In one of the often repeated myths that led to the French Revolution, the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, remarked when told of the hardship, suffering and starvation of the poor in France, was that if they couldn’t find bread to eat, "Then let them eat cake."
In 2009, when even President-elect Barack Obama, said that we face the worst economic situation since the Great Depression, State Senator Norman Sakamoto proposed a tax increase for all of us, poor to rich, repeating the modern equivalent of Marie Antoinette’s words that "Those who have more and spend more, they will spend more and pay more, so if you buy an Infinity or your Lear Jet, by all means pay more." (Honolulu Star Bulletin, "Senator proposes tax increase to fund schools" January 9, 2009.)
Here on the Big Island, the idea of buying an Infinity or Lear Jet rings hollow when so many people are out of work, can’t find jobs or are on the verge of losing their jobs. Senator Sakamoto’s insensitivity and elitism are hard to stomach when people here can’t pay their bills or put food on the table. But according to Sen. Sakamoto, we can be taxed more on what we can’t afford to pay for in the first place. It shows how far out of touch Sen. Sakamoto and the Democrats are.
As a Labor and Employment lawyer on the Big Island and former candidate for State Senate, I can’t begin to tell you how deep and broad based this recession is. From going door to door and based on the number of calls I’ve gotten from laid-off employees and employers looking to reduce their workforce, I know that politicians and government officials at all levels are downplaying how bad the situation is. Our only large industry here, tourism, has collapsed. Construction and its associated jobs have collapsed.
The only growth we are experiencing on the Big Island is higher unemployment, an increasing number of people seeking welfare and government assistance and higher crime statistics. There is a growing level of stress in terms of our local economy, that is palpable. Yet, we are being asked to pay higher taxes.
For people from a privileged and wealthy background, like Senator Sakamoto and his Democrat cronies, higher taxes mean nothing. But living in East Hawaii and working in a profession that is sensitive to a client’s financial situation, it is an understatement to say that this is a difficult time for all of us.
This is not the time to tax us more. This is the time to let us keep more of the money we earn. This is the time to reevaluate whether we should be taxed on food and medicine. This is the time to make sure employers can continue to do business and keep people employed. This is the time to make sure people can make it to the next paycheck instead of taking more money away from them.
And if this is what we are to expect from the newly elected Legislature, then there is no better time to reflect on why we continue to elect them.
Ted H.S. Hong is a a Big Island labor attorney.
