Atlas Shrugging in Hawaii

HawaiiReporter.com ^ | 14 February 2002 | Stuart Hayashi

[The_Expatriate]

Atlas Shrugging in Hawaii
By Stuart K. Hayashi

The economy is in shambles. Productive entrepreneurs, fearing that they will only be penalized for commencing business, have either cut back on their operations or have outright closed them down. And while the government repeatedly attempts to soothe the public by spreading the message that its worries of an economic crisis are exaggerated and that prospects are already improving, those in the business community see through all of this, knowing that the situation never significantly improved.

Worse still, those who dare to loudly point out that it is the government’s strangling red tape that hampers any improvement in the economy will find themselves the victim of reprisals from the very state that claims to be their protector.

The paragraphs above describe two things -- the setting of Ayn Rand’s classic 1957 novel "Atlas Shrugged," and the state of Hawaii’s economy for many years, long before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

I hope that no one will resort to blaming only the terrorist attacks in New York for Hawaii’s current economic plight, since it is very obvious that our state was already in a desperate situation from mid-nineties hence.

And while all of the United States experiences financial uncertainty at the moment, it is likely that the states of the mainland will eventually find recovery while Hawaii will not. This is because, even though the government’s regulatory power is increasing throughout the whole country, Hawaii’s government is more hostile to commercial development than that of any other U.S. state, with its heap of regulations, taxes and wealth-redistribution schemes.

Among all 50 states, Money magazine rated Hawaii as "the number-one tax hell." Furthermore, local small businesses that fail to make considerable campaign contributions to the dominating Democratic Party will find themselves under the conspicuous subject of HIOSH inspections and of tax audits, while those that do tow the usual party line are not subjected to the same scrutiny.

Hawaii, like the America of the future as portrayed in "Atlas Shrugged," has retrogressed into an atrocious combination of socialism and fascism. No wonder that Hawaii, like the world of "Atlas Shrugged," experiences a “brain drain” in the workforce. In the novel, geniuses go on strike against the world, retiring and disappearing. In real life, many bright youths have gone on strike against Hawaii’s system in their own way -- by migrating to other states where they find greater opportunity.

The solutions to Hawaii’s problem can actually be found in the philosophy of Atlas Shrugged's protagonist, John Galt. Near the end of the book, as the world descends into chaos and poverty, he states that America can only save itself by embracing a philosophy of reason and its logical consequence, economic freedom.

In stressing the importance of reason, Galt says that people must learn of the inextricable link between cause and effect. It’s only logical, for example, that, if the government restricts businessmen in producing goods and services and prevents them from profiting for it, then businessmen will eventually quit or not work as hard. If it’s not halted, this process will create a cycle that makes society poorer over time.

Such a lack of freedom is what caused the privation of the former Soviet Union, of the Third World (including Afghanistan and Iran), and, on a lesser (but still significant) scale, Hawaii. In asking its people to sacrifice their property rights for the "public good," the state has sacrificed the material prosperity of everyone.

When any local politician wonders aloud on how Hawaii came to its current condition, any concerned businessperson should reply to him as John Galt did: “We [entrepreneurs] required that you leave us free to function -- free to think and work as we choose ... -- free to earn our own profits and make our own fortunes ... Such was the price we asked, which you chose to reject as too high.”

To save our state, Hawaii’s government must reverse its course -- cut back on taxation and spending, privatize its many social services, and allow business to commence freely, stepping in only to protect life, liberty, and property. As Atlas Shrugged's hero pointed out decades ago, that is the only way our islands can secure their long-term survival.

[The_Expatriate]

Coming to a state near you soon...

[mgc1122]

Socialism has always failed and always will. There are no free rides.

[junta]

bttt

[bescobar]

I can't wait for the economy in Hawaii crashes...then I can move there and take advantage of their reforms...pure capitalism will spring from the utter collapse of socialism...You gotta love the dimwitted liberals for their miscalculations that make life so easy.

[JohnGalt]

"Socialism has always failed"

Perhaps their goal was not 'success.' For the looter-ruling class, they would argue it's working just fine.

[TADSLOS]

Hell in paradise.

[First_Salute]

Nice catch.

[mgc1122]

For the looter-ruling class, they would argue it's working just fine.

Good point, and well taken. Eventually, even the bottom feeders must fend for themselves or die.

[DoctorMichael]

{Whispering} Hey Teddy, Taxachusetts is going to lose it's numero-uno Liberal status to Hawaii. Better get those boys back in the Statehouse to start passing some laws tout suite.

[goodnesswins]

Washington (the State) will soon follow in Hawaii's footsteps if the Democrats (who run everything) have their way.....first it's Boeing, then I'll bet Microsoft - I WISH MSFT would THREATEN just to get the socialists attention....then maybe we could avoid the obvious.

[hopespringseternal]

Good point, and well taken. Eventually, even the bottom feeders must fend for themselves or die.

