The state of Hawaii is facing this fascinating paradox. On the one hand, the state has a booming, tourist-driven economy. On the other hand, the state has a number of intractable problems that seem to defy any solution. At the heart of these problems lies government.
Recent revelations about FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sheds light on the inadequacy of government. Even when offered help by other federal agencies FEMA failed to avail itself of such succor. Many would assert that these failures only apply to the federal level or the national level, the state level or even the local level. The fact is it applies to the nature of government. Government, as a legal monopoly, is by nature inefficient. It has no competition.
Occasionally there are individuals within government who buck the system and actually make improvements, which makes those who advocate government intervention justify such intervention. They manage their departments with insight and flair and their innovations vastly improve their departments. Oh that all departments could be run with such foresight.
But, as my grandfather used to say