Thanks to Hooser, he voted in the primary
I want to publicly thank Gary Hooser (On the ‘we’ of politics, voting and land-use maps, TGI, Aug. 5) for getting me to vote in the Kaua‘i County primary election.
I am one of the disenfranchised procrastinators that he urged to vote.
I’ve never voted in a local primary election, but his article persuaded me to do so. Unfortunately for him, I am not one of the “we” he is looking for.
You see, I subscribe to the “invisible hand” and what he calls “the charade” of market-based solutions.
That charade has brought billions of people out of poverty, feeds the world, has increased human life expectancy, built better transportation systems, and created new ways for us to communicate and interact with each other that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago.
Market-based solutions began about 6,000 years ago with the trade in salt. This allowed humans to expand into areas that were lacking salt.
Were it not for Gary’s “charade” we’d still be living in caves wondering where our next meal was coming from.
The best part of market-based solutions is that they are based on voluntary interactions between people. Government based solutions — even the necessary, just and wise ones — require enforcers known as cops who use violence or the threat of violence to ensure compliance from everyone. Ask George Floyd’s family how well government enforcers worked for him.
So I cast my ballot for those who believe in the principals outlined in the Declaration of Independence. That is, each of us is born with rights that cannot be taken away, and that the reason government exists is to protect those individual rights. I voted for the candidates who believe I know better than they do how to pursue happiness and safety for myself and my family.
Paul Erickson, Kalaheo
Bravo Mr Erickson
“Market based solutions”: isn’t that another phrase for unfettered capitalism? Isn’t this the system that had 8 year olds working 14 hour shifts in coal mines, “voluntarily”? Isn’t this the system that led to the BP oil spill in the Gulf? Yes, capitalism works well but, unfortunately, corporations have proven that the dollar is more important than individual rights, healthe and our environment. We need government intervention to keep corporate abuses in check. Proper regulations bring greedy corporations to task and our judicial system tries to hold them accountable. This delicate balance is being trampled by the current administration. Vote in November!
Thank you Mr. Erickson for that important perspective. In these days, where our divisions are fueled with emotion, we all need to take time to recognize the path our votes could lead us on, and take account of where that path could lead. We can all start with looking at both the local and national party platforms. Too many of us haven’t even taken account of the declarations and goals that the people we vote for tell us they want to do.
Paul Erickson,
Your charade of “the good life” masks the utter destruction of Earth’s biosphere which will ultimately result in “no life”. To plunder this one and only known planet to harbor life is sheer madness and no amount smug “it’s all good” will save you from what you have wrought. Congratulations!
Excellent! Sadly, Hooser (and many people) just doesn’t get it and never has.
RSW
You realize that many of the advances you state are mostly results of government research from space and or military?