The Democratic Party of Hawaii - Inside and Out

The Bernie Sanders campaign in Hawaii kicked off in June of 2015 with just a few dozen hopeful people gathered at the Pearlridge Zippy’s. Most of us knew nothing about local politics or campaigning, but we were inspired by Bernie’s message of fairness and equality, and determined to learn.

So learn we did. We were lucky to have experienced members to guide us. With every meeting, and every new volunteer, our movement grew and became stronger. We became stronger. Countless hours were spent organizing, sign waving, and phone-banking, getting Bernie’s message out to voters. After nearly a year, our efforts paid off when more than 33,000 people showed up to cast their votes on March 26th. Bernie won by a landslide, garnering 70% of those votes. We had pulled off a huge feat in a state with one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country!

But Bernie asked us not only to work for him, but also to learn about and get involved in our own local Democratic Party.  Most of us stayed after the Presidential Preference Poll so we could participate in precinct elections. By the end of that day, many of us proudly walked out of those meetings as delegates, precinct presidents, and district chairs, eager to take on our new responsibilities.

We were strong. We were organized. We were ready for the Republicans. But we were not ready for the opposition that would lie ahead from inside our own party. Within days of the PPP the challenges started. Election results were questioned or changed. Paperwork was submitted late or in some cases not at all. County and state delegates had problems getting convention credentials. Signatures were invalidated and refused.

We naively took officer positions and joined caucuses thinking that we were going to be able to dig in on the issues and start making the changes we so desperately need. In some cases, our ideas and energy were welcomed, and we have found a new home in the Democratic Party. But we are not welcomed everywhere. Some Caucus doors feel shut to us. Some volunteers talk openly at Party Headquarters about the strategies they use to block participation by new members. Some hardline Clinton supporters monitor our posts on social media, hoping to find evidence of “disloyalty.” A rule change has been proposed to ban new members from voting in future caucuses unless they join at least two weeks in advance. The excuse is to improve “logistics,” but the discussions have made it clear the aim is reducing turnout from “newcomers.”

We know that change is hard. But at the end of the day, the Party needs new ideas, new energy and new members. We need each other. The issues we face are growing daily, and the Party has not kept up.

This weekend, the Democratic Party of Hawaii will hold its biennial State Convention. Nearly 1000 delegates from across the state will gather at the Sheraton Waikiki to vote on rule changes, resolutions, and the election of party representatives. The party has just witnessed a massive influx of enthusiasm and energy from Bernie Sanders supporters who are ready to change the world from the bottom up. We believe in his vision for social and economic justice for all. This convention will serve as a test for the party. Will the Party regulars make room at the table for the new Bernie members? Or will they slam the door in their face? Can we build a Party of inclusion that fights for change? Can we recognize our differences, while still working together on those goals we do share? Will we be a party of inclusion or exclusion? The answer will be decided this weekend. The future of the party, and of the state, is being decided.

No One Chooses To Have Nothing

This is obscene. Everyday I see people posting things about how we can't afford to raise wages, or give handouts to hungry children, or have single payer healthcare. They throw around words like "Socialist" as if somehow that makes me dumb or small. Yet, everyday these same people watch television shows and read magazines that show elaborate photo ops of just how well those at the top are living. I don't care who they think is lazy. Where is our humanity when so many believe that it's okay for one tiny group to have yachts, jets, summer, fall, and winter homes while simultaneously believing that millions upon millions of people are simply choosing to have nothing? No one chooses to have nothing. I understand that life isn't fair and there is no possible way we will ever share everything equally. No one is asking for that. We are simply suggesting that maybe we could address the basic needs of the masses before making it possible for the elite to have a yacht. Every yacht and private jet around this Earth is an insult to each and every human being who is fighting tooth and nail to survive. 

Elizabeth Warren stand's with Planned Parenthood and not everyone is happy about it.

This is a conversation I had with an "interesting person" following a Google+ post of mine about Planned Parenthood. 

