Talk Story
Why many isle
Republicans call
themselves DemocratsA BRAND name is the foundation of marketing communications, we're told. It should be your most powerful competitive advantage. It is the one thing competitors can't take away.
No wonder "Lingle" is the brand name we see advertised in Hawaii today, not "Republican." Being Republican is no prescription for success here.
Some Hawaii Democrats have campaigned for smaller and cheaper government, lower taxes, accountability and cutting regulations -- traditional Republican stances. Two examples are Ben Cayetano and Ed Case.
While both profess loyalty to core Democratic principles, their positions on many issues appeal more to Republicans and independents worried about taxes, jobs, economic diversification and balanced budgets.
Cayetano says that when he ran for governor, Hawaii faced an economic recession and needed a dose of fiscal conservatism, but only a Democrat could get elected to get it done.
No, the national GOP agenda doesn't play as well here as it does in Texas, for example.
HAWAII leads the nation in percentage of union membership. We tend to value job security and benefits over accountability and using new technology to increase productivity.
Historically, we have embraced regulations. They protect local businesses from mainland competition and open spaces from suburban sprawl. Regulations also provide jobs for regulators, represented by powerful public employee unions.
We tend to be liberal when it comes to family and social issues, such as abortion and physician-assisted suicide. We're proud of Rep. Patsy Mink's role in opening up school sports to girls and women.
Our culture values environmental protection. We might not be tree-huggers, but we've witnessed the effects of invasive species and the extinctions of our unique flora and fauna first-hand and we've taken those lessons to heart.
Besides, environmental impact statements are a favorite way to keep development and growth under control.
IN HAWAII, what you know is still not as important as who you know, or "where you grad." The group or hui, Hawaii's equivalent of the Japanese keiretsu, is key. Where you bank -- often, whose campaign you contribute to -- tends to define those you do business with, not just competition.
Here, it's not easy to get to know what others are up to. The Privacy Journal ranks Hawaii in the top tier of states with privacy guarantees for financial, medical, library and government files. Union contracts protect public employees from disclosure of disciplinary proceedings and suspensions.
The bottom, fifth tier of states -- those with the fewest privacy protections -- include Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Of these 12, in the last election Democrat Al Gore won only two, Delaware and Iowa.
NOPE, Hawaii stereotypes don't gibe with the Republican national platform. Still, a vigorous two-party system is the antidote for ingrown, incestuous local government; it is both necessary and healthy. We need alternatives.
The military knows this and rotates commanding officers every two or three years, before a command can become inefficient or set in its ways.
Linda Lingle says people often ask if her positions on issues are the same as the Republican National Committee's. In fact, she does oppose physician-assisted suicide and same-sex marriage.
Would she veto a bill with which she personally disagreed? That would depend, she says, on the bill and how much support it got in the House and Senate, and among the people of the state.
However, she's quick to point out that the main issues in this election are restoring trust in government, the economy, education and making government work better.
If the Legislature stays focused on what's vital, she says, her personal views on social issues -- as with her views on national issues, like invading Iraq -- just aren't likely to come up.
John Flanagan is the Star-Bulletin's contributing editor.
He can be reached at: jflanagan@starbulletin.com.