Appeasement Is Not The Answer

by Gary Hooser

President Trump has demonstrated through words and action, unequivocally – he will do whatever’s necessary to maintain control and power.

He publicly sneers, belittles, and mocks anyone and everyone who has the audacity to disagree with him or push back against his proposed agenda.

When confronted with genuine resistance, he loudly threatens harm to the person, organization, or country.

If the resistance persists, he then uses the full power and authority of his office AND the money of his oligarch patrons – to bring actual economic, political, and/or personal harm to those failing to comply.

“Do what I tell you, or I will hurt you.” It is the President’s message.

This is not hyperbole. Even those who support him will agree the above is an accurate description of President Donald Trump.

“While I don’t like all his actions and statements, I like his policies and what he stands for.” are common statements from MAGA supporters.

Hawaii must take the moral high ground on this one. We can’t just roll over for the money, keeping our true values in the closet, hoping the President doesn’t notice.

We cannot succumb to the fear and intimidation.

While pushing back against changes in federal policy and actions that bring harm to our community, we must simultaneously take meaningful and aggressive steps toward food and energy self sufficiency, and we must wean our economy off its dependency on military spending.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), Hawaii ranks #2 in the United States for the highest defense spending as a share of state GDP, indicating increased vulnerability to significant DoD spending changes.

Hawaii must lead. Our Governor, the legislature, County Councils, University of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, our courts and law enforcement, and non-profit advocacy groups across the islands – all of us and each of us must step up and push back.

We must oppose the current Trump energy policy that seeks to expand the use of fossil fuel and instead, increase state incentives for solar power while phasing out fossil fuel, including liquified natural gas.

Ditto to food and agriculture. We must fast-track the “Farm to School” mandate, add prisons, jails, hospitals, and hotels, AND implement strong incentives for local food producers.

Our goal must be to shrink, not expand the U.S. military’s foot-print in our islands – think Pohakuloa, Kahuku, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Makua. The U.S. Military has not been a good steward of our land, and we should not trade our health and natural environment for the promise of money and jobs.

Education, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are all on the table. Environmental protections and the upkeep of our public lands are also at risk.

The wrecking-ball the Trump/Musk regime is using against a wide variety of international aid programs is causing serious, tangible and irreversible harm to people on every single continent.

Appeasement is not an option.

Many benefit from the abundance of our islands who do not pay their fair share – absentee owners, foreign investors, and offshore corporations to name just a few. To protect Medicare and Medicaid, we must counter federal tax cuts for the wealthy, with state and county tax increases impacting those same populations.

We don’t trade our ethics, morals, and integrity for money. We don’t look the other way, and we don’t keep our mouths shut because we’re afraid the bully will turn off the funding spigot.

Instead of tip-toeing around D.C., ignoring the travesty now unfolding, and hoping the President won’t remember Hawaii is a blue state, Hawaii leaders at all levels must follow the example of Congresswoman Jill Tokuda.

We must stand strong and wear our values on our sleeve, proudly for the whole world to see.

GARY HOOSER is a former Hawaiʻi State Senator and Majority Leader.