I am noticing the irony of the tough talking politicians and their anger saying WE are building this no matter what. It will take World War III right? We’ll build even if we don’t get the money right? We are plowing through, are we? Well easy when we’re playing with other people’s money and their children’s cash as well.
What I feel is ironic is that with all this angry bold talk, we still have to bring in SO many people from the mainland to build this darn thing. We can’t even run it with a local guy, we have to pull in a guy from as far away as possible (who went down in flames there, by the way) to run this project.
They won’t ever confirm this so I am going to say what I heard. Maybe that’s what it will take to get the truth out. I was told on Thursday that of the whole Kiewit office building, of all the people brought in from the mainland to help run this thing in their offices, ALL are from the mainland except one, who moved back partially because of their local roots.
And I was told about 7 months ago that Bank of Hawaii had set up ‘lots’ of accounts for the many workers that have moved here to build the Rail.
So, I wonder if we EVER are going to get the real facts about how many jobs that are going to get created LOCALLY. Also, which ones are the local ones, the lower paying ones right? I see the workers in their bright shirts at some of the meetings. It seems that no matter what, their supervisors and the top leaders here will be the mainland people.
Now, I don’t doubt my sources, but the actual percentages are out there, I’m sure. C’mon let’s get some of that transparency-and not just when it’s convenient.
Jade Moon, Moonlighting Column in Mid Week Paper on Oahu
I like your call to have Rail Supporters speak up. Let me help you.
There is nothing for them to say other than “Build it already.”
Everyone thinks that it will get riders, just not them. No one will
ride it enough to make it worth the disastrous financial conse-
quences it will cause to us, our children, and our children’s chil-
dren.
There is only HOPE that it will ease traffic. A noted expert, Walter
(I believe) Yoshioka said that it will not, EVER.
There is the HOPE of thousands of jobs. The article by the oppos-
itiion, or as Howard Dicus likes to call us, the ‘Asphalt Huggers’
said that there would be 633 jobs added, MAYBE 933. That is
not thousands using my old HS Math. I already know of mainland
people that have moved her for the Rail jobs. They have opened
accounts at the Bank of Hawaii in Moili’ili. Now rather than angrily
repeat old employment estimates, why not accurately break them
down for us Mayor Carlisle. I know you inherited the bully techn-
iques from Mufi, but there are a ton of smart people and I believe they
are now waking up to what is real here.
Which brings me to one of the big concerns which is rarely debated.
Why??????
1. Do we owe the world the opportunity to move to our, gorgeous,
paradise island chain here in the middle of the Pacific. Do we just
roll over and say, yep c’mon in, we’ll pave over some more Ag land
and build some more schools for you, and hey, can you just SAY
you will take that darn Rail.
2. Do we feel the need to relocate thousands or people and then tons
of businesses to EVENTUALLY have enough population near the
Rail lines to make it viable.
3. Why do we OWE the construction workers the right to do construc-
tion jobs here on Oahu. If there is no work, there is NO WORK. Move
to Las Vegas and pour concrete and build stuff for the next 80 years,
already. Or hey I have an idea. Learn a new trade. Are we that weak
and the unions that strong?
4. WHY don’t we get to the bottom of the Rail Debacle anyway? Many if
not ALL supporters are/were big contributors of CASH to Mufi and then
Carlisle. I would love to live in a state that I did not feel was that corrupt,
but the proof is in the pudding.
5. Why don’t you think about the reality of riding the Rail for yourself.
Remember take extra time to get up early to get to the station to park,
(if there is one for you.) You may need change to pay for the parking.
There may be no spots, oh well, drive. Allow for the extra time that you
will need at the other end. Keep in mind you may need an umbrella
too. You will be standing most of the way, no relaxing. Enjoy the view,
knowing that thousands of businesses, and homes and people will have
lost their view to sacrifice for this monstrosity.) There is no money to
pay for maintenance, how safe does it feel the 2nd year, the 3rd, and so
on. There is no money for security at the parking lot (if there was one) so
HOPE your vehicle is safe there
By the way, make sure those that say they support it would actually ride
it OFTEN. (I know of no one who will.) And, be wary of those who are
supporting just because they have a connection to the trades that THINK
they will benefit, or may actually benefit.
Just Google ‘Rail Pushers Oahu’ or ‘Oahu Rail Pushers’ to see more.
