Evasion of reality

CUC is in the ditch by $31 million. It’s the result of a failed legislative engineering design. It sent it spinning into insolvency. That legislative “circuitous logic” cripples CUC’s operations isn’t news anymore. I mean, what else is there? It happens when one fails to use inference. It’s a legislative trophy in humiliation—another given. Combined legislation cuts over $10 million in revenues due CUC. Must be the work of evil geniuses.

With the Legislature falling flat on its face with shortsighted salvos, how does this deficiency spare the multitude of likely rolling blackouts? It’s even comically questionable if it could use critical scrutiny to secure an overview of the woefully sick fiscal posture of the NMI.

Does it know that of the $31 million in CUC debt, some $14 million is money owed from fuel purchases? Appalling that this doesn’t compute in the minds of 29 very smart legislators nor are they wary of the dire consequence of reckless derailment of CUC funds.

The erupting mountain of debts reminds me of the work of engineers in the book Atlas Shrugged. The train ran out of fuel in the middle of a long and deep tunnel. The engineers ordered trainloads of coal to fire it up. When the coal train arrived it ran straight into the waiting train. It exploded like an A-bomb that crumbled the tunnel. Everybody was killed!

Now, the “willful rejection of reason by those who think the rules of reality don’t apply to them can cause tragedy for everyone. Do we really believe that we can get ourselves out of an economic crisis caused by too much debt by creating more debt? Do we believe the answer to stimulating real economic growth is piles of debts? Are not these incidents of persistent evasions of reality stem from the blurred prism of those at the helm?”

Victims: We the people…
The geniuses would be dealing with projected revenue for fiscal year 2016 of some $180 million. Subtract about 60 percent for government salaries for a balance of about $80 million. This should be earmarked and limited to essential departments: $42 million, PSS; $40 million, CHC; $30 million, settlement fund; $31 million, CUC; DPS and others. Real juggling is a must to walk a woefully tight fiscal rope. No room for specious arguments here.

But let’s challenge the 29 legislators to begin spending cuts with itself by downsizing a useless bicameral to a unicameral system of eight members. You could save taxpayers nearly $4 million by doing the right thing today! Don’t rely on suspect tourism dollars, what with plans to cut flights out of Tokyo this winter. Economic stagnancy and dystopia still rule the entire economic landscape. What are your plans on the long awaited economic recovery?

Would raising taxes be the appropriate option at this point in time? Weren’t salaries recently assaulted by another spike in health premiums and deductibles? How about reduction in force of government employees? Do we really need all 3,000-plus public sector employees? Isn’t this sheer excess baggage forced against the tired taxpayers?

Some 1,100 employees are under contracts just to avoid the merit system that pays less. So what good is meritocracy in this case? Isn’t the system designed to ensure real qualifications?

It’s time that you show leadership. Stop being spectators as though you’re victims too. “We the people” are your victims!

Meth capital of NMI
It’s frightening to learn how methamphetamine or “ice” has descended and infested the peaceful island community of Tinian. It’s even more frightening to hear that the destructive drug is manufactured there then sold locally and throughout the NMI.

Cattle rustling have returned, including theft of other livestock. Farmers who usually head home after sunset now stay back to guard their farm-raised animals. It has come down to people stealing from each other, the stolen items sold to meet the new habit.

Meth smoke is very destructive, its use paralyzing families who are into it. Young minds would simply flush their future down the drain. How sad if strong families disintegrate because of this drug. I’ve seen once very productive families destroyed and reduced to some form of federal assistance. Sad.

I know this is a headache for the mayor, DPS, and the DEA. But a concerted effort to cleanse the island of manufacturers and peddlers is the path to resetting the community’s peaceful existence. The growing social malignancy must be stopped dead on its track. It’s time to move in and save the island and its people.