A Constitutional Amendment for Education Wars
By Tom Yamachika – A bill in the legislature, championed by the state teachers’ union, would propose a new way of raising additional money for education. It would authorize a substantial surcharge on real property to fund education.
The bill would require an amendment to the Hawaii Constitution to be effective. That is because our constitution now gives all revenue from real property tax to the counties. One thing that was not so obvious, however, is that the same bill proposed another change in the constitution that has not been discussed in detail yet. It’s easy to miss, but has a potentially far-reaching effect.
By itself, the proposed amendment doesn’t sound like much. Article X, section 1 of our constitution now begins with, “The State shall provide for the establishment, support and control of a statewide system of public education”. The bill, SB 683, would change it to, “The State shall make sufficient sums available for the establishment, support and control of a statewide system of quality public education”.
The “shall make sufficient sums available” language is used in one more place in our constitution. It’s in Article XII, Section 1, relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Our supreme court, in Nelson v. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, 127 Haw. 185, 277 P.3d 279 (2012), held that the language is “mandatory funding language,” which means that if the state legislature decides for whatever reason not to “sufficiently” fund DHHL, DHHL has a right to ask the courts to force the State to pay “sufficient sums,” if there is enough information within the history of the constitutional provision to give the courts a good idea of what “sufficient sums” means.
In other words, the “sufficient sums” language is a ticket to an education war. The Legislature comes up with its judgment of what is sufficient funding for education; the Department of Education, HSTA, or whoever is affected disagrees; and they would battle it out in court.
Would there ever be an education war? Suppose for a second that the constitutional amendment goes to the voters, the voters approve it, and the surcharges go into effect. Let’s say, for purposes of argument, that the surcharges bring in $500 million. (The current version of the implementing legislation bill would bring in less, but if the constitutional amendment passes, there is nothing to stop the implementing legislation from being amended. Yes, we could be opening our checkbooks wide!) At that point, everyone in state government outside of the Department of Education is going to be leaning on the Legislature to say, “Hey! You folks appropriated $2 billion to the Department of Education last year. They pulled down $500 million from the surcharges this year. How about dropping their appropriation to $1.5 billion this year? They will get the same amount of money, so they won’t be hurt. And our program/service/rebate/tax incentive could really use the extra help this year, and would make such a difference to the people of Hawaii!” Those within education, however, are likely to want the surcharge money on top of the $2 billion already going to the DOE. Otherwise, why the tremendous effort to get the constitutional amendment passed?
Variations on the education war theme could also come up. Some could argue that our constitution requires bills to have titles that gives the public a fair idea of what is in them. The title of SB 683 talks about establishing tax surcharges, but does not give a clue that it is now mandating funding unlike the rules for every state agency outside of DHHL. So, if it is passed, its validity can be attacked. The education wars could get complex and nasty.
As of this writing, the Senate Ways and Means Committee took out the “sufficient sums” language. The bill now goes to the House. Proponents of the bill may push to get the language back in. Will we see education wars in years to come?
Navigating in politically volatile times
Are you feeling uncomfortable, anxious or confused about the current political climate — not only in America but around the world?
Is it possible to transform troubling feelings into personal and political empowerment so you can navigate with increased clarity, purpose and spiritual strength?
Terry Patten, one of the foremost integral thinkers and activists of our day, asks and answers provocative questions to help illuminate pathways to understanding the challenges that confront us all today.
On Wednesday, March 15, Terry will present The Spiritual Opportunity of Our Political Moment: 4 Keys to Transforming Your Angst Into Awakening, Wholeness & Power.
During this online event, Terry will invite you to recognize your purpose as an “integral revolutionary”— someone who can actively contribute to sanity, wisdom, and cultural evolution in the midst of tumultuous times. He will illuminate a dance of evolutionary inquiry you can use to empower yourself to act positively and in alignment with the highest good for your family, community and country.
During this compelling hour, he will share:
- How this moment is a spiritual initiation into a new kind of citizenship,
- Why the recent U.S. election is a call for the evolution of politics,
- Practices to turn troubling news into a source of energy and empowerment,
- How to calibrate your activism for the long haul, so that you keep getting stronger….
If your calling is to be of service to our collective evolution — and to do so in a way that has you feeling energized and empowered — you’ll receive great value from this illuminating hour. Terry will show you how to transform “negative” emotions into a source of personal and political empowerment. You will learn to access the unseen capacity of your heart, the perceptive powers of your mind, and the unstoppable strength of your spirit.
A downloadable recording will be provided later to all who register, whether or not you listen to the scheduled event.
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Relaxing into Aging
Much of Western culture is focused on the youthful 18-35 years. This focus is so powerful that many of us view our older years as a time of physical decline and waning contribution. Yet, these years can actually be the most spiritually meaningful and creative times of our lives!
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to invite you to a FREE virtual event, happening March 18, with one of the preeminent spiritual teachers of our time. A wise guide will help you see the challenges of aging as a spiritual opportunity. Led by our own beloved island teacher Ram Dass, you may reserve your free seat here.
Who better to guide us into a new relationship with growing older than a man who, after his stroke in 1997, faced paralysis, aphasia and a many physical challenges — including chronic pain and loss of confidence in his body. Yet, he says it was “fierce grace” that catapulted him to a higher level of spiritual growth.
During this special online event with Ram Dass, you’ll:
- Discover how to make friends with changes that occur as you age — even the most challenging ones,
- Understand how to release unnecessary suffering by becoming more mindful… even when that seems like an impossible choice,
- Shift the way you relate to the inevitability of death,
- Open to a deeper experience by connecting to the universality of the changes you are experiencing…
Ram Dass will help you see that your current and future decades can be a journey of liberation, laughter and confidence in living. With joy and grace, he will show you how to embrace it all as being human on this planet.