When a parasite kills its host, it just goes looking for another one.

[RobRoy]

We gave a copy of Atlas Shrugged to my son, who was a bike messenger in Seattle. He read it ang then gave it to one of his buddies. His buddy is about 1/3 through it and he commented that so far, any liberalism that was left in him has been completely expunged by this book.

Ya gotta love it 8^>

[JohnGalt]

Ahh...you have discovered the politics of the New Democrats... ;)

[Spiff]

Socialism has always failed and always will. There are no free rides.

Be sure that your repeat this phrase to each and every Republican office-holder or candidate who will do nothing to get rid of socialist programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Even a little bit of socialism is too much - once you cross that line it is a slippery slope that is nearly impossible to crawl back up. It doesn't matter whether you've got a D or an R after your name, or an elephant or an ass on your lapel, if you support socialist programs you are a socialist - political practicality be damned.

[PGalt]

Good post...book it Dano!

[boris]

When the feds created Amtrak, I knew we were living in Atlas Shrugged--the "reality" edition.

--Boris

[RobRoy]

Robroys woman and I were just talking about that this morning. Our mid-term goal is to get outa here. We're thinking Nevada or Arizona. If the BIG ONE really comes here, it will destroy our states economy anyway. One can only hope.

If only King county would slip quietly in the night into the puget sound, Washington would be one of the most conservative/free states.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hawaii has long led the nation in this regard. You just don't hear about it as much as Mass and Minnesota.

[narby]

Hawaii is such an appealing place, with a huge built-in attraction for tourists, that it can stand much more looting than a state like, say, Arizona.

Psssst - don't tell anyone - but the weather's been better here in AZ than Hawaii for the last few months. The land is cheaper. And not nearly so many looters.

[narby]

Come on down to AZ. Everyone around here came from somewhere else, and now that they're here they hate anyone ELSE coming here. Hipocrites.

But just don't mind them, come on down. If you're retired, there's wonderful weather down around Tombstone (no joke - its about 4000 feet elevation, grasslands and mountians - 90 degrees and occasional rain showers in summer, 65 in winter with sunshine)

[Noumenon]

When the feds created Amtrak, I knew we were living in Atlas Shrugged--the "reality" edition.

Given the direction and he underlying philosophical premises of the ruling political duopoly, we're on the road to hell - not to serfdom. Serfs had it better - they usually got to keep at least half of what they produced...

[lelio]

When any local politician wonders aloud on how Hawaii came to its current condition
I think this is more of a problem of just relying on one industry, tourism, to support your state. Course the local pols probably didn't make it easy to keep the sugar cane factories around.

[ValerieUSA]

A friend of mine lived in Hawaii for 3 months and returned to Washington State with stories about how LAZY the Hawaiians are. If they hear the surf's up, they walk off the job to go out and play. They won't get fired because there are no more industrious workers for replacements.

[coloradan]

Hawaii is on the list of the Free State Project, the purpose of which is to have freedom-aware people all move to one state, in order to significantly sway elections, like the Bagwan Rajeesh Salamiwamirami did to Antelope, OR some years ago. Their criteria include a small voting population, among other things.

[mgc1122]

Even a little bit of socialism is too much - once you cross that line it is a slippery slope that is nearly impossible to crawl back up. It doesn't matter whether you've got a D or an R after your name, or an elephant or an ass on your lapel, if you support socialist programs you are a socialist - political practicality be damned.

I couldn't agree more. Well said.

[mouse_35]

What baffles me is their impost tax. They tax all goods coming into HI from another state. I didn't think that was constitutional...

[Docbarleypop]

it took me 6 months to plod through atlas shrugged, i was only 13, but it changed my outlook forever. it made me decide to join the navy and defend my country against what could happen if socialism completely takes over.

[Teacher317]

Great idea, but the looters will just come by and crush whatever state that might try to survive their stupidity.

Never underestimeate the power of crowds of stupid people.

[NeoCaveman]

Great article.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

it took me 6 months to plod through atlas shrugged, i was only 13

Heck, I'm 45 and it took me 6 months to slog through AS. Well worth it, though...

[7thson]

I was stationed in Hawaii for a couple years - 91-93 - while serving onboard the USS Chosin - Pearl Harbor was the homeport. I detested the place. It was nice to be there - for about two weeks. Then, after you have done the tourist bit, where else was there to go? What I did not like about the place? One - the Japanese and the locals. Very anti-American and mainland. Two - whenever visited my wife back in MD., on the return flight to HI, the airline would give you a form so that you could state you were not bringing anything dangerous to the island back with you. The first couple of times it was voluntary but the last time it was mandatory. I would refuse to fill it out. My reasoning was when I travelled from MD to VA, I was not required to stop at the border and fill out a customs form. HI, I stated, was a state and I would refuse to fill out their cusotms form. Also, one of the rudest airports I have ever been through.

