Thoughts on 43
Today I turn 43.
I’m marking the occasion in usual fashion, with one exception. I chose to spend the few days leading up to and following my birthday staying with friends in the remote volcanic forest landscape of Ocean View on the Big Island of Hawaii. Perhaps its unsurprising that this is the first travel of any kind I’ve done the end of 2019 before COVID-19 forced a shuttering of the world.
It has been almost two weeks since the legislature concluded “sine die.” In that time there have been a handful of news stories that attempt to sum up this year’s session. For my part, as the conclusion of the 2021 legislative session recedes in the rear view, I’ve contemplated my own assessment of the session.
While there are certainly bright spots worth highlighting, from my perspective the legislature was as it always is. A colossal disappointment.
Legislators, operating within the confines of a capitol closed to the public amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, were largely sheltered from a public that usually would be bustling around the building. Though there were arguably exceptions, legislators did “the people’s work” while ignoring them.
I’ll get to that. First, the highlights.
Anyone who pays attention to local politics of the legislative variety is aware of efforts to force House Leadership to come to the aid of working families.
Civil Beat reported earlier this week that a number of labor leaders sent a letter to Speaker Saiki urging him to take swift action on two bills currently stuck in committee. SB614 would exempt unemployment benefits from the Hawaii income tax, while SB676 would raise the state minimum wage to $12 an hour at the start of 2022.
Many unions and advocates for working families have been pushing for these bills since January, with little effect. But with the end of session fast approaching, time grows short for these bills to advance.
Disclosure: I currently work as the Chief of Staff for Representative Matt LoPresti, though I speak here only for myself.
I’ve been warned by some friends and allies that what follows may increase tensions among progressives, create divisions, and cause strife. They may be right, but I nonetheless feel compelled to share my thoughts on a recent email from Gary Hooser. Ultimately, it is not my goal to divide progressives and I hope folks will read this with an open mind.
For those who may not know my progressive credentials, here’s a short list of highlights:
There was a time, not all that long ago, when I considered myself an ally with Gary Hooser.
I first met him when he was Majority Leader in the Hawaii State Senate at a time when Marriage Equality was the top issue of the day. Back then he was unabashed in his ideals and savvy in his political acumen. He helped lead legislative efforts that eventually led to the passage of Marriage Equality in Hawaii.
Many also know him as the primary mover on laudable pesticide ban efforts on Kauai and statewide. There’s no doubt he’s made a name for himself and done good things for our state and progressive causes.
But I fear his time out of office and away from the Capitol, not to mention a growing fandom of acolytes, has clouded his judgement.
This first began to be apparent to me a couple of years back, following the death in conference committee of a $15 minimum wage bill. He was convinced and successfully convinced others that the best, most strategic approach, was to call for that bill to be passed out of conference the following session. While a technically possible procedural move, it very rarely happens.
Either the bill would remain stalled in conference committee, for which he could cast aspersions on the committee members. Or it would move out, for which he could claim credit. A win-win strategy for him; a failed effort for a living wage.
Within Pono Hawaii Initiative, he and I began to differ considerably on electoral strategies and his unyielding “agree to disagree” approach ultimately forced me to move on.
Obviously, he is free to do what he wants. Ultimately however, I believe his strategy of “throwing-spaghetti-and-see-what-sticks” is both seriously flawed and does damage to broader progressive efforts.
Hooser’s insistence on hanging the repeated failure of a living wage around the neck of Speaker Saiki not only evidences a flawed understanding (or willful ignoring) of how the House actually operates, but does nothing to actually further the cause of a living wage in Hawaii. His notion that the Speaker is “king” and gets whatever he wants is both simplistic and naive.
But it sure does make for good press and certainly doesn’t hurt fundraising efforts. I prefer honesty to political high jinks .
Most recently, he wrote this blog post: Blowing Smoke On Cannabis Legalization – Pulling back the curtain on SB767…. Where to begin?
As has become his MO, Hooser lays at the feet of Speaker Saiki the fate of SB767. Is the referral a not-so-subtle move to ensure the bill’s demise? Probably. But Hooser’s not-so-subtle implication is that the bill would sail through were it not for the opposition of the Speaker and Chair Yamane.
Never mind there is at least a plurality, if not an outright majority of House members who are, at best, uncomfortable with the idea of cannabis legalization for adult use. And never mind the nuances of dynamics within the Majority Caucus. It might be that if Hooser had his way, Saiki would be blamed for the fall of Rome and the disappearing bee population.
