Stepping on dirty toes

The CNMI’s loss of credibility as an investment venue has dug a deeper and wider hole in the deepening fiscal crisis and economic depression at home. The only way out is to consciously chance what’s known as “cronyism” to move things forward. And the elected elite fell for it. What is this beast?

When government partners with a mega-venture to conduct business where the latter commands anything and everything from land to laws. Has this happened here? You be the critical observer. What’s wrong with this deal?

The government—in much the same as Obama has done in Washington—decides who are the winners and losers in basically all deals—to move growth forward. The firm may not secure public funding but the influence it holds leaves everybody else at the door. Is this the right paradigm or approach to spurring economic growth? This policy started less than a decade ago, forcing Japanese investors and U.S. to head elsewhere.

Again, you be the critical judge on this issue. You could use either simple common sense or inference to draw your own conclusions. As the NMI takes superficial celebratory comfort in its assumed wealth it equally ignores the receding revenue generation and the obvious budgetary shortfall it faces in the near and long-term. This is very troubling!

I’m not fixated on critical observations about the deepening budgetary shortfall to the tune of $150 million nor is it an issue for personal celebration either. Why does it matter to me? Stepping into the fiscal fault line translates to, yes, greater hardship among villagers. This is the very issue I find most troubling. How do we pay for retirees’ pay of $40 million next fiscal year? Where do we scrounge funds like $86 million for CHC and PSS, not to mention other critical obligations?

But then the quietude we’ve demonstrated could well speak of our approving the reckless disregard of funds to ensure adequate public services are met on a timely basis. We shall see how this paradox on cronyism pans out.

Now, while Japanese-U.S. investment may have receded we have in our living room a huge elephant now teaching the servile boys a new song. With coconuts gone, the boys have obediently reviewed the songs for their Christmas skit.

It’s a bit convoluted and it is for this reason that it takes real leadership to sift through the maze to provide guidance what needs to be done in terms of working in new investments.

Isn’t our collective fiduciary duty to ensure sufficient opportunities for our people? Would the newfound toy in cronyism do the job? Isn’t this the seat of corruption in government?

Fast and furious
While we mouth off superficially about indigenous rights and interests, our actions or inactions haven’t been stellar standing up for what’s ours! I liken the envisioned growth in casino and accompanying social scourge as the hard-to-predict volcanic eruption. But when it hits it’s usually devastating on every front.

If “fast and furious” isn’t domesticated, then there’s a greater chance we would replicate the displacement of our Palauan brothers and sisters. The Chinese with tons of money came in buying anything and everything. It has even brought in its tour buses replacing locals in this business. Sad too that many have been displaced from Koror! Anybody home?

The agenda is humongous that includes cultural transition from tradition to their version of social responsibility. Interestingly, the firm uses our very own to create an agenda that would slowly destroy our heritage. It’s a basic in anthropology!

Are muted silence and indifference the best answer we could render plans designed to displace the indigenous people permanently? Why would we want to close the barn door after all the horses have run out? Dizzying, huh?

Poverty of leadership
There’s the biblical passage of Moses leading his people out of Egypt into a better place. He essentially brought his followers out of slavery and poverty. He risked all to fulfill the command of God the Father. It’s called leadership!

My friend and I have also been peeping around imperial Capital Hill to see if there’s anyone with leadership qualities that could bring the multitude out of fully designed abject poverty.

Declared Magoo: “None! What’s his name, Raffy? He talks about poverty when his leadership suffers from poverty itself.” Did he mean his lack of leadership or ill-conceived strategy? He’s actually saying, when talking about poverty, we’re broke!

Hooked on a feeling
There’s woefully quiet whisper among elected officials these days wherever they go: “Hooked On A Feeling.” In other words, have the feds been knocking at your doors? Hmmm! That should be followed by “Sugar,” you know, sugar daddy or someone paying for all your expenses for compromising your integrity. Dollar a beer is included for faithful followers.

We still have yet to see a couple more of the elected elite line up for a day at Horiguchi and stint at a federal penitentiary. This begins with a certain melody and should end with “Silent Night” when one is alone pondering the fatal path of greed.

Today, we hear speeches about poverty. Yet just south of the NMI is Guam whose tourism industry is constantly expanding with additional international flights and investments in new hotels. Ours has gone Deep South. I’m sure we’re intellectually fit to discern the obvious anomaly in what’s happening in our southern neighbor versus ours.

While not a fan of militourism—military expansion and tourism—it’s interesting how it has expanded exponentially as we salivate for bread crumbs. Or is this a reflection of the mindset upstairs? I mean what have you done in real time to improve the wellbeing of families suffering miserably at your feet?