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http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/34225151/

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:33:35 -0700

There are good arguments about which constitution and why. For myself, I stand by the 1864 constitution because it was the last ratified constitution of the Kingdom. The 1887 Constitution was forced during the time legislature was out of session; thus implied but not ratified. Anything signed under duress is null and void. This is a customary law since the time of Esau and adopted by most countries of the world. All countries regard anything forced or done under duress would find such actions questionable.

The People implored the queen to promulgate a new constitution similar to or the same as the 1864 constitution. From her cabinet, she got mixed messages and later they turned on her after pressure from the conspirators. The purpose was to give back the empowerment to the citizens and not to the foreigners and give her more power to control the conspirators.

Later we discovered the plot that Thurston and U.S. Secretary James Blaine were in communication and the plan to destabilize the Hawaiian Kingdom's government in order to take over the control of the Kingdom without overtly setting a precedent which conflicted with international laws and a breach of the treaty between the Hawaiian Kingdom and the U.S.A.

The intent of the Queen was to restore the rights of the citizens and control the foreign power (USA) from seditiously taking over the Kingdom. She was advised by her husband to take the oath first, then introduce the proposed constitution the citizens requested of her. A few of the cabinet urged her to follow her husband's urging. When the time came for her to introduce a new constitution, most who supported her in her cabinet turned against her; probably fearing for their safety and lives.

It is interesting to know that majority of the citizens did not support the bayonet constitution of 1887. They also reaffirmed this in their actions via the Ku'e petitions protesting against the takeover and U.S. annexation that was being pushed down their throats.

The Queen was entrapped to take the oath under the Bayonet constitution with the understanding that she would be able to reassert a new one supported by the people and her cabinet.

It was 1887 that the first overt U.S. actions came into play as designed by U.S. secretary of State James L. Blaine who later brought Stevens to assist in carrying out their plans and later strongly supported by President Harrison who succeeded President Arthur who supported actions to seize Hawai'i.

APPENDAGE:

John Quincy Adams - In 1826 coined the argument that in U.S. interests, if they didn't seize or gain control and influence over Hawai'i, another country like Great Britain or France would take over the islands or greatly influence Hawai'i. Thus the argument if not U.S., then another country would takeover Hawai'i. Oddly, the U.S. was the only country to breach its treaty with Hawai'i and continuously belligerently occupies Hawai'i unlawfully till today.

Re: Stevens warped morality
As I have stated before, concerted effort to takeover Hawai'i manifested in
1841, President Wm. Harrison, a known expansionist who was known as
shallow-minded. Tyler (1841-45) was a strict constructionist and pro-slavery
slave owner, extended the Monroe Document, in effect, to the Hawaiian Islands
in 1842. It was he that initiated the annexation of Texas which ended with a Joint Resolution for statehood during McKinley's term.

John McAllister Schofield was born in Gerry, New York, on 29 September 1831 and at the age of 12 was taken by his father, a Baptist minister, to Freeport, Illinois and was educated in the public schools.
In 1873, Schofield was given a secret task by Secretary of War William Belknap to investigate the strategic potential of a United States presence in the Hawaiian Islands. He went to Hawai'i under the ruse of site-seeing vacation and R&R. Schofield's report recommended that the United States establish a naval port at Pearl Harbor. He is memorialized by the m

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/33967456/

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:26:45 -0700

The House Tri-Committee Health Reform Draft
June 19, 2009
H.R. (discussion draft)
Short Title (to be supplied)

SEC. 223. PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES.
(a) RATES ESTABLISHED BY SECRETARY.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall establish payment rates for the public health insurance option for services and health care providers consistent with this section and may change such payment rates in accordance with section 224.
(2) INITIAL PAYMENT RULES.--
(A) IN GENERAL.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and subsection (b)(1), during Y1, Y2, and Y3, the Secretary shall base the payment rates under this section for services and providers described in paragraph (1) on the payment rates for similar services and providers under parts A and B of Medicare.

(b) INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS.--
(1) INITIAL INCENTIVE PERIOD.--
(A) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall provide, in the case of services described in sub paragraph (B), for payment rates that are 5 percent greater than the rates established under subsection (a).
(B) SERVICES DESCRIBED.--The services described in this subparagraph are items and professional services furnished during Y1, Y2, and Y3, under the public health insurance option by a physician or other health care practitioner who participates in both Medicare and the public health insurance option.

