Here are a few bits and pieces of recommended reading for the weekend.

Larry Geller (www.disappearednews.com) had some very thoughtful comments on Act 221 high tech tax credits earlier this week.

There are many good reasons (location, location, location are three) why Hawaii will not be the high-tech center of anything, with a few possible exceptions. It is still necessary to bring in parts and talent from elsewhere. Aside from the military, we lack access to customers. Meanwhile, other areas of the world are looking more attractive.

Ok, so we provide tax credits, and it works for some companies. They stay here. Maybe they create jobs in Idaho, though, instead of in Hawaii. There’s nothing we can do about that now. Their management does whatever is necessary to qualify for the tax breaks, they go surfing in the early morning and after work, but create jobs and build their products in factories on the Continent.

One after another company has left Hawaii. It’s a parade of companies that were once the darlings of our high-tech promoters. Each leaving, one after the other, as the siren song of success called them to more suitable locations.

We read that there is a shortage of venture capital here, and that’s certainly true, but what’s good for venture capitalists isn’t necessarily good for Hawaii. They want to turn a profit on their investment. When the time comes for the company to make its move to Silicon Valley or elsewhere, they make sure the company catches the first plane out of here.

I like to use Singapore as an example. As told to me by GE executives when I visited them there, in the 1970s Singapore worked with American companies to transform its economy and its society. It was part of their big plan. The companies knew (were told) that on a certain schedule they would have to move from low-grade, cheap labor-intensive jobs to higher-grade jobs. The educational system would provide those more qualified workers. Singapore would create decent housing for them. That’s what happened. Singapore made sure that the companies knew what the party line was, and the companies knew how they would be making a profit into the future. Tax and other incentives were only a part of the deal.

So what’s Hawaii’s plan? Just tax incentives. Guess what: when they’re over, we’re back where we were.

Thanks, Larry.

Check out this article in The Tennessean on ways that the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority evades the reach of the federal Government in the Sunshine Act.

After our recent weekend in Hilo, I flagged this blog, Hilo Living, by a family that “moved to Hilo, Hawaii from Silicon Valley to increase the quality of our life while downsizing our lifestyle.” I hope they keep this blog active.

Last Saturday, the New York Times reported on the upheaval within Unite Here, created through a 2004 merger and the parent union of Hawaii’s Local 5, representing island hotel and restaurant workers. An earlier Los Angeles Times column by Harold Meyerson provides more details about the internal union strife.

The battle is reflected on Local 5’s web site, which advises members to ignore contacts by the internal dissidents.

Local 5 has confirmed reports from Hawaii and the rest of the country that union members are being solicited by robocalls and mailers from a group calling itself “UNITE HERE For Change.”

In addition to the robocalls and mailers, some members have been contacted by hired telemarketers, also identifying themselves as callers for “UNITE HERE for Change,” which prominently features photos of President Obama, and claims to be organizing union members to support him. This is a scam.

This group is NOT associated with Local 5. It is NOT acting on behalf of our union. These calls are part of an organized nationwide attempt to divide and weaken our membership nationally, and to force us to join another union. We believe these calls and mailers are being conducted to trick our members into giving up personal and other information that will be used against Local 5 and the rest of UNITE HERE.

And here’s Ms. Harriet (a.k.a. Harry) wishing everyone a Happy Valentines Day!