Charter School Opponents Flunk Reason By State Representative Colleen Meyer It was disappointing to read in the Advertiser that there is a "growing concern from board (BOE) members and legislators who say there are too many unanswered questions about how to pay for the new (charter) schools." In the Republican Caucus, our growing concern is that opponents of charter schools are looking for excuses not to do anything for much needed opportunity for student choice. Nationally, 2,073 charter schools were in operation in September serving 518,609 students. Why Hawaii should have so much trouble getting a charter school program underway is a measure of some puzzlement. The Hawaii DOE has received $5.5 million in federal grants during the past two fiscal years, expressly to get the charter school movement on track. Over $90,000,000 in new grants are available for next fiscal year. In his education program, President George W. Bush has said that funding will be provided to assist charter schools with start-up costs, facilities and other needs. The mood should be for optimism instead of pessimism. Other states have found numerous ways to help get charter schools started. They have provided alternative sources of cash, other than per pupil spending. In some states, legislatures have defined charter schools so they can take advantage of financing through the sale of tax-exempt bonds that are backed by the faith and credit of the state. In other states, lawmakers have provided tax breaks for those who lease facilities to charter schools resulting in lower lease payments. Hawaii has the 4th weakest charter school law in the nation. We could amend our law to improve the viability of charter schools as an investment opportunity and find ways to encourage organizations to lend support. In some jurisdictions, private corporations help support charter schools that train the student in job skills the company needs. In Hawaii we are trying to encourage hi-tech industry. Some organization, foundation or corporation could help subsidize a charter high school that is almost totally developed to hi-tech training. Several jurisdictions that have already used their imagination include: * Louisiana-Charter schools may apply for interest free loans up tp $100,000 that are payable over three years. * New Jersey-The Prudential Foundation's Charter School Lending Program, assists thirteen charter schools by covering their start up and early operating costs. * Texas-The Financial Foundation for Texas Charter Schools was established to provide capital funds for the early stages of charters and has raised $3.5 million from the banking and business community. * Massachusetts-Grants are available to charter school for planning, developing and leasing and/or construction facilities. * Florida-Capital and facility expenses are already incorporated in their charter law. It seems that if there is a will, there is a way. If those who are responsible for our charter school programs are truly supportive they will find a way to help charter schools find start-up money and begin operating. Of course, the bottom line is: Do we have the will? What separates real charter schools from imitation ones is whether the school has complete freedom from state governing spending, curriculum, hiring, firing and are completely open to students by choice. In this regard, Hawaii already flunks the basic test fo what a charter school could and should be.
 Patience: It's Impact on Our Lives As the year 2001 approached, I was struck by how many people's New Year's resolution lists included "being more patient." As I contemplated writing about such a simple word as patience, I wondered how I could possibly convey in a relatively short article, the profoundly serious impact that patience and it's counterpart, impatience, have on our lives. The words that follow address this issue. Patience Defined. Includes "calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay" (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 3rd Ed., 1992, Electronic Version) (dictionary). The impact of patience, or lack thereof, is typically underestimated. The lack of patience can destroy relationships, ruin business deals, and cause parent-child interactions to become bitter and even abusive. Teamwork, essential to business success and family life, is impossible without patience. Impatience Defined. Includes being "unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless, unable to endure irritation or opposition; intolerant..." (dictionary). Impatience is not generally recognized as destructive - "You're so impatient," or, "you have the patience of Job" is often said lightly, without acknowledging that impatience can trigger destructive behavior, from road rage to abuse. If a person is ill-tempered and reacts explosively, this is more likely to be attributed to anger or jealousy than to impatience. Causes. Impatience has its origins in fear - fear of failure, or fear of being wrong, for example. Unreasonable expectations can trigger impatience. Jill, an accountant, snaps at Dee, her secretary, who is typing a letter. "Aren't you finished yet? You're supposed to be efficient!" Jill blames Dee because the letter is not ready when she expects it, yet she assigned it late. Jill's impatience almost destroyed the relationship and was caused by her fear of failing to meet a deadline. Dee, meanwhile, understood Jill's need to vent, and demonstrated patience by continuing to type and finishing the letter on time. Solutions. Introspection is necessary to understand what triggers impatience. This can include asking: "What do I fear? Is it failure, disapproval or perhaps ignorance?" Insight gained from introspection invariably stimulates positive change. When Pat's 2-year-old son wouldn't stop crying as she hurriedly prepared dinner for guests she was expecting, her impatience triggered a violent reaction. "I felt so frustrated and guilty because I didn't know how to get him to cooperate," she recalls. "So I picked him up and shook him vigorously, trying to quiet him." Anger, fueled by impatience, prompted Pat's destructive behavior. "After seriously evaluating my behavior," reflects Pat, "the insight I gained was that my impatience stemmed from a fear of failure and ignorance, causing me to endanger my son." Pat has since learned to effectively manage her son's crying. Forgiveness. Acquiring insight can be challenging because many people have difficulty getting beyond the guilt they feel about their outbursts. Self-forgiveness is necessary, so that the fear that triggers impatience can be identified, and change can occur.