(2) SUBSEQUENT PERIODS.-- Beginning with Y4 and for subsequent years, the Secretary may adjust such rates in order to promote payment accuracy, to ensure adequate beneficiary access to providers, or to promote affordablility and the efficient delivery of medical care.

http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/06/health-care-reform-house-dems.shtml

PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION PROVISIONS IN THE DISCUSSION DRAFT:

OVERVIEW
Available in the new Health Insurance Exchange (Exchange) along with all of the private health insurance plans.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
Require public plan to meet the same benefit requirements, and comply with the same insurance market reforms as private plans.
Establish the public plan's premiums for the local market areas that are designated by the Exchange, just as other insurers do.

PROVIDER PAYMENTS AND PARTICIPATION
Initially utilizes rates similar to those used in Medicare; this tie is severed over time as more flexible payment systems are developed.

http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/DraftHealthCareReform-PublicOption.pdf

And...

TIME
Swampland (a blog)
June 19, 2009
House Health Care Plan
Posted by Karen Tumulty

The key committee chairmen put out an outline today of their approach to health care reform, and there's one thing they want you to know about it: "Uniquely American," said House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller.

"We need a uniquely American approach to health care reform," warns Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the trade lobby America's Health Insurance Plans.

Anyone who has followed this debate for more than 20 seconds will immediately recognize all this talk of unique Americanism as another way of saying NOT SINGLE PAYER, which is the government-financed system that just about every other industrialized country uses in one form or another. And all this skittishness about single payer explains the delicacy with which the House drafters have tried to finesse the question of whether their system will have a public plan, something like Medicare, but for people under 65.

The answer is, it will have a public plan, and a strong one--at first.

In the early stage, the public plan would reimburse health care providers at rates that are "similar to those used in Medicare"--that is, significantly lower than most private insurers pay them. This is something that the insurance industry, doctors and hospitals will all hate. "A government-run plan that pays based on Medicare rates - for any period of time - is a recipe for disaster," Scott P. Serota, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, said

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/33780563/

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:36:37 -0700

a belated happy fathers day to all fathers and fathers to be and fathers who want to be. definitely a blessing (although at times very difficult).

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/33735577/

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:33:06 -0700

Top 10 Historical Chamber Quotes Against Healthcare

10. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Denounced Patients' Bill of Rights As Special Interest Giveaway To Trial Lawyers. Bruce Josten, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that 2001 of the Patients' Bill of Rights "should be called the Trial Lawyers' Right to Bill...adding new mandates and expanding liability will only serve to increase insurance costs and undermine employers' ability to offer this valuable benefit." [U.S. Chamber of Commerce Press Release, 6/12/01]

9. U.S. Chamber Spokesman Said OSHA Is a "Blatant Denial of Fundamental Fairness." When describing the structure of the Labor Department within the Executive Branch rather than the Judicial Branch of the government, Richard Berman, director of labor law for the United States Chamber of Commerce, said "This has a chilling effect on an employer's exercise of his right to appeal and is thus a blatant denial of fundamental fairness." [U.S. News & World Report, 11/24/75]

* The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vigorously Opposed Occupational Safety Regulations and "led the fight to defeat the 1968 bill." In an article written between the initial bill supported by President Johnson and the second bill, that passed, supported by President Nixon, the New York Times reported: "The first legislation providing for a comprehensive nationwide system of health and safety standards was proposed last year by President Johnson. Strongly supported by labor, the bill ran into immediate and vigorous opposition from industry, led by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States." [New York Times, 12/10/69; New York Times, 3/19/70]

8. U.S. Chamber President Called OSHA "An Abysmal Failure." In 1980, Richard L. Lesher, President of the U.S. Chamber of Congress, charged, "OSHA at best has been a major disappointment, at worst an abysmal failure." "To date, there has been no solid documentation that OSHA has yielded any gains in safety or health," said Lesher. [AP, 4/1/80]

7. U.S. Chamber Spokesman Compared Employer Mandates to Jumping on a "Runaway Train." In 1989, U.S. Chamber Spokesman Frederick J. Krebs was asked by the Washington Post about employer mandated coverage and said, "Health-care costs are out of control -- so being forced to provide these benefits is like being told to jump on a runaway train." [The Washington Post, 4/13/89]

6. Referring to Mental Health Parity Legislation, Chamber Officials Said Personal Tragedy is a "Poor Way to Make Legislation." Complaining that opposing Republicans on mental health parity legislation put them in an awkward position, Neil Trautwein, manager of health care policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said, "It's tremendous to have someone with the stature of Pete Domenici or Alan Simpson get up and describe these personal tragedies, but it's often a poor way to make legislation," says Trautwein. "An emotional argument late in the night is not the way to make policy." [The Washington Post, 6/19/96]