Let me be clear. The Speaker of the House derives his power and authority from the Majority Caucus. They elect him and support him to lead so long as he in turn protects them and their interests. To suggest that the Speaker (and the HHH Chair) stand as the sole roadblocks to the passage of SB767 is dishonest for the sake of political theatrics and storytelling; everyone loves to hate a story’s villain.
Maybe the Speaker doesn’t want it. Maybe he does. But if there is virtually no will in the House to pass it, why expend finite political capital?
Sometimes nuance matters. When I provide my thoughts on bills or political machinations, I try to do my best to provide as complete a picture as possible. Even if it may not help my particular position on any given issue. Honesty matters.
So far as I am aware, Hooser had not spoken to any of the Progressive Caucus members he named before he published his post. He certainly never broached the subject with Representative LoPresti or his staff.
To call for the Caucus members who serve on the HHH Committee to take this action without first discussing it with them has come to be emblematic of Hooser’s standard approach. Appearing to have little concern for whether they believe his suggestion is a good one seems irrelevant to him. Just like with the living wage bill, one of two things could happen.
One, the Caucus members chose not to formally request a hearing for SB767, for which he can then publicly condemn them for not doing so. In which case he is the champion and the rest of us are “cowards” or “not real progressives”. Or two, the members to make the formal request and, regardless of the outcome, he can take credit for the action.
For Hooser, his haphazard call is win-win. With little or no consideration for whether the people he names actually think its a good idea. His “agree to disagree” approach again shows his unwillingness to work with folks who may not agree with his particular strategic approach.
Ultimately, whether he likes it or not, there is a political calculus that is constantly considered at the Capitol. Should the Progressive Caucus members named expend political capital for this bill when the likelihood of its passage this year is SO LOW? Maybe. Maybe not. But Hooser doesn’t appear to give any thought to this consideration.
That SB767 is referred jointly to JHA AND CPC isn’t mentioned in his post at all. Where is Chair Johanson on this bill? I have no idea and I’m guessing Hooser doesn’t either.
Even if Chair Nakashima were inclined to hear the bill, without an agreement from Chair Johanson it doesn’t matter. That it is jointly referred means both Chairs need to agree to hear it.
The unabashed followers of Hooser’s “thoughts, analysis, and ramblings” may not like that there IS a political calculus that takes place, but that is nonetheless the reality of the building and of politics in general. Everything has consequences. Everything has a cost.
I support legal cannabis use for adults. Unfounded fears and a support for law enforcement’s ongoing failed and flawed war on drugs stand between us and that reality in Hawaii. Numerous reasons exist, supported by research, for legalizing adult use cannabis. But this post isn’t about just legalization or SB767.
No progressive can honestly deny the largely frustrating and sometimes hopeless dynamics at the Capitol for good legislation that helps people who need help the most, including those seeking relief with CBD and sleep. I certainly won’t. From paid family leave, to a living wage, to cannabis legalization, public education, to criminal justice reform, to a more progressive tax policy, there is a long and growing list of real issues facing the state that the legislature seems at times uninterested in tackling.
However, to poke legislators in the eye, call them names, and publicly offend them is going to result in nothing good.
I hope Hooser will come back to this understanding and change his tactics. Not only is he not making new friends, but he’s driving away allies who want to maintain relationships in order to move the ball forward. Rather than calling for a hail mary on every single play, I and those I work with inside and outside the building believe the work of moving the ball forward should take priority over style and flash.
This blog, Regarding Frost, was previously a combined collection of journal entries, poems, letters, etc. I (weirdly) named them “The Howling Melancholy Chronicles.” Those collective writings can be found here, here, and here. They are incredibly personal.
While in college, as I transformed my “journal” into this blog, I decided to transcribe those collections. Partly because I find typing soothing (yes, I’m strange) and it was a way for me to read things I had written in years prior. Since then, this blog has largely served as a forum for me to share thoughts and feelings.
I have lived with depressive states for nearly as long as I can remember. My journal and later this blog, has been an outlet. Sharing my experience with dysthymia is one way I cope. But as I got older and more comfortable with myself I found it easier to be more open about my foibles.
And so here I am again. Having struggled to write anything more meaningful in recent weeks (like local politics, national elections, etc.), I thought it was necessarily time for me to write one of these posts again.