For more information call Dr. Gelb's office at 943-2994. Her book, "Welcome Home: A Book About Overcoming Addictions," is available at www.amazon.com.
Ticky Tacky Leaders and Morals
By Richard O. Rowland The Tenth Commandment decrees that it is a sin to covet the possessions of others. In effect, God says if you want a cow, don't try to figure out a way to take one from your neighbor, just go earn some money to buy your own. Or, be nice to your rich uncle and he might give you one. So, wishing you had your neighbor's assets is the road to hell. What about someone who promotes envy of another's possessions and promises to engineer a way to take those possessions and give them to you? Should he go to hell along with you? Sure he should; he becomes the heavy in that sinful scenario. Which leads me to a puzzle. The person I have described above as the heavy sinner outlines the key activities of almost every career politician. They specialize in the promotion of envy toward the "rich" because such people have more money than you do. They design laws to decrease wealth of the rich to the benefit of the "poor" (or, more recently, the "middle class"). And we have been going along with that. We have accepted the description "progressive" to describe such immoral activities. Worse yet, most of our spiritual leaders, including those who can quote the bible, word for word, can't see the forest for the trees. They endorse our "progressive" representatives a they trash the Tenth Commandment. The press? Sorry, here in Hawaii they are so busy making sure they have access to the "progressive" leaders that they are worse than useless. Our schools? Except for some private schools and enterprising home schooling parents, our schools are proud instruments of the immoral purposes described above. They are separated from religion and its moral percepts by a "wall" constructed in the fertile minds of "progressives." (Thomas Jefferson and George Washington would be appalled.) The result? The government has gotten richer than anyone or any group. There you have it. Ben Cayetano says he is compassionate and caring. He is, instead, a sinner who should be shunned pending redemption. Linda Lingle? She lacks power. If she ever gets it, I predict she will shatter the Tenth Commandment and propose more ticky-tacky actions to make everyone the same and the government more rich and powerful. Do I have a solution? You bet. Go to church, talk to your minister. If he won't listen, change churches. Competition bolsters change. Moral leadership is the solution and that must come from the guardians of our morals and our values, our churches/temples/synagogues. As always, you and I are the key. One at a time, we think, act and do. Universal self-government results in overall good, moral government supported by thousands of voluntary, cooperative institutions of all kinds and structures, including, of course, religious ones. Congratulations. You have met the solution and he is you!
Evaluating Proposed Tax Changes By Marie Okamura, State Tax Director Every legislative session brings a flood of tax proposals that could affect you. The problem is getting beyond the "buzz" words and rhetoric, and judging the merits of each proposal. One independent resource to help you is the 1995-1997 Tax Review Commission Final Report. A Tax Review Commission is convened every 5 years to conduct a systematic review of our tax system and make recommendations. The most recent Commission established 6 evaluation criteria that are discussed below in order of importance to the Commission. Equity - A tax system is equitable if taxpayers in similar circumstances are taxed alike and if taxpayers in dissimilar circumstances are taxed based on their ability to pay. A tax with lower tax rates for taxpayers with lower incomes and higher rates for taxpayers with higher incomes, such as the Hawaii income tax, is generally equitable. On the other hand, a tax that imposes the same rate on all taxpayers regardless of circumstances or income, such as the general excise tax (GET), is generally inequitable. Lowering the rate of an inequitable tax doesn't make it more equitable since all taxpayers are still taxed at the same rate regardless of circumstances. However, the inequity in one tax can be offset by another tax that provides benefits to the disadvantaged taxpayers. For example, the low-income refundable income tax credit mitigates some of the inequity of the GET. Efficiency - An efficient system does not cause taxpayers to significantly alter their economic behavior or structure their activities in order to avoid a tax or gain a tax advantage. All taxpayers compete on a "level playing field" with respect to tax advantages and disadvantages. This Commission also determined that it is appropriate for Hawaii to "export" a reasonable share of the tax burden to tourists and others who are not subject to taxation but who nonetheless use public services and facilities. The GET, for example, is exported when businesses pass on their GET liability to customers otherwise not subject to Hawaii taxation. Simplicity - A tax system should be easy to understand and to comply with. What will the change accomplish? What new record keeping requirements will be required, and will any benefit be worth the extra work and expense? Stability and Predictability - The tax system should be stable and not require major changes whenever economic conditions change so taxpayers can plan for the future. Adequacy and Accountability - The tax system should not generate any more revenue than is necessary, and there should be some link between the authority to raise revenue and to spend revenue. Competitiveness - The tax system as a whole should "compare favorably" with those in other states so as to not deter people from living and conducting business in Hawaii. Of course, one criterion may be at odds with another, but that's what makes tax legislation so difficult. The 1995-1997 Tax Review Commission Final Report is available on the Internet at: www.state.hi.us/tax/pubs/trc_rpt.html.
