99 percent? More like the 1 percent of the 1 percent

This is in response to Diego C. Blancos letter lashing out at what he calls the 1 percent of Saipan. I read practically every single article and letter to the editor of the Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety almost everyday. I have yet to find one letter or article criticizing island culture or the blatant racism you speak of in your letter. The 1 percent you speak of just happens to be the 99 percent. You, Ben, Stanley, and your gang are the 1 percent.

We are the folks who aren’t afraid to speak their mind or afraid to complain about a failed and corrupt governmental system in the islands that we all call home. There are many folks complaining about the destruction of the CNMI as they know it, but they aren’t the letter writing type of people. But you will hear all of these complaints around the picnic table you so fondly described in your letter.

You seem to love the status quo. You would have things stay exactly the way they are and that explains to those of us reading your letter quite a bit about you, Mr. Blanco. You are one of the 1 percent of Saipan who benefit from the system of corruption and nepotism. You said, “Locals go to church and don’t like spending their time on golf courses.” That’s strange, because I’m a pretty fair golfer and the worst thrashing I ever received in a lifetime of playing of golf was by a person of Northern Marianas descent. I don’t see only folks of NMD in church on Saipan. Same for the hotel buffets. That’s usually where I see most of my friends of NMD. But in reality, I see a pretty good mix of all races golfing and at the buffets. Haven’t seen you at church though.

You complain about the folks there on work contracts. Are there enough NMD to fill all the teaching and administrative positions? Do you know why there aren’t enough NMD to fill most of the other positions? Because the economy, which has been ruined by the last three governors, your Uncle Ben included, has caused a brain drain in the CNMI. All the best and brightest have run away to Guam or the U.S. mainland, where they don’t have to deal with the system in the CNMI.

You state folks might get the wrong idea about public opinion of the CNMI. How would you know public opinion when you spend a majority of your time on a barstool next to Stanley Torres or hanging out with Uncle Ben? Everyone in the CNMI knows that they, like you, are out of touch with the realities of life and public opinion on Saipan. Ironically, we all know your favorite hangouts are Coffee Care and Godfather’s with Stanley and the gang.

What I gather from reading opinions about the CNMI is that there is a never ending pouring out of disgust and frustration by writers regarding the failed political system and the rampant corruption of the various politicians and their administrations over the last 20 or so years. If you consider that part of island culture then I guess you’d be right about the complaints, but you’re not and you know it.

The complaints are as always: about the corruption and stupidity of the CNMI’s elected officials and their inability to fix the problems that plague the CNMI. Not complaining about the island culture or the locals. If you really read the letters to the editor and not listen to the sound bites being read to you, you will find that most of the writers believe many positive things about the CNMI and that we believe there are a great many folks in office trying to do an honest and good job, yet they are voted down and marginalized by the lazy, inept, and corrupt ones in power. That is what the writers are lamenting-the things that make the CNMI special are being ruined by folks like Ben, Stanley, and yourself.

To keep the focus off yourselves, you, Stanley and Froilan blame letter writers like me for the changes happening to the CNMI. Change is inevitable. It is time for the CNMI government to make changes that will have a benefit for all who live in the CNMI, not a select 1 percent and to behave in a Christian manner, stop the downward spiral of the economy and guide the changes to the CNMI to maintain those special qualities the CNMI is known for.

You call out about the plight of the NMD, yet your last name, Blanco, has its origins in the Philippines. That means you aren’t even of NMD. Also, if I remember correctly, you’ve spent the better part of your life living in Palau and your spouse is also of non-NMD. Sort of like the pot calling the kettle black. (If you don’t know what that means and from what I know of you personally, you don’t, so have your letter writer explain it to you. Your writer, by the way, sounds a lot like your buddy, Stanley Torres’ writer.)

You don’t like hearing the constant complaints about the overpaid, under-qualified government workers. Granted, there are many who do actually have the qualifications indicated in the job description and do work hard and honestly to get the job done. However, there are many, many folks like you who don’t have the education requirements for the job they are being paid for; what they do have is the family connection. What is wrong to complain about that? You claim that as the local culture. That is not island culture. What about the local who does have the education requirement, yet can’t get a government job because someone like you is holding that position. I guess you think that is unfair, that we write and complain about that type of situation to the newspapers also.

You also failed to mention the complaints writers have about convicted felons holding government jobs. If you think that it is OK to have a job you aren’t qualified for or its OK that you bypassed government hiring standards and got your job because of who you know or are related to, then that makes you a part of the problem facing the CNMI today. It’s not that we, the letter writers are holding you to our high standards-we are holding you to the normal standard any honest society would have for its citizens and government officials alike. Not hard to understand.

What have you done for the CNMI Mr. Blanco lately? To steal a line from a quote in the Marianas Variety Comments Page: The last time you rode in the back of a pickup was when you lived in Palau. So don’t try to sell yourself as one of the NMD people because you aren’t and never will be. In closing, read the articles below regarding landownership and casinos or have yours and Stanley’s writer read them to you. Article 12 by Jose S. Delacruz, Sept 30, 2008, http://ccart12.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/handout2.pdf. A voice against Casinos by Carlos Trujillo, State representative, Florida: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/02/2621836_p2/why-i-will-vote-against-casinos.html

Paul H. Beebe
Spokane, Washington