For the last several weeks, I’ve been “down.” Struggling for focus, motivation, or energy to do much of anything. It’s been hard, to say the least, and it’s been quite a while since it’s been this bad.
When I write personal entries like this, I am often challenged to sit for any stretch. I’m easily restless and will get up from the desk to pace. Or smoke. Or both. And so it remains. I started this post several days ago and continue to find it difficult to put thoughts to form.
Like drawing poison from a wound, sometimes it’s just helpful for me to try to organize chaotic thoughts spewed onto the page. So that’s what I’m attempting to do here. Though even in this instance I am really struggling to sit and get it done. I’m hoping that once I’ve exorcised these thoughts and feelings out into the blogosphere I can begin to move more positively in my life.
I don’t know how rare it is for dysthymia to devolve into full-blown depression, but throughout my life, it’s only happened once (maybe twice). It’s a terrible and terrifying experience. The last time I experienced it was toward the end of my time at college; I very nearly didn’t graduate.
Though dysthymia is a “persistent depressive disorder,” my experience with it has been relatively mild, I think. It’s always there, like a shadow on my brain but in recent years I’ve been able to function normally. Years of regular therapy was a huge help in making that possible. In my younger years, it was worse and definitely impacted my life, my ability to be productive, and relationships. I was almost never incapacitated, as one might be with depression, but I definitely think I was impaired. Somewhat emotionally crippled.
I haven’t really had thoughts of suicide since college; lots of therapy helped. Even now, I have no desire to end my life, but I also am struggling to find a point in any of it.
People have different things that drive them. That makes them happy. For many of my friends and family, it’s the non-job-related things that give their lives meaning. Spouses and children. Or hobbies. For them, their job is simply the thing they do to pass time, provide for their families, or finance their hobbies or retirement.
For a few, their career gives them joy and meaning. Purpose. Those folks have been lucky to find the thing they love to do and managed to make a living at it. Hobbies turned careers.
For such a long time, it was the idea of being in love that I sought as a means to be happy. Being in a relationship. However, given my extreme awkwardness in relationships and dating, I long ago gave up on the prospect of marriage or a family; I will be a life-long bachelor. So that’s out.
Around the same time, I thought I found the thing that would give my life purpose (and joy): politics. With no children raise, I sought to leave my mark on the world in other ways. Politics can shape the world and have deep and meaningful impacts on people’s lives. For better or worse.
I made a transition to a life in government and politics more than a decade ago and for the most part, I’ve been satisfied with that choice. I’ve even done some good things in that time. For a time, I thought I had made the decision that would chart the course for the remainder of my life.
I worked for a State House Representative and two Governors. Then I left to embark on a new chapter as a consultant. I set up my own business and received my Master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University.
Since then, things have been… a struggle. I’ve struggled for work and struggled to be financially secure. In both 2018 and 2019, I made less than half of what I had working in the Governor’s Office. This year hasn’t been much better and since graduating in 2018, I’ve worked fewer days than not. And I’ve racked up personal debt in the tens of thousands of dollars paying bills (mostly health insurance).
Now, in 2020, the steaming shit-pile dumpster fire of a year, I’ve started to question what the hell I’m doing. It’s pretty clear now I can’t cut it as a self-employed operative. Though I’ve potentially got a job lined up post-election, I can’t help but feel like it’s a step backward. Both professionally and financially.
I have no personal life. No love life. I’ve always taken some comfort in the thought that at least I had a professional life, but now it feels like I’ve failed at that too.
So… I’m really struggling to find meaning in… anything. I wake up. I go through the motions of daily life. And I find little joy in much of any of it.
Over the course of my adult life, I’ve learned to be more attuned my emotional and mental states. I don’t have “cycles” per se, but have “episodes” that can last from a couple of days to weeks.
One of the ways I’ve learned to cope is to regularly remind myself that there’s always an end. I come out the other side feeling better, normal. But this bout has lasted far longer than average. To some extent, it can be attributed to COVID jail, but I don’t think all of it.
I’ve also learned that the best way to keep quiet the dark voices in my brain is to keep busy. Feel productive. Since August that has been incredibly challenging.
I keep waiting, hoping that I’ll wake up in the morning having turned the corner. Until that happens, though, each day is just a bit harder to get through than the last. With no purposeful activity and no motivation to seek it out, I’m struggling to find meaning in anything I do.
Maybe the light around the corner tomorrow. Here’s hoping. I truly hate feeling like this.