Less than a full month after Rep. Faye Hanohano was formally reprimanded for her openly racist disposition and official arrogance, she now has been quoted in an alternative journal as saying, “I think any district on this island would be happy to have me represent them. Really, Faye? I don’t think Kohala residents are fond of hate speech or imperious behavior, but I could be wrong.
Hanohano’s behavior and self-image hark back to the scandal-ridden terms of Emily Naeole, when the latter sat on the County Council many face-palming years ago. This nonstop saga of ridiculous, immature childishness has prompted me, as a concerned registered voter, to offer a suggestion concerning an additional qualification for candidacy, which I believe would significantly curtail infantile idiocy among our elected officials: a simple intelligence test. To whit, anybody seeking a position of authority, whose workplace decisions affect the lives and well-being of untold numbers of ciitzens, should boast an intelligence quotient of at least 90.
If a representative of any other race conducted herself as does Hanohano, they would be immediately put out to pasture politically. Hanohano has long gotten away with her endless childish folly because of the textbook case condescension granted her by her peers and every adult on this island knows it. Since Hanohano is clearly unintelligent enough that she fails to recognize that such condescension is no compliment, is she truly qualified to judge what is best for the citizens of her district? Why is she on so many commissions, to keep her where she can be monitored?
We do not qualify convicted felons for candidacy. We don’t qualify people with histories of mental illness for candidacy. So why do we qualify people who clearly are imbeciles for candidacy?
This recipient of sentiments which range from Marxist social engineering to Christian charity sits on two committees that I know of while conducting herself like a spoiled toddler. Who voted for that?
An IQ of 90 is not a lot to expect from an elected official. No, this is not a case of “bell-curve racism.” No, this is not a “literacy test for voters.” No, this is not a “funding bill.” This is about preventing the self-depreciating, condescending abnegation of certain voters and party allies from further rendering local leadership a national laughingstock. When mainland politicos crack wise about Honolulu being the “Athens of the Pacific,” they’re referring to elected bosses including Hanohano. An intelligence-level requirement might not immediately dispell our image as it stands, but would perhaps eventually diminish any further evidence of representative slapstick as the federal government weighs out what this state is to receive.
If somebody in Honolulu — or, at least, Hilo — was brave enough to venture a measure mandating such a candidacy qualification as I propose, it might surprise our mainland critics how few of our local voters wear white wristbands, feathered dreads and tinfoil hats. Even in Puna.
I have difficulty believing that any elected body in this state would reject the notion that some appreciable level of intelligence should be a qualifying factor for those seeking office, though I could be sadly mistaken. It nothing else, it would be amusing — and very telling — to see who voted against such a bill. Meanwhile, the mainland will continue to be astounded by reports that our state — and our island — are the most racist — and stupid — places in the United States. Ye shall know them by their deeds.
Tom Munden is a resident of Kapaau.
Viewpoint articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.