PS I am not against Rail due to ’special interests.” I am not a father of kids
or therefore grandkids that will be negatively disadvantaged due to this. My
wife and I are not poor, so we will have the option to move to Big Island, or
Maui, or wherever when things get bad here. And lastly we chose to live
in a part of town that costs more knowing that we do not have to be int that
drive. Our choice. That’s why we pay more. Our townhouse would be
cheaper (though not as nice) in Kapolei, but that is the choice we made.
Update: Today, Sunday the 21st of August the Star-Advertiser FINALLY printed a solid article written by Hawaiian champions who happen to be against the Rail. The paper had chosen NOT to print my last Letter to the Editor so I stopped writing them. PLEASE READ the article in the Insight section. I have been saying many of the things they share in this article for months.
Obviously the authors and guys that are bringing the lawsuit to try to bring Oahu to its senses-to STOP Rail, have more credibility than I do. Heck, one’s a past Governor, Ben Cayetano. So, please read that section. If then you are still FOR Rail, then I would suggest that you live nowhere near where all the devastation, traffic jams, ruining of the view and constant noise will be happening along the route. Either that, or you are a contractor that is getting money from the project.
Honolulu Magazine has a great, and I feel fair article about the Rail Project here on Oahu. I know the Rail Pushers won’t like it, because it brings things into the light. I understand how they want to fall back on the flawed public opinion vote that showed that 53% favored rail a few years back. If intelligent people of Oahu see even a portion of the whole picture I am confident they will rise up in protest. Maybe someday, MOST of the backroom dealings, the costs that WILL go up, and the agreements/contracts awarded or promised will come to light.
I disagree with my friend Doug Chin. Here’s his statement FOR Rail. “This is going to make our city look great. This is how the next generation is going to transport themselves.” (Check that statement against the article I have mentioned…..)
First of all, a man who has children, to me, should have a say in this. I don’t have kids, but I am deeply concerned about the future this will impact.
Doug, when your children are in their mid-twenties, the Rail MIGHT be done. If they happen to live near enough to a station and choose to ride it, it will then really depend on a number of factors. If the stars align and it is convenient for them at that time, yay. Good for them. No matter what, they are going to be paying for it. The cost increases, the maintenance, the delayed construction that always happens here, the lawsuits that are attempting to stop it, even the firms that will be spraypainting over the grafitti that is plastered on the columns. These plus other issues await.
They will be in a severe minority, or perhaps 2% of Oahu residents who COULD ride regularly. This is my guess based on the small population ‘out there’ combined with a bunch of factors. How many live near enough to the proposed stations to make it work. Will there be parking? Will it cost every day? Will those people give up their freedom to complete other errands after work, in town that day? Will they agree to stand the whole way-a real concern? When the Rail gets to town, how far is their job/business from that stop? Will they need a cab? What if it’s raining when they get there?
How many in Waipahu will have their lives negatively impacted by the squealing of the steel on steel wheels that Heavy Rail uses? What about the Federal Courthouse. Rail will go within feet of that structure.
And there’s a reason why the judges have avoided this lawsuit-they are all against the Rail plans to almost bump up against that huge Federal Building as it makes it’s route toaards Ala Moana. Of course THAT trial will be in San Francisco. Maybe Hawaiian Air will offer free roundtrips to the attorneys for the trial period. (NOT)
Doug I respectfully disagree. I think like in the Bible, we will be the foolish builder and Oahu will be laughed at for this huge folly. The bill will keep coming and coming and coming for future generations (the grandkids) as well.
Anyone that would like to see this project being brought more into the light, let’s get the word out. The propaganda machine that pushed this through on the ballot has done great harm to the island already.
Aloha, Rick Emmerich
Thank God I Had a Heart Attack, Rick Emmerich
Thank God I Lost My Job! Thank God My Mom Died….
Thank God I Had Breast Cancer Thank God My Favorite Uncle Molested Me
Thank God I Went to Iraq Thank God I Saw My Son’s Drowning
These are all chapters in the new book. You will be inspired as I have been.
The challenge (with great rewards) is to say and actually mean those words and any that apply to your own situation. What are the options anyway? To wallow in pain, depression, storing bitterness in your heart and body? Then what?
Anyway, you certainly don’t have to ‘get it’ to be inspired by Thank God I…Triumph through Tragedy. I am a published author and I would appreciate it if you buy this book. My story is on page 187.
John Castagnini, the Editor says WE ALL SUFFER. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. and also, YOU CANNOT BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME. The way we all choose to deal with issues, the more major the more important, is what the Thank God I lifestyle is all about. For more background, see Dr. John Demartini.