5. U.S. Chamber VP Said Business Community Would Wage "All-Out War" Against Paid Family Leave. Randel Johnson, vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits at the United States Chamber of Commerce, said the business community will wage "all-out war" against paid family leave for two reasons: First, "someone's got to pay for it," and second, paid leave will give employees an incentive to use it." [Austin Business Journal, 9/10/07]

* U.S. Chamber VP Said They it Won't "Roll Over" on Family Medical Leave. ''Supporters of legislation like this complain about unfunded mandates in education when it comes to No Child Left Behind, but they don't hesitate to impose unfunded mandates on employers,'' said Randel Johnson, vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits at the United States Chamber of Commerce. ''The employer community is not going to roll over on this issue.'' [New York Times, 12/5/06]

4. U.S. Chamber Opposed Family and Medical Leave Beca

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/29113169/

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:32:49 -0800

Dear PNHP members and friends,

The report this week that President-elect Obama is considering Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, for the position of U.S. surgeon general is deeply troubling.

Among our concerns are these:

1. He has very little background in public health, preventive medicine or administration.
2. He has openly opposed progressive health reform, going so far as to cite false information to denigrate single payer (e.g. in his error-laden attack on Michael Moore's film "Sicko") and parroting the health insurance lobby's distortions of single payer.
3. As a media figure, he has been disturbingly cozy with Big Pharma. He co-hosts Turner Private Networks' monthly show "Accent Health," which airs in doctors' offices around the country and which serves as a major conduit for targeted ads from the drug companies. Another example: In 2003, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, he publicly downplayed concerns about the dangers of Vioxx. It was removed from the market a year later by its manufacturer, Merck.
4. In the 2008 election campaign, his reporting on John McCain's health proposals was misleading and implicitly positive, giving undeserved credence to McCain's claims that buying private health insurance on the open market is a financially viable option for most Americans.

We urge you to write to President-elect Obama and express your opposition to Gupta's possible nomination, and to urge Obama to nominate a more acceptable candidate for this critically important post. You can do so by clicking here: http://change.gov/page/s/healthcare.

Sincerely yours,

Quentin Young Signature
Quentin D. Young, M.D.
National Coordinator

Physicians for a National Health Program
29 E Madison Suite 602, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone (312) 782-6006 | Fax: (312) 782-6007
http://www.pnhp.org | info@pnhp.org
� PNHP 2009

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/29051175/

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:49:54 -0800

Commentary No. 248, Jan. 1, 2009
" Cuba is Back!"

