Joe Kent

A Hawaii Libertarian
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  • Joe Kent

The Boy Who Never Went to School Jun 9, 2014

Have you ever heard of anybody who never went to school? No, I don’t mean ‘home schooled’. I’m talking about no school at all. No curriculum. No home school course. No online accredited program. Never went to Kindergarten, or any other grade. In America, that is rare, because education is compulsory.  Kids are forced by law to go to school. Christian’s mom learned that lesson well. She said when Christian was six years old, “They came out with a police officer, and wanted to inspect the home environment. We eventually moved out of the state because of it . ....

By Joe Kent Vote45 11

The Price of Paradise May 17, 2014

Why is rent in Hawaii going up, up, up?  (Hint: it's because of government)  Libertarian Joe Kent talks to economist Ken Schoolland, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, developers, land owners, realtors, and even landlords to find out the truth about the "Price of Paradise".  The show is broadcast across Hawaii's public access stations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00TMKaEumLA 1 hour

By Joe Kent Vote3 1

What if Kids Were Graded like Teachers Were Paid? May 3, 2014

In Hawaii, and much of America, teachers get paid by how many years they've worked.  They start at the bottom of the pay scale, and every year their pay goes up automatically.  So imagine if teachers gave grades in the same way they were paid. In kindergarten, all kids would get an F. By the first grade, the entire class would get a D-minus. Second Graders would get a D, and third graders would have a D+.  Fifth-graders would all get a C, and so on, until in the 12th grade, every student would have an A-plus!  It would look...

By Joe Kent Vote9 1

The Monster in the Classroom May 3, 2014

A talk I gave about how government is a monster in the classroom.  I talk about the lack of safety, Common Core, wasted money, and the lack of power for individuals in the education system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVKi1ohPKcQ The talk was given at the "Foolish Things Salon" on Oahu.  By Joe Kent.  The Foolish Things Salon is led by Ken and Li Schoolland.

By Joe Kent Vote4 1

Why Fads are Healthy for Kids May 3, 2014

There's a new fad sweeping through Hawaii's schools.  The Kendama!  You know, that little cup and ball and string that you played with for two seconds when you were a kid?  Well, this isn't a dinky little toy anymore.  In Hawaii, there are competitions and tournaments, where Kendama champions show off their coolest tricks! At the school where I teach, Kendamas are at a fever pitch.  The recess playground is filled with giant mobs of kids all playing Kendama.  And they are pretty expensive!  It's hard to find a Kendama for less than $30, and the really good ones can cost more...

By Joe Kent Vote2 0

5 Tough Questions for Democrats May 3, 2014

I like democrats because they are very honest and they have big hearts. But as a libertarian, I often scratch my head, wondering how democrats would answer these questions. 1) When you read a list of all the questionable things Obama has done, is he still a “good president”? For example: He continues to hunt down Edward Snowden as if he were a terrorist. He lied about letting people keep their health insurance. Obama increased the National Debt more than any previous president. He renewed the Patriot Act. He wanted to go to war in Syria (stopped by the American people). Guantanamo Bay is still open and bigger than before....

By Joe Kent Vote14 0

Why is Rent Rising on Maui? May 3, 2014

I'm paying $1000 a month to live in a tiny studio on the west side of Maui. This is comparable to rent in New York City, except that gas and groceries are cheaper in New York. Why is rent going up on Maui? Ask most people and they'll say, "It's because of greed.  Landlords are just too greedy on Maui." But landlords are greedy all over the world, and they have been since the dawn of time. It must be something else. In 2006, the County Council of Maui enacted the "Workforce Housing Policy", which was supposed to increase housing...

By Joe Kent Vote1 0

The Market for Open Spaces May 3, 2014

One day I was leaving a county council meeting on Maui, and I got in the elevator with a group of older ladies. I pretended to ignore them while I listened intently. “Can you believe it? We did it! We got the government to buy the land!” “Thank goodness,” another lady said, “I was afraid the view of the ocean would be blocked from my house.” “Well,” the leader said, “I heard that a developer is planning on buying some land up north. We'd better hop to it again, ladies!” They all cheered. I kept my mouth shut and wondered:...

By Joe Kent Vote3 0

A Libertarian Visits Monsanto May 3, 2014

“Eww, I can't believe you're eating all those GMOs,” a kid once told me, as I was eating Burger King french fries for lunch. Needless to say, it didn't really help my appetite. I asked, “How do you know that GMOs are bad for you?” as I ate another fry. She said, “Everybody knows that.” Indeed. Everybody does seem to know lately that GMOs are bad for you. News articles, documentaries, and protesters have been telling us about the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms for years, and many people are very upset about the food on our dinner plates. Recently,...

By Joe Kent Vote27 6

Sugar Cane Burning May 3, 2014

Growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii, I remember stories of how the sugar cane industry died so long ago, and how the Big Island economy died along with it.  So when I first moved to Maui, I was in awe.  Out the window of the airplane, I saw beautiful green fields of sugar cane like a carpet over the windy valley isle.  “What a miracle!” I thought.  It was like stepping back into Hawaii's golden age of sugar. Then, one day, I noticed a giant black pillar of smoke stretching miles into the air.  It looked like someone...

By Joe Kent Vote3 0

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