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From: <br />Sent: <br />To: <br />Cc: <br />Subject: <br />Dear Mr. Adams, <br />KEN Beilstein <kbeilstein@comcast.net> <br />Sunday, July 15, 2018 2:27 PM <br />Charter Commission <br />OMMMME <br />Charter Commission <br />Congratulations on your appointment as Chairman of The Charter Commission. <br />This is an important appointment since the Charter Commission process is the only method <br />available for Hawaii citizens to participate in government via 'direct democracy'. <br />A brief review of American history will serve to underscore just how important Direct Democracy is, <br />and the critical purpose of the Hawaii County Charter Commission: <br />1. The Civil War devastated the American Republic in the mid -19th century. The primary cause of <br />The Civil War was, of course, the issue of slavery. However, an important lesson drawn from The <br />Civil War was how an 'elite political class' - southern plantation owners -'hijacked' political processes <br />and nearly destroyed American Democracy. <br />2. As a direct result, almost every state admitted to the Union following The Civil War included <br />some means of Citizen -initiated Direct Democracy in its State Constitution. Direct Democracy was <br />viewed then, and continues to be viewed as a necessary control on the 'elite political class'. The <br />Direct Democracy methods varied - some states have binding referenda, others have citizen -initiated <br />propositions or citizen driven constitutional amendment protocols. Of all the states admitted since The <br />Civil War (16 including West Virginia's during the War), every one has a means of Direct, citizen - <br />initiated Democracy - except the State of Hawaii. Additionally, every state west of the Mississippi <br />River has a means of Direct, citizen -initiated Democracy - except Hawaii. <br />3. Why is that? Because, the Hawaii 'elite political class' - at the time of drafting Hawaii's constitution <br />- did not trust the citizens of Hawaii to make decisions for themselves. Hawaiians were deemed 'too <br />immature' by the political elite to decide what is best for Hawaii. That is an unfortunate fact of <br />Hawaiian history. And, unfortunately, we (as Hawaiians) have to live with a flawed State Constitution, <br />and we do not enjoy a Citizen -initiated Direct Democracy Right available to citizens in over 35 states. <br />1 <br />GT- 0001 <br />