APEC Hawaii 2011
President Barack Obama at the Hawaii APEC summit. Photo by Ross Hamamura, http://www.RDHphoto.net.
What Has APEC Ever Done for Anyone?
By George L. Berish, The American Party
Can you imagine Gov. Palin, or the Fairbanks Mayor, paying spoiled jet-setting members of the political-class to party in Alaska at their constituents’ expense? I can’t. Yet that’s what Hawaii’s politicians have done.
Why? These partygoers are not business women and men who take risk to assemble capital, labor and natural resources into a profit making enterprise. They are people who enjoy never-ending taxpayer-funded resort travel with their hands out, e.g. being exempt from Hawaii’s Hotel Room Tax.
Please remember. “For-profit enterprises” produce things whose value is greater than the value of the capital, labor and natural resources they consume. Producing more than is consumed increases our standard of living and employment.
“Government and government-subsidized enterprises” produce things whose value is less than the value of capital, labor and natural resources they consume. Producing less than is consumed reduces standard of living and employment. [Even before they go belly-up after squandering billions of loans the Administration guaranteed Americans will now repay for them.]
So it’s this simple. Hawaii’s isolation (by an expensive-to-cross ocean, and Waikiki’s Ala Wai moat) holds great value for a jet-setting political-class plagued by professional “occupiers”, and other rabble, who perennially show up to rain on their parties. On the Mainland, and in Europe, it’s materially cheaper and easier to assemble a critical mass of such hecklers. Here it’s too expensive and difficult. Therefore, intelligent people who earn the money they spend – i.e. run producing, not consuming, enterprises -- would logically charge APEC extra for Hawaii’s extra value.
Instead Hawaii’s politicians (that spends money we, not they, earn) are paying APEC’s political class members to use Hawaii. Perhaps for them it’s worth the price we pay to be able to bask in the national media coverage attracted by APEC’s bigger political fish. But it’s not to me. You?
Seriously. Do you believe travel agents anywhere are encouraging their best (i.e. most profitable) clients to visit Hawaii this week, or recommending they go elsewhere? I know it’s the latter, because my wife and I stayed at a Waikiki luxury hotel this weekend. We received a great Kamaaina discount and noon check-in. Upon arrival we received an unrequested and wonderful room upgraded. Then we were asked if we’d like to delay check out till 4PM. And then we found APEC’s repellent effect on regular room-tax paying guests left more of the normally more-than-adequate staff free to make our stay doubly enjoyable. Finally we learned some small shop owners will shut down this week, because sealing off Waikiki for APEC’s elite tribe also sealed out their regular customers.
Why?
Veterans Parade Should Not Have Been Cancelled
By Brenda Reichel, Owner of Carats & Karats
I am so mad right now with the majority of government officials in the state of Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu and President Obama’s administration.
Everyone who has ever served in any military branch should be embarrassed beyond belief that the Wahiawa Veterans’ Day Parade had been canceled for November 11, 2011.
Every member of our local, state and national government that is supposed to represent us has failed to represent a group so in need of our continued support. I am ashamed of those in have had any part in canceling Veteran’s Day Observances and the Parade. You don’t get my vote.
Our Veterans should not be insulted by not recognizing their service and the lives that have been given up for our freedom and the freedom of others.
My father served twice in Viet Nam, and 20 years in the Army, my uncle served in the Navy, I too have an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army.
I am letting all my friends and everyone else I know how terrible that I feel about our service members having been slapped in their face by the parade not being held. Wahiawa is not near the APEC in Waikiki.
We have more right than any one to show our support for our current military and veterans.
APEC’s Lasting Impression
The dignitaries are gone, the roads are open and everyone is back to business as usual. That was not the case from November 8 to November 13. While APEC was in town, motorists had to face a series of road closures, check points, and traffic jams. Small businesses near major APEC venues (such as the Convention Center pictured above) experienced a downturn in traffic as barriers kept APEC attendees and local customers away.
Events were cancelled or moved, general aviation operators were grounded, and boating restricted. One has to ask, “What has APEC ever done for anyone?” See the story above.
Video, Slideshow and Text Links
HawaiiReporter.com
6 Million Dollar Man: Obama Family Plans to Spend Holidays in Hawaii
President Barack Obama announced on Monday at a campaign fundraiser on Oahu's Leeward Coast that his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 9, will be returning "shortly" to Hawaii during the Christmas and New Years holiday - and he hopes to join them as well.
READ THE COMPLETE STORY @ HAWAIIREPORTER.COM
The Obama Snub That Has Everyone Talking
Tori Richard Aloha Shirts are proudly worn by Hawaii 5-0's leading man Alex O’Loughlin, The Descendants’ star George Clooney, many of the top business leaders in Hawaii, as well as some 2,000 volunteers who worked at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference from November 7 to 13.
READ THE COMPLETE STORY @ HAWAIIREPORTER.COM
Hawaii News Now
APEC a bust for Small Business - Hawaii News Now
APEC CEO Photostream on Flickr
The Hassle of APEC
by MelOther APEC Links
Official APEC 2011 Website