Preface

        The twin sisters, apathy and cynicism, infect Hawaii politics with a lissome, fog-like ennui that has caused our state to have one of the lowest voter turnouts among any American state - states that are themselves less than paragons of the democratic model.

     The entire culture of Hawaii business is currently politically defeatist.  Why bother, goes the sad refrain, if the "same old, same old" is going to inevitably prevail?  And all too often it does prevail because people do not take up the tools available and use them efficiently, objectively, and creatively.  This article is intended to start non-players onto the political playing fields.  The intention is to get people to be politically aware and involved, to take charge of their own destinies and make societal changes that will improve Hawaii in general and enhance the lives of Hawaii's people.

      Apathy contends that we are all small "marginalized" creatures with no real power or voice so nothing we do will make any significant difference, so why even try?  Cynicism tells us that the "fix is in."  Nothing we do will make any significant difference.

     Apathy and cynicism are just excuses that we all make up in our heads that enable us to look the other way and not shoulder our own fair share of the burden.  They are not real factors, just psychological barriers that help us to keep from getting up and doing what needs to be done.

     Today, people in business decry the power of the unions in our political universe.  They forget that fifty years ago "big labor" had no power at all and was reduced to shouting slogans in the dark of the night from the alley behind the plantations.  Some leaders, like the ILWU's Jack Hall, were dragged in handcuffs to Honolulu Police Headquarters and beaten for their union activity.  Others like UPW's Henry Epstein and Teamsters' Art Rutledge, were branded Communist, or thus legally mugged by the justice system and shunned.  They and those who fought beside them were great men.  They had vision and they understood that politics and legislation controls life in a democracy and they set out to level the playing field for themselves, their families, and the entire working class in Hawaii.  Their success is self-evident.