Trump’s territorial policy

In quiet moments, I’d think through policies that may be dealt the CNMI by the 45th president of our country. Nothing specific has been said, though Trump wants an inclusive policy and seamless transition to rebuilding and re-establishing what made our country great!

Indeed, I’ve been inundated with questions to which I have no answers either. Although Obama wasn’t on the ballot, the voters’ sentiment clearly repudiates his policies that left them destitute and naked of any meaningful representation.

The benefit of a casual connection with Trump remains suspect and not when issues of national substance and importance take center stage.

Kilili is useless in this case, further exacerbated by his reeling to figure out his political identity. He’s ignored the 174 major “midnight” regulations Obama plans to release before exiting the WH. But give him an “A” for volunteering as the federal coordinator for SNAP and other freebies.

Against highly charged Republicans on Capital Hill, I doubt it would give an inch on anything immigration. Obama’s screwed up amnesty policy took this issue to its burial ground.

Be that as it may, I sense that as the Southeast Asia conflict escalates the more the CNMI comes under federal scrutiny from investments to defense needs. Some fireworks may be lurking on this issue but tread carefully as it rises to national security level, perceptual or otherwise. Defense of our country is embedded in our national constitution and you could find it in the preamble.

Moreover, the firepower of our U.S. Navy is sufficient to eliminate employing live fire anywhere on Tinian and Pagan. DoD could do its share of responsibility without destroying our precious pearls in the archipelago. The military destruction of the backside of Honolulu is sufficient a red flag to tell DoD “not in our backyard.” Try LA and Las Vegas, for it would have accomplished the same goal.

Hokog’s fantasy: While ours was the elusive dollar, Biktot Hokog’s elusive dream is the vacuous announcement that he would win his case on the MV Luta.

Sir, did you forget your alleged violation of laws pertaining to the prohibitive Open Government Act and constitutional mandate on appropriation of public funds?

This is followed by a larger lawsuit from a certain Mr. Takahisa Yamamoto claiming alleged “enrichment” by you and other defendants in the disposal of his $3.4 million.

As recently as last week, the captain and crew of the MV Luta filed a lawsuit in federal court for unpaid wages and salaries. How do you win when in every corner a lawsuit is winking, “Over here too, sir?”

I’m assuming that in one or all three cases, appropriate federal agencies would enter the parade ground to pull out the “big fish” from the murky waters of alleged corruption now on the verge of court exposure as the cases move forward, one by one.

The long parade has just been extended and so spectators between Rota, Tinian and Saipan should get more popcorn and drinks, ready to watch the drama unfold before their eyes. The notion of my settling the case is as empty and dead as the MV Luta now sitting motionless at the Tanapag Harbor.

Incidentally, who benefited the most from the MV Luta mess? I’m sure it isn’t the taxpayers or Mr. Yamamoto, captain and crew! Right?

Chase for the dollar
The political journey of the NMI is an interesting study in itself. In retrospect, it wasn’t founded on our desire to be citizens of the most powerful country in the world. We were after the elusive dollar!

Recalled hearing about Guam’s dollar-an-hour wage when ours was 16 cents an hour. Heard about $3 for a case of Coke while ours was rainwater in the family catchment tank. There was never a discussion about citizenship and why we wanted it. None! It was about the dollar and Coke! I’m still searching for that elusive dollar that supposedly one pill cures all familial ills.

Uncle Sam, equipped with powerful foresight and insight, gave us seven years of guaranteed funding for basic infrastructure. Their emplacement would set us up for stronger economic prosperity. We hit the jackpot in the mid-’80s. We succeeded reaching this point in the mid-’80s!

We even told the U.S. Congress in 1993 no more grant funds. Uncle Sam was basically speechless. We had a mouthful of something to boast about though a bit prematurely. Here we are drowning in bankruptcy! Seesuzzzz!

Pro-colonial dispensation
Treading the ongoing discussion of political status options on Guahan, there’s the haunting term “independence” that instantly suggests breaking away from our mother country. It’s one of three options on the table.

Independence signifies an expression of love of one’s people and island and the yearning of political disposition that hails directly from the people. We know our past but still look ahead for our potential and possibilities for the future as an independent sovereign island entity.

We can’t return to our traditional way of life of farming and fishing and not since we’ve morphed into a money economy after the war. The system in place since isn’t designed to aid in our improving the old ways nor does it offer clarity where we’re headed. It requires planning from within.

Independence entails a huge responsibility in the mature disposition of sovereign issues such as security, economy, and education; land disposition, relations with friends nearby, etc. Difficult the journey may be, I’m still optimistic that there are great opportunities for meaningful convergence of ideas and insights we could employ to attain the ultimate freedom of political sovereignty.

There’s nothing to fear in the search for ultimate control of our destiny. It’s the only route to recapturing our dignity as a people. But it takes political maturity to head down this path.