Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Moving On – Quickly – to Another Topic before Caller Can Talk Rail & Democracy with Dijou

Maybe it was just coincidence that soon after KHVH’s call screener heard we had pro-rail views, the show’s host moved on to another topic this morning. Maybe a City Council member’s opinions on presidential politics are somehow relevant (?).

Whatever, Rick Hamada’s session with Councilman Charles Dijou was once again completely anti-rail and included no calls from the public to take issue with anti-rail Dijou and his Sideshow arguments (see earlier post for a discussion on the Sideshow). We would have talked about:

Democracy – Dijou said again today he believes in democracy (he’d better) and therefore backs a vote on the rail project. We would have asked him what the December 22, 2006 City Council vote was all about. That’s when representatives elected by the public voted 7-2 to adopt the fixed-guideway transit alternative over the four others that had been studied (to death). Dijou was one of the two, so naturally, that expression of democracy at work doesn’t satisfy him.

Fact vs Propaganda – Dijou’s opening shot was to once again label the City’s information effort “propaganda” instead of what it truly is – factual information to counter the anti-rail inaccurate Sideshow arguments and focus public attention on rail as a commuting alternative to sitting in traffic. A publicly funded information campaign is mandated for projects that receive federal funding, and this one will attract $900 million from Washington.

“Stick to the Message” – That’s Dijou’s advice, but he himself avoids the fundamental issues about this project by constantly focusing on the Sideshow. His alternatives to rail don’t do the one thing that’s required – increase mobility for the individual commuter by providing a way around traffic congestion. Dedicated toll lanes won’t do it because unless the plan is to build individual off ramps to each parking location in town, vehicles on those lanes will eventually be stuck in traffic.

More from the Sideshow

We talked yesterday with a friend who has signed the anti-rail petition and asked what his big objection to rail is, and it came down to Honolulu’s alleged inability to maintain a rail system due to our climate, rust, etc. So I pointed out that dozens of elevators and other key equipment in town are maintained with no apparent problem and that train systems apparently are maintained well around the world in caustic conditions. He had no response, because the “maintenance issue” is another Sideshow act that attracts attention but has no substance.

We’ll keep up our attempts to talk with Councilman Dijou and will call his propaganda-driven KHVH show earlier next Tuesday.

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