Candle in the wind

This year is the midterm election. We begin hearing rumors galore of prospective candidates that include incumbents and newcomers. So discussion begins on the vetting process or ways to examine their qualifications. Should prove to be an interesting review!

The easiest way to choose candidates other than vote buying is to listen to their campaign by analyzing their expressions. It’s vital to eliminate superficial rhetoric or fact from fiction. Some would try old and tired lies. Others are on the fence with wet pants fearful of being caught that they have become servile sycophants to a rich donor. No worries! I’ve done my homework.

“The cultural trait of gossip is a device. It goes without saying that it is a path not without effort, but it is effective because it relies on the truth.” And it is more than skin deep. In brief, rumors in the islands are basically the truth. The only thing missing initially is confirmation. But what is spread has had to have its genesis somewhere.

Intuitively, the midterm election would turn into a contest of “war chests.” Incumbents, especially the majority, would see their re-election paid for by their sugar daddy. Minority incumbents who recently jumped fence would have expenses bankrolled too as the newest slaves. It’s the depressed economy and voters would be out to vote with their pocketbooks! And even if you take a backseat view to avoid scrutiny, you’d never make it.

The new and more promising candidates would have to deal with the headwind of less, but your survival is in sinking the message of integrity in servant leadership—serving others. I see cockroaches in you—quality that you’re tough and could survive the challenge—where your voice would resonate well with voters.

Bribery would become even more vicious using locals as liaison to make their Lucifer’s Pitch of fame and wealth that doesn’t belong to them. They want you as slaves on their side where you almost instantly and obediently ask how high do you jump. Can they exact punishment if you stand your ground to stay clean?

Their fugitive balloon leaks slowly and wouldn’t float and bounce like it once did in its initial days. And nothing would take the wind out of your sails. We will complete the journey of indigenous victory though a seeming candle in the wind.

Defining moment
This midterm election is our last chance to recapture what’s ours in order to remap our destiny as the indigenous people of these islands. It’s time to restore integrity and disposition that would enable us to guide our canoe forward amidst the brewing storm of corruption!

It’s now or never! Our battle may be uphill but we shall conquer our goal. Our destiny belongs to no one else except we the indigenous people! Poor as we may be our powerful sense of humility embedded in our culture would carry us once more by uniting on every front. The challenge isn’t insurmountable. We’ve been down this road before and we’ve prevailed! Remember 1979 when we first shot down casino? Let’s repeat the history of victory of “we the people.”

The quick spread of money to secure political control of the NMI by a rich corporation buying the loyalty of policymakers is but despicably humiliating and failed expected traction. Whatever happened to your sense of social conscience? Have you been completely inebriated and blurred by fear and greed for the misapplication of social responsibility?

Understood the primary reason for doing so in the full guard of exclusive perks we’ve never seen extended here to others. Thus, the all out agenda to re-elect their lap dogs to stand full guard on two issues that matter to them.

Their outreach or so-called corporate social responsibility is panting for air in desperado land. It has started crumbling in places the firm hasn’t been able to see with critical eyes. If from the outset you’ve missed it the end result would reflect it.

For social responsibility to have any meaning and substance, then the firm should have left the decision of “we the people” alone. We said “no” twice yet you had the gall in concert with servile lap dogs to impose a decision contrary to the voice of our people? Isn’t this the way it’s done in communist countries? Did you forget that the NMI is a democracy?

Our people have been silent about the forced imposition of the casino industry. Their quietude is difficult to gauge. They are boiling mad at the lack of respect in their voice on this matter. They’d keep silent but are fully aware what they need to do to bring this issue to closure with finality. We’ve proven it since 1979!

We may be the candles in the wind but we will continue flickering and sputtering until the fire turns into a towering inferno of indigenous expression recapturing what’s ours!

Kara` Si Mariana! Money you’ve worked for and earned through a job has many benefits especially the humble appreciation of the value of a dollar.

I know how hard it is living paycheck to paycheck on salaries that have remained the same for more than two decades. We cringe as the cost of basic goods take to the skies. For families with children in college the obligation to help turns into a task.

You cut expenses on every corner even juggling which bankbook to pay on a certain payday Friday. You get behind and must still fork out some more for late charges. Is there a chance salaries would increase anytime soon? Don’t bet on it!

New revenue generation is a scarcity. Funds for the retirement program ends two-and-a-half years from now piled by an unfunded liability of some $789 million. Amidst a $510 million deficit how do we navigate bankruptcy? There’s the budgetary shortfall of $9 million and $7 million last and this fiscal year. Does anybody know the NMI is literally bankrupt?