Thank God I Had a Heart Attack, go to http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?Clk=4313438
Rick Emmerich
People, it is happening.
Obama’s roommate speaks out. dh 02-16-11
FOR HIM AND HOPE
This needs to be emailed to everyone in the USA.
OBAMA’S COLLEGE ROOMMATE SPEAKS OUT
By Wayne Allyn Root , June 6th, 2010
Barack Hussien Obama is no fool. He is not incompetent.
To the contrary, he is brilliant. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. economy to create systemic failure,
economic crisis and social chaos — thereby destroying capitalism and
our country from within.
Barack Hussien Obama was my college classmate
(Columbia University, class of ‘83).
He is a devout Muslim do not be fooled.
Look at his Czars…anti-business..anti- american.
As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Barack Hussien Obama is
following the plan of Cloward & Piven, two professors at Columbia University .
They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system
with government spending and entitlement demands.
Add up the clues below. Taken individually they’re alarming.
Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant, Machiavellian game plan to turn
the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority
that desperately needs government for survival … and can be counted
on to always vote for bigger government.
Why not? They have no responsibility to pay for it.
Universal health care . The health care bill had very little to do with health
care. It had everything to do with unionizing millions of hospital and
health care workers, as well as adding 15,000 to 20,000 new IRS agents (who will join government employee unions).
Obama doesn’t care that giving free health care to 30 million Americans
will add trillions to the national debt.
What he does care about is that it cements the dependence of those 30 million voters to Democrats and big government .
Who but a socialist revolutionary would pass this reckless spending bill
in the middle of a depression?
Cap and trade. Like health care legislation having nothing to do with
health care, cap and trade has nothing to do with global warming.
It has everything to do with redistribution of income, government control
of the economy and a criminal payoff to Obama’s biggest contributors.
Those powerful and wealthy unions and contributors (like GE, which owns
NBC, MSNBC and CNBC) can then be counted on to support everything Obama wants.
They will kick-back hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to
Obama and the Democratic Party to keep them in power.
The bonus is that all the new taxes on Americans with bigger cars,
bigger homes and businesses helps Obama “spread the wealth around.”
Make Puerto Rico a state. Why? Who’s asking for a 51st state?
Who’s asking for millions of new welfare recipients and government
entitlement addicts in the middle of a depression?
Certainly not American taxpayers.
But this has been Barack Hussien Obama’s plan all along.
His goal is to add two new Democrat senators, five Democrat congressman and a million loyal Democratic voters who are dependent on big government.
Legalize 12 million illegal Mexican immigrants.
Just giving these 12 million potential new citizens free health care alone could overwhelm the system and bankrupt America.
But it adds 12 million reliable new Democrat voters who can be counted
on to support big government.
Add another few trillion dollars in welfare, aid to dependent children,
food stamps, free medical, education, tax credits for the poor, and
eventually Social Security .
Stimulus and bailouts. Where did all that money go?
It went to Democrat contributors, organizations (ACORN), and unions — including billions of dollars to save or create jobs of government employees across the country.
It went to save GM and Chrysler so that their employees could
keep paying union dues.
It went to AIG so that Goldman Sachs could be bailed out
(after giving Obama almost $1 million in contributions).
A staggering $125 billion went to teachers (thereby protecting their union dues).
All those public employees will vote loyally Democrat to protect their
bloated salaries and pensions that are bankrupting America.
The country goes broke, future generations face a bleak future, but Obama, the Democrat Party, government, and the unions grow more powerful.
The ends justify the means.
Raise taxes on small business owners, high-income earners, and job
creators. Put the entire burden on only the top 20 percent of taxpayers,
redistribute the income, punish success, and reward those who did
nothing to deserve it (except vote for Obama).
Reagan wanted to dramatically cut taxes in order to starve the government. Barack Obama wants to dramatically raise taxes to starve his political opposition. With the acts outlined above, Barack Hussien Obama and his regime have created a vast and rapidly expanding constituency of voters dependent on big government; a vast privileged class of public employees who work for big government; and a government dedicated to destroying capitalism and installing themselves as socialist rulers by overwhelming the
system.
Add it up and you’ve got the perfect Marxist scheme — all devised by
my Columbia University college classmate Barack Hussien Obama
using the Cloward and Piven Plan .
True per snopes!
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/overwhelm.asp
Just passing this on, I have seen some of it before, but
I feel this sort of info needs to see the light of day.
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