To those FaceBook Friends who believe in and support the actions of the Trump/Musk/Vance/Hegseth administration – please unfriend me. Seriously.
I’m not talking about those who simply voted for Donald Trump, I’m speaking to those of you who believe and support the belief that the ends justify the means, who believe the actions of DOGE are necessary, legal, and appropriate, and who support depriving people of their constitutional right to due process.
If the above represents who you are, it’s best we go our separate ways. So “unfriend” me please.
My sincerest hope however, is that we might find common ground, and work together towards a brighter future – for all of us.
Regardless of political party, Democratic, Republican, Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, Natural Law, Constitution, Democratic Workers, Green, Hawaii First, or Independent – we are all in this together.
Yes, I’m a dreamer. But “You gotta have a dream; If you don’t have a dream, How you gonna have a dream come true?” (Movie South Pacific).
I’m a dreamer but I’m also unwilling to compromise on core values.
To work together, we must each believe without question every human being, regardless of skin color, country of birth, size of bank account, age, religion, abilities, disabilities, or sexual identity, is entitled to equal treatment under the law and our collective diversity makes us better and stronger.
A brighter future begins with these common values.
Kindness, empathy, mutual respect, and giving those with less a hand up when our own situation allows us to do so – are essential attributes of citizens in the world I want to live in.
Those who have more must give more. Those who consume more, have a greater responsibility to replenish and preserve the commons.
The ends does not justify the means.
Those who bring harm to people and planet must be held accountable. We must be able to sleep safely in our homes protected by community-based law enforcement professionals. A strong, independent judicial system is a must.
We deserve food, water, air, and a natural environment that’s clean and healthy. We support government oversight that values health and environmental protection above industry profits. Regulatory capture is unacceptable.
Global warming, sea level rise, and climate change is real and we must be proactive in dealing with the threats.
The corporatization of healthcare must end. Medicare for all, must be the norm.
Anyone working 40 hours per week deserves a living wage and safe work environment. All workers are entitled to organize and collectively negotiate with their employer.
Waste and fraud within government is unacceptable and a comprehensive longterm strategy must be developed to address this issue.
Violent criminals must be prevented from entering the U.S.. Those here illegally found guilty of committing violent crimes must be deported or incarcerated. Others who’ve fled their countries due to political strife or societal hardship, must be offered options that preserve their safety and human dignity.
We live in a country of abundant wealth. Those at the top must pay their fair share.
The U.S. must embrace its role as a force for democracy and peace in the world. We must shift from being the largest supplier of military munitions on the planet to being the largest supporter of education, healthcare, agriculture, and energy.
We must expand our interconnectedness with both friends and adversaries rather than pursue a path of isolationism and confrontation.
Corporations are not people. Dark money must be eliminated. Full public-funding of elections, with safeguards to prevent abuse, must be the norm.
Our voting systems must be secure, have independent oversight, and include an auditable paper trail.
89 million Americans, 36% of the country’s voting-eligible population, did not vote in the 2024 general election (University of Florida Election Lab).
Hawai’i was at the bottom with only 50% of voters turning out,
Both locally and nationally – if just a few more voters showed up, and a few more candidates who share our vision threw their hats in the ring – we could flip this whole thing on its head.
It’s not about which political party you support – it’s about core values, getting involved, and taking ownership of our democracy.
Screaming into the wind is not enough. While somewhat therapeutic, it will not solve the challenges before us.
So please join with me and others in this quest to make things better.
Gary L. Hooser
garyhooser.com
8 years – Kaua`i County Council
8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawaii
GaryHooser's Blog 
Love this !! Thank you expressing sanity in these crazy times. Latest Gallup poll shows 80% of Americans do not approve of new leader’s policies (illegal). First time ever a President went negative rating on first day in office
(probably changing our Constitution banning birthright citizenship )and continues negative.
I looked up how long it took to dismantle democracy in 1935 Germany, answer 2 months.
