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GREENWELL: We, during the discussion of the first <br /> Charter the (inaudible) tried to set up the figure that <br /> might be considered a maximum. . .an amount that might be <br /> influential. One thought might be a $100. Then that starts <br /> getting influential. Then you 're. . . then you' ve got an ear <br /> . . .you've got an ear over your Council member . And the <br /> conclusion that we eventually came to was , it has nothing <br /> to do with the politician. It has to do with the donor , <br /> how much one person might be able. to give only $5 and he <br /> feels that gives him a great many privileges , whoever he ' s <br /> given it to. So it has nothing to dowith politicians . It <br /> has to do with the person giving it and what he thinks is <br /> due him because of the amount he gives to some guy, giving <br /> him. . . that $5 (inaudible) . That may be a good deal of <br /> money for him for political contribution. <br /> SMITH: So if I understand, what we need to do is we <br /> need to publicize that. If you. . .you have to have at <br /> least that much (inaudible) . <br /> GREENWELL: (Inaudible. ) <br /> BETHEA: Gentlemen, one other comment. One of the <br /> points that you made was one of the disadvantages of a <br /> strong-mayor system was that (inaudible) it provides <br /> accountability that. . . You also mentioned that the public <br /> doesn' t know what ' s going on, so there's a potential for <br /> the abuse of power . And you say that in large cities and <br /> in state government this potential danger is <br /> countered. . .is countered by the increased attention of <br /> that media. . .of the media, to the public vote (inaudible) <br /> one of those offices . Again, I don' t have any feeling <br /> that the media here is soft on politicians . <br /> SMITH: It' s not the media soft; it ' s more that the <br /> public ' s soft. The media will provide the information but <br /> the public has to be organized and get out and attend. <br /> You attend County government meetings and how many members <br /> of the public are there? Are they organized? In. . . <br /> BETHEA: Well, I was just. . .you 're do. . .you 're <br /> sentence was , in large cities and state governments this <br /> potential danger for the abuse of power is counteredby <br /> the intent and increased attention of the media. Well, <br /> what I 'm really saying is that. . . in this County, I think <br /> you better watch your step because the media is right <br /> there and it ' s going to bring what it feels to be signi- <br /> ficant facts before the public just as much in this <br /> County as it would in the City and Countyof Honolulu. I <br /> don' t know that there ' s a difference between big cities <br /> and small cities . So, I think these things count myself . <br /> I really. . . I just have difficulty seeing that an abusive' <br /> 179 <br /> - i <br />