Amidst a world economic/financial crisis that seems to worsen day by day, continuing political and military meltdown throughout the Middle East , and the global anticipation of Obama's presidency, little world attention has been given to a major geopolitical event in mid-December, 2008. Cuba is back! Four Latin American meetings were held successively in Salvador de Bah�a, Brazil . In order of the number of countries involved, they were meetings of Mercosur, Unasur, the Grupo de R�o, and the First Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC in its Spanish initials). The impresario was Brazil 's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the "hero" of the meetings was Cuba . Lula called it an "ideological hurricane."
�
Let us review what happened. Mercosur is a common market arrangement of Brazil , Argentina , Uruguay , and Paraguay , which Venezuela is joining. The presidents of these five countries announced that they would absorb all the exports of Bolivia , which had its preferential tariffs cancelled by the United States in September on the specious grounds that Bolivia was not doing enough to combat drug traffic.
�
This action was endorsed by Unasur, the union of all 12 South American countries (plus Mexico and Panama as observers). Even more important, Unasur agreed to Brazil 's proposal that it create a South American Defense Council. Given that just last May Unasur had tabled this proposal (about which the United States had been unhappy) the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, hailed the decision as a "good surprise." He said that it incarnated the idea of Latin America for the Latin Americans, a pointed rejection of the classical Monroe Doctrine slogan of " America for the Americans."
�
The truly major event however occurred on December 16 in the meeting of the Grupo de R�o. The Grupo de R�o, a Latin American political forum created in 1986, which in 2008 included 22 countries, "unanimously" admitted Cuba to membership. Mexico 's President Felipe Calder�n, who was presiding at the session, welcomed the "brother people" of Cuba , represented by President Ra�l Castro, to a standing ovation. The forum promptly condemned the U.S. embargo against Cuba , and demanded that it end forthwith.
�
Calder�n and Castro held a private meeting designed to overcome the "rough edges" of the relationship of the two countries that had been brought about by the actions of Calder�n's predecessor, Vicente Fox. After the meeting, Castro said the relations were now "magnificent." The two announced that they would exchange official visits to each other in 2009.
�
The culminating meeting was the summit of all 33 Latin American and Caribbean presidents, the first ever held. The only three presidents not to come themselves but to find excuses to send substitutes were Colombia 's Alvaro Uribe , Peru 's Alan Garc�a, and El Salvador 's Elias Antonio Saca - the last firm friends of the United States in Latin America . Brazil was so intent on getting maximum participation that it sent military planes to transport the presidents of poorer countries in Central America and the Caribbean to the meeting.
�
The significance of this meeting was in the exclusions. Neither the United States nor the former colonial powers, Spain and Portugal , were invited. Ecuador 's president, Rafael Correa, said that the meeting marked the end of "puppet governments" in Latin America . The Brazilian journalist, Pepe Escobar, called it "a torpedo launched towards the Obama submarine."
�
The timing of this meeting was no accident. The Fifth Summit of the Americas is scheduled for next April in Trinidad . This is a structure launched by President Clinton in 1994. The same heads of state and government will be invited, except that there will be two more - the United States and Canada - and one less, Cuba .
�
Presumably, Obama will be faced there with the arguments and proposals put forward at the meeting in Brazil . The first is to include Cuba by revoking its suspension from the Organization of American States. Lula stated that, in order to improve the relations of Cuba and the United States , it is the United States that must take the first step by lifting the embargo. A second is to review outstanding national debts. Ecuador has already announced a moratorium on further debt payments, saying that, after paying the debt for 28 years, it still owes the same amount - a "dismal story" said President Correa.
�
Castro said he is ready for direct talks with Obama. "If he wants to have a discussion, we will. It's increasingly difficult to isolate Cuba ." Lula actually went further in his challenge

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/28667619/

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:48:55 -0800

Kamehameha IV proclaimed 25th of December, the National Day of Thanksgiving in 1856. This allowed people of all religions to celebrate that day together. Two years later, Santa Claus made his first appearance in Hawaii, arriving at Washington Place (now the governor's residence) to deliver gifts for the children. That was the home of John Dominis and is wife, the future Queen Lili'uokalani.

The first Christmas celebration in Hawaii is believed to have occurred in 1786, when Captain George Dixon, docked aboard the Queen Charlotte in Waimea Bay on Kauai, commanded his crew to prepare a Christmas dinner that included roasted pig, pie and grog mixed with coconut milk. The English navigator then led his men in toasts to their families and friends back home.

The Calvinists/Congregationalists were not inclined to observe that day with festoons and celebration; but other Christians like the Catholics, other Protestants, and Mormons did celebrate it great zeal. Those that weren't Christians could still celebrate that day in thanksgiving; and that they did. It was also a part of the Makahiki season and conducive to revelry and celebration; which of course, fit the lifestyle of the kanaka maoli regardless of what religion they practiced.

The Americans celebrated their thanksgiving on the same day as we celebrate La Ku'oko'a, Independence Day on November 28th. To shroud that glorious day, they enforced their celebration of Thanksgiving Day on that date.

Hawaiian National Memorial Observation, following in the path of Hawaiian ancestors who marked the 30th day of December as the Hawaiian Memorial day. This was the anniversary of our beloved Princess Nahi'ena'ena who passed away on this date in 1836, at the age of 21 years in Lahaina, Mau'i. She gave birth to a son in October 1836 and never recovered from childbirth.

It's an opportunity given to members of the public who may wish to remember and memorialize Hawaiian national leaders and noteables who have passed away, both pre-American conspired invasion and occupation, and in more contemporary times of today. We should take the time to celebrate and memorialize these national holidays with great pride, nationalism, and as noble patriots of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/25053470/

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:05:27 -0700

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.�� Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.

She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She's smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a fiscal conservative. During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and agai

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/23769706/

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:03:07 -0700

a bit ago, someone visited and was upset at my definition of politics. hopefully, by visiting here you will find that not all my stumbles are "political" (although definition is itself a political act) . . . i am also a physician, and a bit to very much of a geek, like some sports, more so participating (bicycling, running, swimming, triathlons, surfing . . .)

http://kaolelo.stumbleupon.com/review/15762908/

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:17:57 -0800

hau'oli makahiki hou, a lonoikamakahiki. i hope that everyone has a joyous, just, productive, safe and prosperous new year.