Talk Story
Lifelong Dems wrestle
with the need for changeAFTER the column I wrote about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono's campaign strategy appeared in Tuesday's editions, an e-mail arrived. It was from a recently retired, self-described "AJA-haole" couple, both former union members.
"We're Democrats," they wrote, "have been all our voting lives. Never missed an election." Today, they are struggling to choose a candidate in the upcoming election for governor.
Their note struck a chord, echoing conversations I'm hearing elsewhere. "We want change," it continued, but not just undefined or "responsible change."
"To be specific, the change we want is a change in culture," they wrote. We want a change in the culture of 'no' (that) has permeated our island. Just go to a park -- every sign is no." No playing, no golfing, no camping, etc.
"Just try a state office for information. You will get the run-around. Call the director's office. You will be given all the reasons why you cannot succeed ... Our task is tell you 'no' on anything you ask, and there is nothing you can do about it."
THIS CULTURE, they argue, is pervasive -- it's not just negative signs and bad customer service. "Why in the world," the note asked, "does anyone think (Walter) Dods at First Hawaiian Bank came up with 'The bank that says yes?'"
While it seems to them that the Democratic Party hasn't figured it out, other Hawaii organizations have.
"The University Board (of Regents) hired an outsider to come here and try to accomplish a single thing, change the culture of 'no.' By changing that single element, the University of Hawaii may again become relevant. Just look at the football coach -- he changed a culture of 'no.'"
For these voters, the question comes down to: "How can the CEO of First Hawaiian and the UH Regents get it (while) the Democratic candidate has absolutely no clue to either change or leadership?"
THE CULTURE of 'no' and the influence of Hawaii's unions have been inseparable. Labor contracts, work rules, grievance procedures, mediations and binding arbitration are all about what can't be done, not what can.
"As retired union members, (to us) the best interests of the state of Hawaii far outweigh the narrow interest of (Russell) Okata (executive director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association). That is said with respect. He's doing his job; he should stick up for his members."
The HGEA endorses Hirono, but like the Hawaii State Teachers Association it opposes the ballot measure to amend the Hawaii Constitution to allow the state to issue special-purpose revenue bonds. These would assist not-for-profit private schools at no cost to the state. Private investors would purchase the bonds and bear the risk; the schools would pay any administrative costs.
In fact, HGEA has instructed its members to vote 'no' on all three ballot amendments.
This couple and other longtime Democrats are wrestling with conflicting loyalties. "The Democrats have made it clear there is no room for you unless you belong to a union." At the same time, "the unions tell us that there is no room for any state support for a private-sector entity."
Times are changing. A newspaper poll last June showed more union households supported Linda Lingle than any Democratic candidate for governor. The question is how many will actually jump ship and vote for Lingle?
The historic association of the Republicans with a Hawaii dominated by business interests and lunas, the bosses of the plantation era, is still too strong for older Democrats to overcome.
For this one couple, it won't happen. "As Democrats, we cannot bring ourselves to vote for ... another luna." However, "as Democrats, we cannot support the leadership void. We've decided what we'll do -- vote absentee and leave the governor's race ... blank."
After that, it's "straight Democrat the rest of the way."
John Flanagan is the Star-Bulletin's contributing editor.
He can be reached at: jflanagan@starbulletin.com.