John Clark is a strident voice in a now growing movement of frustrated businesses in East Hawaii. "I'm fed up with people in the business community who say they can't be seen doing something they know is the right thing to do" says Clark, president of Fiascos Restaurant in Hilo. "There are very few things that a government agency can do to me or any business person unless they stick their necks out. We can't let government bully us and take our hard earned revenues through legislation. They don't scare me in the least." And he means it!

Clark sees that politics have had an impact, albeit negative, on the economic climate of the State. He has stepped on more than a few toes to make this opinion known. Says Clark, "When you open your mouth, you are going to lose some business." In fact, some people don't eat at his restaurant because of his politics. It's a shame, because Fiascos' employees do a good job with food service.

In 1991, John was appointed Chair of the National Advisory Council for the U. S. Small Business Administration. He worked with Pat Saiki and met with then President George Bush. As a member of the council he was a judge for the Hawaii region and the National level SBA Awards. The Advisory Council also gave reports to the Congress and the President about what was happening in the small business community. "It was very satisfying," noted John.

John feels that there is a "plantation mentality" that stifles business activism on the Big Island. Says Clark, "People are terrified to stand up. I am not intimidated at all. I feel lucky because others feel they don't have that luxury. If I am wrong, prove it to me and I will sit down and shut up."

There are many business horror stories that John can share. Clark explains, "A licensed general contractor had an employee on workers' compensation claiming a back injury. The claimant became an unlicensed contractor. They videotaped the claimant working jobs that directly competed with the licensed general contractor. In spite of videotaped proof, the licensed general contractor was compelled to settle the case of $55,000, even though the claimant was obviously not following his own doctor's orders. If they have restrictions from their doctors, and they still go out there and work, isn't that in itself an admission of fraud? Not according to the Dept. of Labor. There are so few fraud cases. Only 11 in the past year, and the courts normally awards for the employee. Insurance companies don't like to push it because it is very expensive. The fact is, I don't care what anyone at the Dept. of Labor says, you are going to lose."

Clark and others wrote to several legislators about these horror stories. The legislators shrugged because they don't know business. Says Clark, "One of the reasons we are having such a hard time is because we have so few in the legislature who understand economics. We have too many former government employees, too many educator types, way too many lawyers, and too few business people. I don't think that these kind of people understand the big picture."

"They treat our tax money like one big pot of money to play with. They don't understand how money flows through the economy. We have a lot more insurance companies pulling out now than ever before. If government doesn't clean up its act with insurance reform here, we'll have very few insurance companies left."

"We have a lot of people that do their time as legislators, then leave with their pension after 10 years. I think term limits should be enforced by the public, not the government. If anyone should be held accountable for re-electing these deadheads, it should be the public. I get so upset with people who decide not to vote because they don't like who is on the ballot. They all may be crooks, but I am going to vote for the one who is going to do the least damage. They feel like they aren't going to make a difference."

Continues Clark, "We need a Burns or someone like that so bad, that it isn't even funny. I don't see anyone right now who is a visionary and electable. There is only one thing that is going to make the business climate change and that is for business people to run for elected office and WIN! There are people willing to give money to people who are willing to run."

"There are few good people in office, so you don't need to throw them all out. I think you soon may see a Contract with Hawaii. You may see it in all of the 50 states. The Contract with America heightens the awareness of the voters, and that is what we need here. We have 1200 people who were employed last year, now jobless, because no one planned for a transition for them. Government waits until it's too late and then acts. We need to get beyond panic management and run government like business with a bottom line. We in Hilo are awakening to that fact."