I am 100% pro Planned Parenthood. That does not mean I am pro abortion. No one is pro abortion. No wants to have an abortion. No one looks forward to an unplanned pregnancy because they enjoy abortions. I am pro choice. 

As a woman in America, it is hard to provide for yourself alone. It is damn near impossible to provide for another human being. It is one of the biggest decisions that many women face in their lives. I respect a woman's right to make that choice for herself. Women are capable of deciding what they feel is right. 

And who doesn't love Elizabeth Warren?

Here is the original post from August 4, 2015. 

Notice that this meme does not mention the word abortion once. I still would have posted it even if it had, but it does not

. 

I love this quote by Elizabeth Warren for so many reasons, just like I love Elizabeth Warren for so many reasons. The first few words alone are so exciting to hear, "Let's call out the Republican,". I know I am not alone in my desire to witness the Republican Party finally being exposed for their crimes against us all. I am eternally grateful to all persons who publicly speak the truth on our behalf. Yes, OUR behalf. Elizabeth Warren, like the small handful of other honorable public icons, does not just speak for her supporters alone. She speaks for women, and all other oppressed human beings at the moment, who desperately need someone to fight for them. Even if it means sometimes she ends up fighting for the rights of an ignorant bigot who thinks that because she is a woman she should sit down and shut her mouth.

Looking at this comment now, I could have done better. Though I actually wanted to say a lot worse. I try not let any anger come across when I am debating with ignorance, but sometimes it's simply unavoidable. 

There are so many things wrong with this that is hard to know where to start.

"Irresponsible women". 

I may have been able to bite my tongue and ignore his comment, had it not been for those two words. 

Abortions are not solely occurring due to the irresponsibility of women. 

Rape. Broken condom. Old condom. Birth control failed. It DOES happen. He was going to pull out, but then he just "couldn't". No access to contraception (especially teens). Lack of sex education (teens). Simple inability to afford doctor's visit and birth control prescription to due lack of health care options and poor wages. Then, yes, there's also irresponsibility. Though, BOTH parties engaging in sexual behavior are equally responsible for ensuring safety and for facing the consequences of failing to do so. And trust me, an abortion is a consequence all on its own. 

"The man has no rights to force an abortion".

That's right, sir. He does not. I can't believe I must explain why a man cannot force a woman to have an abortion. Also, I'm not sure why a man not having the right to initiate an abortion would mean that women shouldn't be able to either? Because women shouldn't be able to make any choices without the approval of a male, who by design is clearly better at all decision making. 

Simply put, no person may force any other person to undergo any medical treatment, or any other activity involving their physical body, against his or her will.

 What about the rights of the unborn child?

Well, first of all, just because you believe that life begins at conception does mean that everyone does. Just because you believe that life begins at conception doesn't mean that you have the right to force everyone else to believe the same. 

Just like because someone doesn't believe that life begins at conception doesn't mean they can force anyone else to believe that. Nor can they, at any point, make anyone else have an abortion if it is against their beliefs. 

There it is. It's so simple. We can all believe what we believe. We can all make our own choices according to those beliefs. No one may at any point take away another individual's right to make those choices due to a conflict in beliefs. The end. 

Against abortion? That's fine. Don't get one. 

The American People's List of Demands

1.     We demand wage laws that protect the American workers. We demand that the following guidelines be introduced into leglislation:

•  The Federal minimum wage must never be so low that an employee working 40 hours a week does not earn enough to meet standard costs of living for one person.
• The Federal minimum wage must always rise in proportion to inflation.
• The Federal minimum wage must be reevaluated annually.
• With every 1% raise in salary for the highest paid employees there must also be a 1% increase in the wages of the lowest earning employees.
• All fulltime employees, with at least one year tenure, must be given a minimum of five paid sick days per year.
• All fulltime employees, with at least one year tenure, must be given a minimum of 7 paid vacation days per year.
• All fulltime employees, with at least one year tenure, must be given a minimum of 6 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave. This benefit must be given to any legal parent upon the birth of a child or adoption of a child regardless of sex, marriage status, or sexual orientation.
• We demand that all women be paid a wage that is equal to that of their male counterpart.

