The below is an actual online conversation I had recently – edited for clarity and brevity.

Hello Gary,
I’m a long time resident and business owner.

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.

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 root out corruption and misuse of taxpayers dollars.

Thanks Gary, have watched your career and know you care about Kauai and Hawaii in general.
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Thank you for the note and cordial, respectful tone. We are definitely on opposite ends of the spectrum on this one.

Yes, of course there’s 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.

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.

Doge/Musk have chosen to ignore them all.

Determining the value of a program or agency is not within the purview or authority of Musk, but of Congress.

There’s 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.

To be absolutely clear, it’s not just the wrecking ball approach to cost cutting I’m in opposition to.

From the dangerous and contradictory manner in which the administration has handled the Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Gaza/Yemen/Jordan and related conflicts, to the trade war and tariffs, the dismantling of the Department of Education, the frivolous nature in which they’re treating Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and so many other critically important programs….It’s clear America is being ruled by a handful of men of privilege, not governed by the democracy outlined in our constitution.

University students and professors legally living in the U.S. are being arrested and jailed simply for expressing their political views.

Now they/we are rounding up people based on the color of their skin and content of their tattoos, shipping them off to some hell-hole in El Salvador – without trial, without due process, and without proof they have committed any crime whatsoever – and not allowed even one frigging phone call.

The Trump/Musk presidency is dangerous for America and for the world.
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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 seated 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 we’re 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
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Mahalo and I’ll conclude here:

I’ve spent 20 years owning and operating small businesses here in the islands myself.

I think you’ll agree, in general most businesses are operated as dictatorships, not constitutional democracies.

That’s the crux of the problem with the argument coming from those who want to run our government like a business.

Our democracy is founded upon the principle of 3 separate but equal branches of government – administrative, legislative, and judicial. The framers of the constitution designed the governing process to balance the power and to keep out dictators.

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. The law also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.

If you’re unable to accept and embrace these core principles embedded in our constitution…and unwilling to acknowledge the dictatorial governing methods of the Trump/Musk administration are wrong, illegal under our constitution, and harmful to people and the planet — then we will remain on opposite sides.

I cannot agree to disagree on this. The situation is too dire, the risk too great, and the harm to my family and friends is real and tangible.

Yes, I also will work hard and pray for a good outcome that includes a safe and fulfilling future for you and your family as well.

My hope is you and so many others, will come to understand the fundamental differences between our constitutional democracy and the dictatorship being forced upon us by the Trump/Musk regime.

Gary Hooser
garyhooser.com (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
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