Trouble ahead

The hopeless walk through the desert land of abject poverty puts sanity through a test, demanding use of tough mind in real tough times. You even look for roots of plants nearby. There’s none! You inch your way a bit more, hanging to a thin thread of hope.
Through it all a certain phrase would echo in my mind. It’s the patriotic song America the Beautiful I learned in grammar school. A stanza says “…for patriot dream that sees beyond the years.” It consistently returns, especially during the formative years of my career as a fledging journalist. Learning to write is simple: write!

It is about vision or what lies ahead. It encourages planning for our future. I used it as my golden light of hope to overcome difficult hurdles. It shows me there’s “something better than this”—a brighter tomorrow.

Indeed, we’ve heard of the apocalyptic devastation in Houston, Texas and nearby cities drenched into submission by Hurricane Harvey. Some 600,000 families lost family homes and more than 13,000 had to be rescued. Preliminarily, the damage is upwards of $100 billion. Comforting to see the grand sense of compassion and resiliency among countrymen, extending a hand to help families rebuild.

Having seen about three superstorms here in our lifetime, we know the sheer hardship we face the day after the storm when we collect leftover materials to begin the process of rebuilding our homes. We’re ever thankful to the U.S. military for the quick assistance they bring in the morning after, from power generators to field kitchens. It’s woefully hard if we had to do it on our own.

Planning: I’d use the line to mirror our future. But the lack of a plan leaves a void that seems to spell uncertainty ahead for these isles. Do we ignore it, singing “que sera” or rein it in to take charge of our future?

It reverts to trajectories in growth that swing wildly on its own accord. It’s never based on a plan from within. It triggers quiet fear what happens if events nearby tear down the walls of economic security here.

The second and third economic powers are out on their own playground. One dances with geopolitical strength in the region, the other builds up more investments that would render ours obsolete. When they eventually descend on these pearly isles imagine trying to meet local needs with nothing in the coffers to pay for them.

The issue requires serious assessment and some real time planning by the elected elite here. What’s coming down the pike is economic Armageddon. The heavy tidal wave of destruction has begun its forward motion on the way to our shores! If you haven’t seen it, then it’s time to shake off the usual grand mañana so you see what’s coming down the pike.

Remember our experience of recent past when Nippon investments took an exodus? The destruction of the impending powerful tidal waves would be far worse than anything we’ve seen in the history of these islands. Appalling the sense of apathy to buckle down to plan and prepare to brace our economic future. I suppose we’re still humming You Are My Sunshine!

Land lease: Recently, we heard a cast of miscreants peddling the false premise that land extension would lure more investments to the NMI. I probed the assertion for some sense of logic, you know, truth and validity. But there’s nothing up that alley. It was simply hurled while simultaneously seeking cover before it boomerangs!

Those who have braved it leave the task of defining the relationship in La La Land. The more I probe the assertion the more it shows that it’s all posturing, riddled with nervous ignorance hoping for miracles.

When Nippon investments took an exodus in recent past was it triggered by the 55-year lease term? Did they ever clamor for change in the current policy? Or was it an issue where we displayed our ignorance on geopolitical history? Didn’t it drain some $7 million to $12 million from the local economy?

Furthermore, over the years the NMI secured a reputation of policy instability. We played seesaw with policy, like changing boat in midstream and pounding our chest in boastful affirmation. Subsequently, we had to cringe upon learning that it ruins investment from A-Z. Have we attained any appreciable level of political maturity?

Ooops! Moreover, when a political elite fast tracks projects bypassing regulatory agency requirements it’s a tale of their diving into deep pockets braving sacrificing the quality of life of their people in the villages. Interesting that they then return and ask in dumbfounded fashion “what happens to water, power and sewer” for villagers? Garapan is a perfect example of how this issue was unleashed on villagers.

Lapdogs: Now, it is understood when lapdogs are hired to peddle the interest of certain business interests. This relationship happens between here and the D.C. Swamp. It is known as “empathy deficiency”—when you dump the interest of the people you represent in favor of your elitist friends. Eh, no worries! We know who you are like the back of our hand.

Promotion: It isn’t surprising questions raised recently about the lack of participation of indigenous musicians and dancers in the tourism industry. The issue is a double edge sword that requires meaningful discussion. The blame game doesn’t fit the equation.

Trust me, I’ve spent more than a quarter of a century as a musician playing in and out of hotels. Must learn to do things on a professional basis lest your service is cut after piling heaps of unreliability.