ACLU has gone after the Boy Scouts for their inclusion of "reverence to God" in the Scout Oath. Thank God, ACLU "protects" us.

Doctors are unionizing, exotic dancers, women wrestlers and bicycle messengers in San Francisco. What about the poor, overworked, criticized, elected officials? Union now!

Gary Rodrigues, went on "trial" before his mainland union (AFSCME) peers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel (!) in July for misuse of union dues. The union members who brought the action are really brave. Rodrigues scowled and talked badly about them. Other union members have been attacked in the UPW union newsletter for questioning their leadership. Still other good workers have watched silently. Intimidation is strong here. Nothing will come of this "trial," but watch for the Feds to press more meaningful actions.

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) union took the state to court last year over Governor Cayetano's "payroll lag" legislative scheme. UHPA said it was unconstitutional. They were victorious in Hawaii courts. The state appealed. UHPA won again in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court said the act was "unconstitutional." The state may squander even more taxpayer funds in yet another appeal. The Gov is mad because UHPA-which was the only union to back his opponent last year-was also the only union to challenge the ruling. He calls them "selfish." Retribution against the University and its faculty is only coincidental.

Students protested after UH received only a 3-year accreditation with strong warnings, and after key faculty have been dismissed or transferred and fundamental programs shut down. The protest was against UH prexy Kenneth Mortimer. Linda Lingle wrote an Advertiser commentary calling on Mortimer and the political Board of Regents to resign. We talk about our public school mess but do nothing; where is public taxpayer protest about the University? This makes Hawaii's excellent private universities look even better.

Congress quietly approved a raise for itself- to $141,348 annually PLUS perks (leaders get more, up to $175,400)-and doubled the President's salary to $400,000 effective with the next head of state. Who says public service doesn't pay?

The President and Democrats say a tax cut, to return your money, is too risky. More government spending and debt is ok though.

The State Campaign Spending Commission released final spending figures for Hawaii's '98 election: Cayetano spent $4.8 million and Lingle $3.17 million to serve the people.

Hawaii taxpayers (sort of) are now the proud owners of a $10 million Waiahole Ditch, purchased by the State from AMFAC last month. Legislation passed in 1998. It totals $8.5 million in bonds for purchase and $1.2 million for repairs. A good deal-for AMFAC.

Much is being said about the great tobacco settlement, and the billion dollars "won" for Hawaii and our "keiki." The real winners are attorneys and government. Most money does NOT go for children, or for health education. It is for "other" purposes. The recent rash of government litigation-in lieu of direct taxation-is about money NOT our keiki. "Taxation through litigation" (tobacco, gasoline, guns, etc.) is the new wave.

Department of Taxation holds a General Excise Tax workshop Wednesday, August 25 in the Capitol. It will explain tax changes including pyramid reduction. Contact 587-1577 for details. The 36th annual Chaminade University Hawaii Tax Institute is coming October 24-29 at the Hawaiian Regent Hotel. For advance information contact 946-2966.

First was the hoax that e-mail users would be "taxed" a 5 cents surcharge by USPS for every e-mail, an estimated $180 annually per user. A phoney Congressional bill, "602P" was offered up. Many panicked. It was a hoax. Now, there is widespread discussion of taxing e-commerce transactions. Alas, this is no hoax.

Immigration & Naturalization was forced to admit there was voter fraud by non-U.S. citizens voting in last year's gubernatorial election. This story was broken by Malia Zimmerman in Pacific Business News. The Honolulu Advertiser, ever the protector of the status quo one-party Democrat monopoly, was fast to ridicule PBN and to aid the whitewash of the '98 election fraud. But it's not over.....

After 57 years, Barbers Point Naval Air Station is pau. Effective July 1, most of the base reverted to the State which plans to rename it Kalaeloa ("the long point"). Lest we forget: Mahalo to the service personnel who served Hawaii for nearly six decades.

The "sports bra" controversy following the Women's Soccer Cup game elicited a lot of ink. But the media may have missed the real point. Looks like an action of a real sharp woman who knew the value of instant marketing for Nike-and her own financial future.

The good news: Hawaii bankruptcy and foreclosure rates are declining. The bad news: most of the people who already went bankrupt or have been foreclosed upon have moved away. Only determined small business owners can turn this economy around. And we will.

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