Reason why the people let them “inflation and the economy”.
It’s just all so shocking.
B. Donaghy
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
Mahalo to you for the feedback and for sharing your thoughts as well. Please help spread the word!
Hello Gary, I’m a long time resident and business owner. Just a few things about Doge. I’m under the impression since America is seriously overdrawn and it’s not getting better. Mr. Trump and Musk are working on stopping misuse of our tax dollars and dropping programs that frankly aren’t helping America.
When you go on the Doge website which programs do you disagree with that’s on the chopping block?
Our country has been going in the wrong direction for a long time financially. Making the needed course correction will create lots of discomfort for people and markets. It’s a mess we got ourselves into for sure.
Instead of fighting back and calling for heads to roll we as Americans should work together to to root out corruption and misuse of taxpayers dollars.
Thanks Gary, have watched your career and know you care about Kauai and Hawaii in general. Ed S.
Thank you Ed for the note and cordial, respectful tone of your message. We are definitely on opposite ends of the spectrum on this one. It is not just the wrecking ball approach to cost cutting that I am in opposition to – but the sum total of the actions the President and Musk have taken over the past 30 days. From DOGE’s tactics, to Ukraine, to their total opposition of DEI policies, to the arbitrary approach to tariffs, to the silliness about Greenland, to their treatment of transgender people, to wholesale disregard of free speech and arresting students who are in the U.S. legally and putting them in jail without charging them with any crime, to his public belittling of former President Biden and many others…the list is long. Yes, of course there is waste fraud and abuse in government- as there is in any and all large organizations. But there are legal, moral, and ethical processes – that should be used to address these issues and DOGE has chosen to ignore that – there’s Civil Service rules and regulations, there’s union agreements, there are basic employment laws, and of course there is congress who established and funded these programs in the first place…and Doge/Musk have chosen to ignore all of it. And the value of a program or agency is not the purview of Musk but of Congress. It is crazy to eliminate a program/agency just because there is some degree of inefficiency in its operations. There is a right way and a wrong way to approach the worthy goal of increasing efficiency and getting rid of waste – and the Doge/Musk/Trump way…is not the way it works in a democracy. I could go on…and we could debate this all day…and I doubt either of us will change our minds. If you’ve read my other blog posts on Trump/Musk then you will see and know many, many, many, of my reasons for believing his presidency is dangerous for America and for the world.
Thanks Gary for your response, One of my reasons for the way I feel comes from my worldview. I’m a conservative who’s a Christian with a deep seeded desire to keep America free and love our constitution. I know this brings big issues between man’s ways and the Bible.
I don’t want to see freedoms and procedures trampled either. As you must know different administrations have tackled the growing budget problem. No one has had the nerve or willingness to see it through. Yes it’s radical and most definitely out of the box. I’ve been running a business for over 40 years and if I ran it like the government does I’d be out of work fast!
Seems were on opposite sides but I have hope for you, Ha Ha. I’m praying for a good outcome for us all but it’s going to take Time till we see how all this flushes out. My best to you Gary, Aloha
I spend 20 years running my own business Ed, so I know a little bit about that too. Businesses are dictatorships and not democracies. And that is the crux of the problem with Trump/Musk/Vance and far too many others who want to run our government like a business. Our democracy is founded upon 3 different branches of government – administrative, legislative, and judicial and is designed to move slowly and designed to keep out dictators. And yes…our democracy is also founded on the separation of church and state. Christians, Jews, Hindu’s, Muslims, Buddhist, and atheist…all are equal under the law…as are all colors, and abilities, and sexual orientations. If you are unable to accept and embrace that basic premise…and accept and embrace the fundamental fact that we are a democracy and must operate within the boundaries and laws of that democracy…and that the “strong man” model and dictatorial methods of Trump/Musk/Vance is wrong, illegal under our constitution, and harmful to people and the planet — then…we remain on opposite sides. I also pray for a good outcome.