Royal Kunia Zoning Change by Andrew Fox I am a small business owner, member of NFIB, SBH, and the APCBA. However, today I am writing as an individual. I am writing as feedback to recent comments by community groups, council members, and individuals on the above referenced bill. I feel the rezoning process could address the many concerns raised by area residents. Any efforts by the city to support one group - the existing businesses, over another group ã the developers of this property, would have a chilling and detrimental effect in the business community. It should not be the role of any government, be it city or state, to determine who will succeed or not succeed in business. That is the role of the marketplace. The owners/developers feel they have done their homework and are willing to risk their substantial monies on the projects success. We desperately need private sector investment for our economy to move forward. Ultimately it gets down to satisfying a need. If one group or area is not satisfying their customers, then another should have the right to do so, period! If customers flock to this proposed center over another, they've made the choice, not government. Customer satisfaction should drive business, not government meddling! Good businesses thrive in a competitive environment. Suppose the complex were not built. Would that draw customers to a neighboring existing area? I say not likely. Affected areas need to address the needs and wants of their customers. While I understand the existing businesses' concern, they too have the opportunity to effect change in their area. The private sector should not look to government to solve competitive issues. We've had too much of that in Hawaii already. Let the rezoning go through. From testimony on Council Bill 98 CD-1, 2000
Another View on Domestic Violence I was treated to a copy of your newsletter by a friend who saw my name mentioned in an article in your February issue, written by Richard O. Rowland. I simply could not let pass the opportunity to further educate our community by responding to his mis-characterization and inaccurate information. It is abundantly clear that Mr. Rowland knows very little about domestic violence, the way our system works or The Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline. My comments to the Advertiser reporter and every other reporter I spoke to following the terrible death of Cherry Ann Domingo, remain sincere and describe our experiences working with thousands of victims of domestic violence every year. Temporary restraining orders are granted by the Family Court daily here in Oahu and Family Courts across the State. Protection orders are used by victims across the country because they serve as a tool for the victim, the community and the civil justice system to inform the perpetrators that domestic violence is a behavior that is not tolerated, is taken seriously and will result in consequences should they be violated. It is an enormous step for any victim-every victim-to take. Sharing the intimate details of the violence in her love relationship, risking the escalation of violence, and facing the uncertainty of life without her partner. These may not seem like big things to Mr. Rowland, but I assure you they are gigantic to victims who have been led to believe that they deserve the abuse they suffered, and would face retaliation if they sought help. The vast majority of restraining orders are effective in protecting victims, delivering that message to abusers and engaging the criminal justice system which is poised to intervene, when necessary. The only restraining orders we hear about are those where the violence escalates to homicide. That is, thankfully, a very small number. It is important to add that Cherry Ann Domingo's former boyfriend, had not been served with the restraining order-so we truly don't know if the court order would have conveyed a message to the murderer. It is hard to imagine that Mr. Rowland is suggesting that guns should be more widely available. As far as we can tell, guns kill people. Glorifying the use of guns won't solve the community's problems with violence. Mr. Rowland must be familiar with the statistics, more people are killed with their own guns than by attackers. Please work with us in providing practical and useful solutions to abuse in families. Rhetoric and criticism won't help. Let's put our guns away, work together to bring peace to our island families, and provide children with hope that violence can end in their lifetime.
Very Truly, and In Peace,
  
Charter School Opponents | Patience Top | SBH Home Page | Hawaii's H4
Copyright 2001, Small Business Hawaii. All rights reserved.
|