I would guess this is a common fear and accounts for the apathy and antipathy towards sovereignty and independence.

This is an opportunity to assuage those fears and point out some of the benefits of independence. Other letter writers to the Advertiser in recent weeks have advocated limiting in migration to mitigate rising housing costs and traffic congestion. As a state we could not do that. But, as an independent nation, we could have an immigration policy.

Economically, tourism would likely increase after independence and the US would not want to give up their bases, but might be willing to pay (more than a dollar a year) to use the military bases. The military payroll is a major contributor to the Hawai`i economy. As far as "making it on our own", a ten or twenty year transition period should ease the economic disruptions incumbent with independence.

Those of you with letter writing skills-- this letter from Shaneatte Yette presents a unique opportunity to promote independence. I am not talking about arguments about the legality or justice of independence-- those points have been argued numerous times-- but letters that promote the potential benefits. Letters that dream about the great nation that Hawai`i can become again. A nation with friendly relations with all the world's nations, including the United States.