President Trump has demonstrated through words and action, unequivocally – he will do whatever’s necessary to maintain control and power.

He publicly sneers, belittles, and mocks anyone and everyone who has the audacity to disagree with him or push back against his proposed agenda.

When confronted with genuine resistance he loudly threatens harm to the person, organization, or country. If the resistance persists, he then uses the full power and authority of his office AND the money of his oligarch patrons – to bring actual economic, political, and/or personal harm to those failing to comply.

“Do what I tell you, or I will hurt you.” Is the President’s message.

This is not hyperbole. Even those who support him will agree the above is an accurate description of President Donald Trump. “While I don’t like all his actions and statements, I like his policies and what he stands for.” – are common statements from MAGA supporters.

We cannot succumb to the fear and intimidation.

We must push back against changes in federal policy and actions that bring harm to our community, AND we must simultaneously take meaningful and aggressive steps toward food, energy, and economic self-sufficiency.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), Hawai’i ranks #2 in the United States for the highest defense spending as a share of state GDP, indicating increased vulnerability to significant DoD spending changes. (hawaii.gov)

We must wean our economy off its dependency on military spending.

We must oppose the current Trump energy policy that seeks to expand the use of fossil fuel and instead, increase state incentives for solar power while phasing out fossil fuel including liquified natural gas (LNG).

Ditto to food and agriculture. We must fast-track the “Farm to School” mandate, add “Farm to Families”, prisons, jails, hospitals, and hotels – AND implement strong incentives for local food producers.

Our goal must be to shrink, not expand the U.S. militaries foot-print in our islands – think Pohakuloa, Kahuku, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Makua.

Education, medicare, medicaid, and social security are all on the table. Environmental protections and the upkeep of our public lands are also at risk.

The wrecking-ball the Trump/Musk regime is using against a wide variety of international aid programs is causing serious, tangible and irreversible harm to people on every single continent.
Appeasement is not an option.

Many benefit from the abundance of our islands who do not pay their fair share – absentee owners, foreign investors, and off-shore corporations to name just a few. To protect medicare and medicaid, we must counter federal tax cuts for the wealthy, with state and county tax increases impacting those same populations.

We don’t cut deals with thugs and bullies.

We don’t trade our ethics, morals, and integrity for money. We don’t look the other way, and we don’t keep our mouths shut because we’re afraid the bully will turn off the funding spigot.

Hawai’i must lead. Our Congressional delegation, our Governor, the legislature, County Councils, University of Hawai’i, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, our courts and law enforcement, and non-profit advocacy groups across the islands – all of us and each of us must step up and push back.

Hawai’i leaders at all levels must follow the example of Representative Jill Tokuda.

We must stand strong and wear our values on our sleeve, proudly for the whole world to see.

Please join me in calling Senator Mazie Hirono (202) 224-6361 and telling her “thank you” for voting NO on the Trump/GOP “stop-gap funding measure”. Please also call Representative Jill Tokuda (202) 225-4906 and tell her “mahalo” as well for standing up and speaking out strongly against the Trump/Musk/Vance triumvirate.

As to Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Ed Case – unfortunately they are on the wrong side of this discussion. Senator Schatz voted YES today, supporting the Trump/GOP measure, and Representative Case voted to support the censure of his fellow Congressman Al Green for speaking out loudly against President Trump during a joint session of Congress.

Mahalo,
Gary L. Hooser (https://www.garyhooser.com/)
8 years – Kaua`i County Council�
8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
Just a regular guy trying to do my part to make the world a better place –

Gary L. Hooser
https://garyhooser.blog

8 years – Kaua`i County Council

8 years – Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
Former Vice Chair Democratic Party of Hawai’i
Policy and Politics – Hawaii and beyond, in real time – Stay informed. Get involved. Make a difference.
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Photo Note: Unfortunately I do not know who took this photograph of a lone surfer blocking the Hawai’i Superferry from entering Nawiliwili Harbor – December 2007.