I strongly believe in the time-honored proverb, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” That is in my personal mind, in my national mind, and in my legislative and political mind. I am proud to say it was also in the mind of the majority of the speakers who attended a recent Hawaii Restaurant Association issues forum Thursday in Honolulu.

I was the first speaker and noted my belief that every issue we discuss in the campaign has to be with a backdrop of the fact that the Iraq War is a national and international disaster and that it is bleeding our national spirit, damaging our international and historical reputation and bankrupting our children and grandchildren. The politicians who continue to hide behind their huge errors in judgment in sending our troops to the wrong country and keeping them in the wrong country to protect those same mistaken politicians need to be replaced.

I then spoke in favor of an increase in the minimum wage because:

1. Our “Family Values” Congress gave itself nine raises over almost 10 years but gave no raises over those same years to mothers and fathers supporting families on minimum wages.
2. If it is a choice between giving tax breaks for the richest Americans or minimum wage increases to the minimum wage earners, I choose to provide relief to the families on minimum wages.
3. Our present federal minimum wage does not come close to allowing a person to live above our national poverty-line wage. How can we rejoice in our abundance while knowing that so many of our fellow (national family) members are struggling to support their families?

So for me it is an easy decision. The federal minimum wage needs to be increased immediately without that legislation being tied to any further “tax give aways” to the richest Americans.

I believe in balanced burdens and benefits. That means the poor get a minimum wage increase now.

Postscript:

• Congratulations to my fellow campaign opponents on the Democratic side who spoke up eloquently and passionately for a minimum wage increase.
• To the two Republican candidates who could not bring themselves to the point of supporting any minimum wage increase for minimum wage earners even though Congressmen got 9 raises — what the heck are you thinking about and who is important to you?