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Re: Hawai'i Superferry - Chapter 5
One very good thing that Gov. Lingle did point out (and I really do give her props for being a moving target last night for all the audiences' frustration) was that the State of Hawai'i does not have a mechanism in place like most other places in the country for legal appeals of unpopular decisions.
She would like to call a Constitutional Convention next year to look at the State Constitution and perhaps add provisions for an initiative/referendum process so that people can legally petition to have unpopular laws put to a vote by the people. It's been almost 30 years since the last Con-Con, and she said lots of things have changed in Hawai'i since then.
It seems like a very good idea, and having the right to put to a vote unpopular decisions made by the government might encourage more people in Hawai'i to become active in the political process, rather than taking their frustrations into the street, where people could get hurt. It can be a pain in the okole to have this process in place, because it means that anyone with enough time can create a petition and get the number of signatures required to put the question on the ballot (lord knows, we've had some pretty frivolous ballot measures put to a vote in past years), but it becomes a more inclusive process for the voters because they could override decisions made by their legislators if they can get enough people to vote for their side.
I have no doubt in my mind that there will be people protesting HSF's arrival in Nawiliwili on the 26th. What worries me most is no matter what kinds of legal ramifications might be handed out to the protestors who violate the Coast Guard and the County's rules, there will be people who will be out there protesting. Their frustration at the whole situation was clearly palpable last night.
Miulang
One very good thing that Gov. Lingle did point out (and I really do give her props for being a moving target last night for all the audiences' frustration) was that the State of Hawai'i does not have a mechanism in place like most other places in the country for legal appeals of unpopular decisions.
She would like to call a Constitutional Convention next year to look at the State Constitution and perhaps add provisions for an initiative/referendum process so that people can legally petition to have unpopular laws put to a vote by the people. It's been almost 30 years since the last Con-Con, and she said lots of things have changed in Hawai'i since then.
It seems like a very good idea, and having the right to put to a vote unpopular decisions made by the government might encourage more people in Hawai'i to become active in the political process, rather than taking their frustrations into the street, where people could get hurt. It can be a pain in the okole to have this process in place, because it means that anyone with enough time can create a petition and get the number of signatures required to put the question on the ballot (lord knows, we've had some pretty frivolous ballot measures put to a vote in past years), but it becomes a more inclusive process for the voters because they could override decisions made by their legislators if they can get enough people to vote for their side.
I have no doubt in my mind that there will be people protesting HSF's arrival in Nawiliwili on the 26th. What worries me most is no matter what kinds of legal ramifications might be handed out to the protestors who violate the Coast Guard and the County's rules, there will be people who will be out there protesting. Their frustration at the whole situation was clearly palpable last night.
Miulang
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