One item of interest. I was not aware of HI's politics at the time but I will always remember seeing an advertisement for guns. It showed a little bitty Hawaiian woman holding in her dainty little hands the biggest revolver I ever saw. She had a slight smile on her face and earmuffs on. I suppose it was an ad for a gun range. I thought, what a good ad for gun ownership.

[coloradan]

Check out the link. There will be little tolerance for these looters. In any case, freedom-aware people already get looted as it is - if they all moved to one place, they might actually have a voice.

[Night Hides Not]

My daughter is not looking forward to school ending this year. Why? She knows her 'project' this summer is to read Atlas Shrugged. She will be 15 in July, and I think she'll be able to handle it.

I've already told her that once she makes it through the first 100 pages, she won't be able to put it down. I'm looking forward to having ongoing discussions about the different characters.

Although she has yet to read Count of Monte Cristo, she will do so soon, having heard me rave about it (I read it during 6th grade), and having seen the movie.

[SCARED]

If socialism has always failed, as seems to be rather obvious, than why does so much of america seem to be rushing headling to it??? and at what peril???

[Lorianne]

A friend of mine lived in Hawaii for 3 months and returned to Washington State with stories about how LAZY the Hawaiians are. If they hear the surf's up, they walk off the job to go out and play. They won't get fired because there are no more industrious workers for replacements. I love it whe someone lives somewhere for 3 months is becomes an expert on what "the Hawaiians" are like.

[Lorianne]

It showed a little bitty Hawaiian woman holding in her dainty little hands the biggest revolve...

Hawaiian women are not "itty bitty".

[ffrancone]

I can't wait for the economy in Hawaii crashes...then I can move there and take advantage of their reforms...pure capitalism will spring from the utter collapse of socialism...

LOL. Sounds like a Marxist determinism in reverse. History is on our side. The crisis of socialism will lead to a revolution of the entrepreneuriat :)

[RobRoy]

STOP IT! I am an avid bicyclist (Road and trail) and you're making me drool all over this keyboard!

[Max McGarrity]

And the People's Republik of Kookiefornia..."

[lelio]

I've already told her that once she makes it through the first 100 pages, she won't be able to put it down.
Exactly my experience too when I was 16. Thought the first 100 pages drug on and then suddenly I was hooked for the entire novel. Well except for Galt's speech which I skipped over.
What I like about AS is that you can appreciate it on so many levels. You learn about Objectivism, but there are also great adventure, love, and espionage stories in there.

[caisson71]

..and isn't it a shame that with all of this God given attributes, man has decided to screw it up by oppressive laws, taxes and just plain GREED.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

." In real life, many bright youths have gone on strike against Hawaii’s system in their own way -- by migrating to other states where they find greater opportunity."

Good point. The one-Party State is a bad idea, whether it's on the East Coast or in the mid-Pacific. Corruption is inevitable (and I believe that 40 years of Republican domination of the State government would produce similar corruption, by the way).

The citizens of the beautiful State of Hawai'i need to throw the current crop of rascals out, and try some different rascals for awhile!

I love to visit there, and my wife and I go as often as we can- but I would NOT consider living there under the Democrat/fascist government they have. Most tourists never notice how bad it is- I read the local papers, listen to the local talk shows, and it's not a pretty picture.

[ValerieUSA]

Oh good, I'm on schedule then. :)

[caisson71]

The problem with sugar was national politics, not local politics. Sugar is such a small lobby in Washington and the east coast bankers make more money by US guaranteed loans to foreign sugar producers.

[caisson71]

That was in 1894.

[CJ Wolf]

I don't know about this article. A good pal of mine is living in HI and he has four construction jobs running right now. The most he had since hurricane iniki ran thru.

The brain drain comes from the crappy schools and island fever.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

. "It showed a little bitty Hawaiian woman holding in her dainty little hands the biggest revolver I ever saw. She had a slight smile on her face and earmuffs on. I suppose it was an ad for a gun range."

I am pretty sure that you are referring to the ad for the pistol range at the Royal Hawaiian shopping center (anyway, that 3-block long deluxe shopping center in Waikiki thatwas built specifically for wealthy Japanese tourists in the early 80's).

The girl in the ad is Japanese, and the range is patronized almost entirely by Japanese tourists, who are not permited to have handguns at home (not that Hawai'i is a model for gun legislaton, either!).

[Alissa]

I lived in Honolulu 10 years and could write a book about it - both good and bad - but I was happy to get back to the Mainland where property was affordable. Some of my dearest friends are the locals. . .and some of the meanest, most bigoted people I've met, live there too.

[lodwick]

bttt

[caisson71]

Sorry you missed the whole experience. I've lived in Washington, Kentucky, Virginia and had several assignments overseas while I was in the military. I enjoyed them all. I didn't take my blinders or preconceived ideas with me when I moved. The people were great everywhere I went and I enjoyed the diverse cultures and lifestyles. Hope you're happy wherever you are now.