2.     Healthcare for all. We demand a single payer healthcare system in which economic status is irrelevant to level of care.

3.    The U.S. government must make the people a priority when addressing the national budget. We, the people, demand the following become top priorities:

• Invest in education.We demand all schools have enough funding to support art programs, music programs, physical education, and extra-curricular activities, teams, and clubs each year. In addition, all high schools will have funding to support home economics, automotive or wood shop, after-school academia teams, and sports teams. These programs must be in addition to current programs and must not detract from current program funding.
• We demand that each state offer a minimum of one tuition free college. These colleges must be in proportion to other state colleges, both in size and in funding.
• We demand that federal student loans be interest free.
• Invest in infrastructure.
• We demand that stricter guidelines be put forth that will force all local and national government to annually or bi-annually conduct inspections of all roads, bridges, parks, etc.
• We demand that each government to promptly and accurately address each and any issue that may be found during inspections.

4.    We demand immediate tax reform.

• We demand the immediate deregulation of corporate tax breaks. 
• We demand legislation that clearly states that the lowest paid workers must never at any point pay more taxes than those in higher brackets.
• We demand that NFL, and all other teams and media outlets, pay taxes.

5.   We demand the immediate regulation of corporations manufacturing overseas.

• We demand that any company selling it’s product in the United States must adhere to U.S. Federal minimum wage regardless of what country they are operating out of. Any company or corporate entity that is found operating a facility that pays workers a wage less than the current Federal minimum wage will not be permitted to sell said products in the U.S.

6.   We demand that GMO’s be banned in the United States and legislation be put into effect that will strictly regulate food labeling with the sole purpose of informing the consumer.

• We demand the immediate end of factory farms.
• We demand immediate legislation addressing the treatment of animals in farm settings.

7.   We demand legislation be introduced immediately and effectively banning any corporation or individual profiting off the arrest or imprisonment of any human being.

• We demand that the War on Drugs cease immediately.
• We demand the Federal legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use.
• We demand the immediate release of all persons currently incarcerated for marijuana related charges.
• We demand that all marijuana related criminal charges be expunged from all involved persons legal records.
• We demand the immediate reevaluation of all persons currently incarcerated due to nonviolent crimes and subsequent release of all prisoners who do not pose an actual threat to society.
• We demand that honest and information drug education and support programs be put into place in all high school and public colleges.

8.   We demand immediate action to fight and reverse climate change.

• We demand a new and separate board made up entirely of scientists specializing in the field. 
• We demand that the recommendations of this board be heeded promptly and effectively. 
• We demand an immediate reduction in the usage of plastics and other harmful materials.
• We demand an immediate reduction of product packaging.
• We demand an immediate shift to green energy with the ultimate goal of eradicating all power and energy sources that are harmful to the environment.

9.    We demand media fairness and accountability.

• We demand structured sanctions and penalties for any and all media and/or public officials who deliberately attempt to provide misinformation or otherwise lie to the American people.
• We demand broad, in depth, and equal coverage for any and all current events, regardless of party, affiliations, or lack thereof.

10.  We demand the immediate restructuring of the FDA.

• We demand that drug research be based on need and not on profit margins.
• We demand that the FDA ban all carcinogenic substances currently being used in the manufacturing of any and all food products, beauty products, cleaning agents, and health supplements.
• We demand the immediate and heavy regulation of pharmaceutical corporations including but not limited to the regulation of promotional content. 

11. We demand legislation be introduced effectively banning any and all contributions, donations, or the like by corporate entities to any political campaign, individual, or organization.

12. We demand the immediate regulation of corporate lobbyists.