When I asked a co-habitant if he has ever felt that things should be done another way, and asked himself, why can't they do it another way and what were these things? He responded with these :
1.) Why can't the licensing department at the police station stay open longer so that the people who work all day will have the chance to renew their license without taking off from work?
2.) The amount of water being used to water highway plants are flooding and flowing on to the highways. Why can't they use less water so it doesn't overflow onto the roads? Why can't they water late at night like the board of water supply recommends to other water users? This would also avoid road hazards caused by this.
3.) Why can't they label or mark the exits close to construction areas on the freeway more clearly so the many motorists can see them?
4.) Why can't they give more money to the University of Hawaii instead of using the money for many unneeded things? There are many things that the university needs and education in Hawaii should be of high importance since it is so isolated from the mainland. Kukui Plaza shouldn't take up so much money from the state.
5.) Why can't there be more shopping centers in isolated areas such as Kaneohe? Why do they keep making more businesses in places that already have businesses?
6.) Why doesn't the state look for more jobs for welfare recipients instead of just giving them the checks? If they have a legitimate reason then it would be all right.
These were the things that were accumulated over time. As things were happening they were written down. The data presented below was collected as we rode both my car and the bus. I explained that I needed to interview a car-mate or bus-mate and he seemed to show a lot of disgust about the way things are done but would only give these:
l.) Why can't there be more buses in the mornings and the afternoons so many people would not have to be squished together? More buses would also make it more convenient and people would not have to wait as long.
2.) Why can't they make more tunnels for easier access to various locations so there would be less traffic jams?
3.) If people are so frustrated by traffic jams, why can't they go to work at night so as to avoid it?
Why can't they put more lights on the highways where it is most needed?
These questions came up when we were in traffic, when we were on the bus, and on the way home. These seemed to be major problems that are occurring right now. Each question was in a way a response or thought at the time each situation occurred. This person was involved directly with the problem and he had a look of disgust on his face. When inconveniences were faced, it seems as though the ultimate thing to say is, "Why can't they do it another way?"
The following data presented were gathered over the phone as we conversed. The subject we mainly focused on was school. The following is what was said:
l. I think that the whole UH system of registration should be another way. They should adapt a computerized system to make it easier for all the students. Why can't they do it this way?
2. The amount of parking is another problem that I think should be done another way, There should be a more fair way of distributing the stickers to people who lives farther away than others. What they should do is make more parking stalls to meet the demand of students needing them,
3. Why do some professors make their exams cumulative when there is a lot to know? I think that it would be more beneficial to the student if they could study and learn the material in more detail than trying to study everything at once. I feel that the learning retention would be better if it was this way.
4. Why can't they expand the graduate school more so they can increase the amount of people able to enter?
5. Since they built the university in such a damp area, why can't they build more covered walkways so the students won't get wet?
6. Why can't they make it so it's not so much of who you know but what you know?
7. Why can't the public libraries open later on weekends? They close too early. That's when people have the most time.
The data below was collected during a conversation with a school mate. As our conversation shifted this persons questions shifted. The conversation took place in the school and this is what was said:
1. Why can't the cost of living go up evenly with the pay? Why can't they balance out so the value of the dollar would remain stable?
2. Why can't the police be there when you want them to? , why are they always there when you don't want them to?
3. Why can't they put more enforcement in the high schools so as to make it safe for all that is involved in the schools?
4. Why aren't there more telephones on the roads in case of an emergency?
5. Why can't the stores open at night when most people aren't working? They seem to open only a few hours for people who are working.
6. Why can't people get parking free if they are going to see a movie? Why do we have to pay for both the parking and the movie?
7. Why can't the immigrants go to where there are less- populated states or less population?
8. Why can't the maintenance workers cut the grass or make other loud noises at night instead of disrupting classes?
Many people have different types of complaints however, they overlap and tend to be common. The main things that overlapped over all of the people I interviewed, is that places aren't open when they want them to, and the next would be, why can't the maintenance workers work at night. I feel that these questions are overlapping because of different points of views. People involved in the same status tend to have the same point of view. Some of these would involve student, driver, rider, taxpayer, shopper, etc. In the data Presented with this report, the co-habitant is a taxpayer, driver, and shopper; the car and bus-mate is a driver, rider, taxpayer, and shopper; the telephone mate is a student, driver, taxpayer, and shopper; the school-mate is a taxpayer student, and driver. As you can see there is a lot of overlap among statuses and because of this , there is also a lot of overlap of problems or questions. The questions always have to deal with the particular statuses and the inconveniences associated with those statuses.
Many people have objections that deal with big organizations or institutions. These objections only occur when they have run across some kind of inconvenience that they themselves experienced. People only tend to grumble about things that would be advantageous to themselves and seldom to the gain of others. They tend not to be satisfied with the situation, but seldom are willing to alleviate the problem. I have noticed from the data and my own feelings that, people tend to take things, and accept the fact that that's the way it is, and they don't do anything about it. They feel that because of the way the system is. They would either get shuffled from place to place, be called crazy or that they just don't know what their talking about, or their grievance would just be set aside, until it is too late. The people tend to feel that they can't do anything even if they wanted to so why bother. It is because of this that apathy seems to arise, even if they really don't like the way it is. Perhaps apathy would be the wrong word to use because some people are really concerned about the problem, but just don't want to get involved. This seems to be typical of the majority of the people and the majority of the situations in general. I feel that this is why many of the problems that people dislike remains a problem.