Educator-Author John Taylor Gatto spoke at The Academy, cosponsored by Small Business Hawaii, and he was great. Gatto, a much-honored 30-year public school teacher from New York, wrote the best-selling book, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (and two others). He calls for separation of schools and state, and among his top 10 suggestions to end "factory schools," are: make all educators (including administrators) teach; end teacher "certification;" decentralize schools and don't exceed 200 in student size; stop "standardized" tests-measure performance, and install permanent presence in every school.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to SBH members Wendy Minor of Food Quality Lab and Fritz Vincken of Fritz's European Bakery. You know "you can't fight City Hall" right? Wendy and Fritz were unwilling to accept that.

Wendy challenged an Unemployment Compensation award to a former employee who voluntarily quit after 6 years to take a trip to China and "train" to become a physical fitness instructor. The "training," (unpaid) lasted less than 5 months and the individual, a young, physically-strapping, able-bodied, male, returned to Hawaii and filed for unemployment comp instead of getting a job. The State Department of Labor first ruled he was entitled to UI benefits because he had voluntarily quit for "cause." When Wendy indicated she would fight, the DOL said she wouldn't be charged. But Wendy knew you and I would be charged through the UI Reserve Fund, so she still decided to appeal. She did her homework, prepared, and spoke eloquently at the hearing in mid-June. She argued this was an improper use of UI funds and would hurt small businesses. Guess what? She-WE-WON! The hearings officer was taken by the inequity of the situation and the force of Wendy's arguments. He reversed the decision. We will win more if more of us stand up like Wendy even when our own interest is not at stake. Hooray!

Meanwhile, Fritz was handed a $700 citation by Hawaii's HIOSH (OSHA) for "serious" safety violations in his bakery, even though no notice had ever been given, no injury had ever occurred, no complaint had been made and his equipment was built to federal safety standards. When notified of the potential for injury, even though remote, Fritz spent his own money to modify the equipment. The State didn't care (since fines and money, not safety, are Administrator Jennifer Shishido's priorities) Fritz decided to fight on principle. He argued passionately through the pre-hearing; the full hearing is scheduled for April, 1997. What a waste of taxpayers' money where no offense has taken place. We definitely need FEWER bureaucrats and State lawyers. Message again: STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT and end this bureaucratic intimidation.

KITV's "Business Report" gave more coverage to the Governor's comments on alligator wrestling at the 50th State Fair then on the annual SB Week Awards Luncheon attended by 450 entrepreneurs. Don't the media yet realize we in small business already wrestle more alligators than anyone else?

The headline said Democrat "liberals" took over the Party at the recent State Convention. Did Democrat "conservatives" run the State until now? While several good economic resolutions (supported by Attorney Bernie Bays and others) passed the Convention, the most important called for MORE STATE INCOME TAXES on the "rich;" individuals earning $20,000 and families earning more than $40,000, even though those two groups already are at the top 10% rate. Governor Cayetano's reasonable calls for less government were generally ignored by the "liberals."

In contrast, the Hawaii Republican State Convention unanimously approved a resolution calling for NO TAX INCREASES, TAX DECREASES, and a REDUCTION IN STATE GOVERNMENT. Inquiring minds should know.

The Honolulu City Government Store, (aka, Jeremy's Place) raked in all of $1,900 in 5 months of operation at Ala Moana, even with an annual rental of $1. The Mayor had estimated tourists would rush to fork over $250,000 in that period, but he's not worried, because the City still gets $80,000 from the retail vendor, profit or not. The answer to this problem, according to the City vendor? Open another City Store. (Right, make it up in "volume.")

Councilman Andy Mirikitani was "banished" to yon City tower by Chair John DeSoto after a series of very personal feuds. Who's in charge here? While we are laughing at these petty political antics we are all paying plenty.

Hawaii is getting a reputation as #1 in "ice" drug use and #1 in domestic violence. While welfare is down in the Mainland, it is UP in Hawaii. Where is the commitment to reform? Most welfare recipients want to work but the disincentives are too attractive.

The Wall Street Journal blasted the State's lack of commitment to the visitor industry. Local politicos then blasted the messenger but private industry officials know it is true.

VOR - "Virtual Office Reality" is the newest buzzword term for someone operating her business out of her home. Get used to it!

Half the year is gone already - let's work together to make the second half productive and profitable. In Russia, residents are voting for president for the first time in 1,000 years. Unbelievably, the communist candidate forced a runoff because Soviets think freedom is difficult. It is. So is everything worthwhile.

Celebrate your independence on July 4.

Comments about anything you read in Small Business News can be addressed to:

Small Business Hawaii
Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza
6600 Kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 212
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Telephone: 396-1724 / Fax: 396-1726

SBH also accepts articles relating to small business issues about its members and Hawaii. Submit your articles to SBH by the 10th of the month for publication into the next month's issue.

E-Mail: macpro@lava.net
E-mail forwarded to SBH via local fax.

Small Business News is part of The Hawai`i NewsList family of internet features. It can be delivered directly to your e-mail address. Send a subscription request to listproc@hawaii.edu, with the text "SUBSCRIBE HI-NEWS-L Firstname Lastname" in the body of the message. You will receive a number of Hawaii based publications along with your Small Business News e-mail subscription.

Editor : Sam Slom
The Web Mole: Melvin Ah Ching
Web server: H4, Hawai`i's Data SuperHighway