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On Politics Richard Borreca |
UH students will learn
a lot from ‘tough gov’Here's the good news: This fall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, former Gov. Ben Cayetano will be teaching a class on Hawaii government and politics.
For UH students, here's the bad news: Hawaii's one-time top Democrat will be giving tests, assigning papers and grading the results.
Cayetano, who was known as a tough taskmaster during his 16 years as lieutenant governor and governor, hasn't lost his fire or modified his blunt opinions. His nearly three decades in elected office from the state House to Washington Place helped set policy in transportation, education and health care.
As governor, Cayetano dealt with a severe economic downturn, labor unrest and battled to reform Hawaii's civil service. His policy decisions didn't always win him supporters, but he earned praise for making tough decisions with little political spin or sugar-coating.
Now, as a teacher, Cayetano will present a course he describes as "a way to help young people understand the realities of state politics."
"For example, you always hear that government is like a business, well, it is not. Or when you hear that budgeting for government is like budgeting for your family, that's not quite true," Cayetano says.
"And you hear, 'We are a government of laws and not men,' well that is partially true, but there is a question of how the people in charge interpret that law," Cayetano says, with a not too favorable reference to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
His lectures won't be a dry guide to state government. Students should learn to understand how government is shaped by the players, he said. He's promising to get into the politics of his time, including the fierce debates on same-sex marriage and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Neal Milner, University of Hawaii political science professor, said the Cayetano class filled up within two days and was so popular that it was increased from 35 to 40 students.
"You don't get a lot of unemployed governors," Milner joked.
He cautioned Cayetano and colleagues that because of the bitter faculty union strike during his last term, the teaching post might generate some controversy. But Milner says Cayetano can charm an audience.
"When you sit down and talk with him, it is very productive. It is just fun to learn about politics from him," Milner said.
The only other celebrity politician to take a turn teaching at UH is former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, who Milner says put in a full day teaching "like a regular grunt faculty member" for one semester.
Cayetano says he plans to do the entire course, including giving tests and reading papers.
"They don't have to agree with me in the papers, what is more important is the critical thinking. You can come from a different point of view and be very rational and reasonable," said Cayetano, who graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School.
The question left unanswered is will Cayetano be able to find parking on the Manoa campus.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.