This is your chance to receive direct insights from a kupuna of life. He will help you open to a journey of aging, one spiritually fulfilling, joyful and infused with confidence.
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Thanks in advance for caring and sharing this post on your social media sites.
For more stories, visit robertkinslow.com
Priceless Oceanic Art collection to be auctioned in Paris
The French auction house, Aguttes at their Neuilly-sur-Seine saleroom, will auction the 1,100 items of the Rainer Werner Bock Collection over three days – 5th, 6th and 7th April.
Rainer Werner Bock, one of the world’s leading dealers in Pre-Columbian art compiled this unique collection of Hawaiian tribal art over a period of 20 years.
Speaking about the sale he said: “My friend Claude Aguttes commented: “Let the objects go and watch them scatter all over the world, like birds carrying a message of the intrinsic beauty of art from the Southern Seas and evidence of your eye and taste.”
Never before have so many Hawaiian objects been brought together outside of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The Collection includes 18th century bowls, regalia, drums, fishing equipment, necklaces in feathers or hair, spears, lances, pestles and many other fascinating objects. Some 500 items speak to us of the daily lives of the people of this archipelago of 137 islands inhabited for centuries by the Polynesian peoples, unknown to the European world until the arrival in 1778 of Captain James Cook.
The sale also contains works never before seen at auction and includes a war helmet, part of a collection assembled by one of the first French scientific expeditions to Hawaii and formerly displayed by a French University. It is estimated at €55,000 to 65,000.
The sale includes items of great historic interest including a spear (€68,000 to 75,000) and a flag from the Hawaiian monarchic period (€12,000 to 15,000), collected by Captain Cook during his third expedition in 1779/80.
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Gathering boat models has always been a highlight, even a cornerstone, of all great collections of Oceanian art and Bock’s collection, originally meant for a private or public museum, features some thirty boat models besides two full-scale canoes, certain to appeal not only to avid collectors but to great international museums as well.
As to R.W. Bock’s selection of fishing hooks, it perfectly captures the art of halieutics, with each piece having been carefully chosen for its shining, polished mother-of-pearl, which bears great significance in Oceanian fishing traditions. Oceania comprises the civilizations that, over the centuries, developed the most brilliant mother-of-pearl techniques.
Fishhooks are called “special” when they were kept for ritual fishing, such as a spoon lure for skipjack bait. Wood was also used in fashioning large hooks for catching shark in particular.
The collection is a fantastic voyage from island to island and represents the formidable eye of this internationally esteemed art dealer whose collection of Hawaiian art adds considerably to the world’s knowledge of Polynesia.
Some of the most outstanding objects in the sale include:
- Solomon Islands figurehead €22,000 to 28,000
- Pahu war drum, Hawaii 19th century €12,000 to 15,000
- Rare historic spear collected by Captain Cook in Hawaii 18th Century €68,000 to 75,000
- War helmet Hawaii 18th century €55,000 to 65,000
- Feather ornament necklace Hawaii €8,500 to 9,500
- Rain mantle Hawaii 19th century Feather ornament necklace Hawaii €8,500 to 9,500
- Very large model of a war canoe, Maori New Zealand, Polynesia 19th century Rain mantle Hawaii 19th century €45,000 to 50,000
For more information please contact Julian Roup of Bendigo Communication acting for Aguttes at info@bendigopr.co.uk
Product Review: Primary Arms 7.62×39 300 BLK 3x Compact Scope
This new optic from Primary Arms is called the “7.62×39 300 BLK 3x Compact Scope” but don’t let the name confuse you. It’s ideal for the AK.
It uses the highly touted ACSS BDC which offers quick ranging, wind holds and moving target leads. The etched reticle requires no illumination and there are 12 brightness settings powered by a CR2032 battery.
It comes with a standard 1913 Picatinny mount. We’re told it’s quite durable and is designed to handle 7.62 recoil and varied weather conditions. We certainly had no malfunctions during our rigorous testing. The finish on this scope is excellent and looks a lot more expensive than the $259.99 price point. (This includes a 3-year warranty).
We tried it out at our local 100 yd range and thought it a great value for all that it delivers.
We liked in particular its compact size, good optical clarity and eye relief, useful 3x magnification, adjustable diopter (used to accommodate different eyes and corrective eye-ware), and easy to see and use BDC reticle.
The wide field of view is nice too, and the battery that powers the red-lit reticle is commonly available from any drug or variety store.
After sighting it in, we were able to remove and replace the optic several times over the course of a week, and still retain zero.
It comes standard with flip caps, a very handy feature to assist in keeping the optics clean, yet ready for quick action.
We tested it on a Krebs AK 47 and a PWS upper in 7.62×39. One thing to note is that the optic is a bit on the heavy side. At nearly 1 lb it is twice as heavy as a Trijicon TA33-C-400123 (their 3x optic with 7.62×39 BDC) so it would not be your first choice for long treks in the field during a hunt.
The other point to remember is that it’s much better to mount the optic as close to your eye as possible. It’s not like using a red dot where you can mount it closer to the front sight and not suffer consequences. In this case eye relief, the distance from the last surface of an eyepiece within which the user’s eye can obtain the full viewing angle, is problematic. Thus you’ll need to make sure you either have a rail or better yet, according to Dimitri Mikroulis at Primary Arms, use a side rail AK mount to place the optic atop the receiver.
Our conclusion: If you need a reasonably priced optic for an AK, particularly if most of your time is at the range, this is the ticket. I think offers great value–one the best inexpensive AK scopes on the market.
