GROWING up in the vanguard of the Baby Boom, I absorbed hours of Hopalong Cassidy, John Wayne and the Lone Ranger. These heroes ingrained in me a sense of what a red-blooded American considers to be a fair fight. Sorting out
needs and wantsHoppy never hit below the belt, the Duke was always a straight shooter and the Lone Ranger might throw sand in the bad guys' eyes when they got the drop on him, but that was as dirty as it got.
Today's kids know the rules have changed. Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and the Terminator send a different message: Kick 'em when they're down; win at any cost.
There are terrible economic and political battles being waged in Hawaii. When Liberty House and our two major banks announced layoffs, they opened a flood gate. Companies and governments were granted license to do both what they have to do and what they want.
Sorting out what's economic necessity from what's opportunism isn't easy. Take the mayor's plan to do away with the independent Board of Water Supply and put water back under city control. The board was set up to keep politicians from dabbling in water. Control it and you control development, and a potential river of campaign money.
One day, the sugar business on Kauai is pau; the next, it's back - but with labor give-backs and concessions. Tell me bucakroos, are we all still fighting fair? Would Hoppy approve?