas this week.
“There is community energy and outrage building up,” said James Koshiba, a co-founder of the activist organization and Web site Kanu Hawaii, speaking about the cuts to education. “The people have to play a bigger role. Folks won’t forget how this unfolds, come election time.”
Hawaii now has the shortest school year in the nation after the state and the teachers’ union agreed to shutter schools for 17 days a year, leaving 171,000 students without class on most Fridays. Negotiations to reopen them collapsed last week.
Food establishments often go uninspected, a fact highlighted by an Internet video showing rats roaming freely across produce in a Honolulu Chinatown market. The state has just nine health inspectors on Oahu to handle nearly 6,000 markets and restaurants.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
OK....there is an important question here that must be answered. Are they going to get rid of the grass skirts and coconut shells?
Note to self: Don’t plan to take any vacations in Hawaii.
I used to live in Hawaii. It was 100% Liberal. They are feeling the effects of Socialism that have been delayed on the mainland.
Hawaii has universal health care. This is a preview of what’s in store for the rest of the country
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534750,00.html
More unionism and good-ol-boy politickin’ than pure socialism. The teachers’ union here is full of shibai, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
bump
No worries; Obama will arrive for his Christmas visit bearing a gift - a big fat handout of stimulus package money. Then, all will be well - for awhile...
New York is over run with Rats and nobody gives a damn
The NY Times is a veritable rats nest
OK...what IS “shibai?”
Hawaii’s left wing Senators need to learn from Ben Nelson and company about how to get pieces of silver thrown their way.
Mandated Health Plans . Business unfriendly. I love the Kona Coast but would not want to try to run a small Biz there. They are well intentioned but dysfunctional. Taxes are way too high. Most employers have their operations moved to Vegas and you can not find a full time job because of mandated bennies.
Rats will be allowed to run across food before liberal minded projects are cut. Who didn’t know that.
It goes with closing libraries, cutting fire services, and police officers. That’s always the way the left makes it’s point. They refuse to do what they must, and make the things we truly need suffer the most pain.
Akaka is a senile clueless old man. I think he needs a scooter. I saw him at a rally in Molokai. He actually did get up and sing a Hawaiian song. They are not so bad. Just clueless.
Are you kidding me? Inouye is the porkmaster in the Senate. He was next after Stevens and since Stevens is gone I guess that makes Inouye numero uno.
The third world - coming soon to your state.
... and the state is run by a leftist Democrat party machine. Therefore the problem must be... someone else.
Anyone wishing to buy a timeshare for a 5 star resort in Princeville on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii.... PM me.
Perhaps they should raise taxes. </S>
Don’t worry, I am sure AFSCME, SEIU, and CSEA are still getting double-time for overtime though....
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