[luau] our economy

[Stan Baptista]

re: If you don't like it leave...With out real
competition why raise salaries?...we live on an island
and its a big decision to leave or stay

OK, I guess there's my answer.  I think however that
makes it problematic if not impossible to grow
technology in Hawaii in any significant way (could be
wrong and actually I would like to have that be true
in spite of my gripes about salaries.)

There will always be people who decide to live in
Hawaii and accept the salary/COL ratio.  That's fine. 
But to me this means _small_ industry, _small_ growth,
and _small_ thinking.  That's also fine but...

This attitude directly affects the quality of
education, the overall economy of the state and a host
of other things related to that.  Now that pineapple
and sugar cane has died out, Hawaii is, as far as I
can see, a two-trick pony: tourism and the government
either federal or state.  Technology is such a natural
to help fill this gap but I think it never will in any
significant way unless things loosen up.  A shame.

As to the issue of building up the educational
infrastructure, another problem area that has been
raised, I'm an adjuct instructor in comp. sci. at HPU
and I'll have to remain skeptical that you can create
a generation of world class technologists who are
content to stay in Hawaii under the present
conditions.  I hope to be proven wrong.

--- Jeff Zidek <z-man at hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
> They don't have to.  It is the Microsoft model.  If
> you control the industry
> you make the rules.  If you don't like it leave.  We
> are content the way
> things are.  And why not if you have the biggest
> piece of the pie.  You
> don't need anyone hustling in on "your share". 
> Remember we live on an
> island and its a big decision to leave or stay here.
> Believe me I know.
> With out real competition why raise salaries?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> [mailto:luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu]On Behalf Of
> Stan Baptista
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 8:40 PM
> To: luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> Subject: RE: [luau] our economy
> 
> 
> re: with a small group of businessmen controlling
> most
> of what goes on in this economy.
> 
> That might make sense.  I was born and raised here
> and
> I have heard this comment before.  Pardon my
> ignorance
> but, if this is true, how do "they" go about
> controlling salaries?  Sorry for beating this poor
> horse to death but I just don't believe the costs
> here
> are higher than places like Silicon Valley.
> 
> --- Jeff Zidek <z-man at hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> > [mailto:luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu]On Behalf
> Of
> > Vikram Khurana
> > Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 3:38 PM
> > To: luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> > Subject: RE: [luau] our economy
> >
> >
> > > A personal observation: Nothing is done in
> Hawaii
> > that can be done
> > > somewhere else. So, if you are a tech person,
> your
> > future here will most
> > > likely depend on supporting an activity that is
> > best done here. Tourism,
> > > the military, state and local government, home
> > repairs for movie stars
> > > living on Maui.
> >
> > I have lived here for nine years now and have to
> > agree with Scott and partly
> > with Vikram.  Part of it is our payment in
> "sunshine
> > dollars"  but the
> > biggest part is a good ole boy mentality with a
> > small group of businessmen
> > controlling most of what goes on in this economy.
> > Why would they want
> > things to change?  They have been in control since
> > 1900 so why rock the
> > boat.   It is going to take a dedicated bunch of
> new
> > entrepreneur with a
> > vision of the future and maybe backing from the
> > mainland to break open
> > treasure chest that is here for us.  I was a high
> > school teacher here for a
> > couple of years an have seen first hand what we
> need
> > to do to bring up the
> > standard of tech learning in public schools here.
> > That's why I am so
> > dedicated to HOSEF.  We have half the equation to
> > bring good tech jobs here.
> > We have a great location (geographically and for
> > recruitment), we have a
> > good understanding of growing Asian markets, we
> have
> > people ready to work,
> > but are lacking a skilled workforce  (top
> complaint
> > I have heard from tech
> > companies wanting to come here) we haven't built
> up
> > the tech infrastructure
> > (though that is changing) and most of all we make
> it
> > difficult for new
> > companies to do business here, leading back to my
> > first point.  That why it
> > so important we break down as many of those
> barriers
> > as is humanly possible.
> > I don't know about the rest of you but I married
> > into a Hawaiian family and
> > will probably be buried in Kaneohe cemetery when I
> > go.  The mainland is
> > really not an option.  For those of you who are in
> > the same boat as me lets
> > make this tech industry become a reality here. 
> Just
> > my 2 cents   Jeff Zidek
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > LUAU mailing list
> > LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> > http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > LUAU mailing list
> > LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> > http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
> 
> 
> =====
> ______________________
> Stan Baptista - sbaptista at yahoo.com
> Webawocky Website Designs
> www.webawocky.com
> great websites happen...by design
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
> http://taxes.yahoo.com/
> _______________________________________________
> LUAU mailing list
> LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
> 
> _______________________________________________
> LUAU mailing list
> LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau


=====
______________________
Stan Baptista - sbaptista at yahoo.com
Webawocky Website Designs
www.webawocky.com
great websites happen...by design

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
http://taxes.yahoo.com/