How to save lives in Hawaii, in 50 seconds

From Grassroot Institute

HONOLULU, June 2, 2020 >> The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii released a short video today that explains in a mere 50 seconds why, if our leaders let their coronavirus lockdowns linger, Hawaii can expect a wave of "deaths of despair."

It comes on the heels of a commentary written by Joe Kent, institute executive vice president, published Saturday, May 30, in Honolulu Civil Beat, which you can read about below.

WATCH VIDEO

'Let Hawaii Work' campaign about saving lives

Our leaders need to move quickly to completely lift the lockdowns

"Evidence has been mounting for years that prolonged unemployment in a community can result in increased deaths from suicides, substance abuse and other related problems."

That's how Joe Kent, institute executive vice president," starts his commentary, "The best reason to 'Let Hawaii Work’ is to save lives," published Saturday, May 30, in Honolulu Civil Beat. 

In one of the strongest statements yet about the collateral damage being inflicted by Hawaii's coronavirus lockdowns, Kent goes on to say:

"That’s why Hawaii lawmakers need to move quickly to lift completely the state and county lockdowns imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to prevent them from causing more deaths in Hawaii than the virus itself."

But simply lifting the lockdowns won't be enough, Kent says.

Hawaii lawmakers also need to "increase entrepreneurial opportunity and labor mobility, through lower taxes and regulatory reform, so Hawaii’s almost 140,000 unemployed residents can soon get back to work and once again enjoy reasonable levels of prosperity."

At the end of his commentary, Kent recommends the new report produced by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, “Road map to prosperity,” which offers "many specific steps our lawmakers can take to help Hawaii’s economy recover and even excel after the coronavirus lockdowns — and save lives."

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