Welcome to ParaDice!

Beyond the noisy debate for or against casino a question keeps popping up in mind: Was this a design to lure investment in an industry we know nothing about? I have my own suspicion and it remains just that—a suspicion—and sooner than later we shall see maggots crawling out from underneath the carpet tattle telling who got into the fold of humiliating servility.

An interesting comment asserts, “Times have changed.” Thus the lame excuse that it’s time to bring in casino. We’ve decided to live it up with glitz and glamour, conquering the crown of lunacy and apathy during the first quarter of this century. Friends, the only thing that changed was leadership’s sliding conveniently into mediocrity and incompetence over the last 36 years.

In other words, had leadership fulfilled its commitment to improving the livelihood of our people it would have put together fully thought-out socio-economic plans to move the needle of growth forward. But it never saw the need for such a plan. It’s simple common sense that when you have a plan with a goal it follows that you equally establish objectives how to attain it. We never had a plan over the last four decades. Thus the grasshopper approach to problem solving over the more industrious ant. The financial crisis is shared by every former governor!

As such we’ve established the culture of ad hoc planning (instant soba) based on eventualities. It’s a case of addressing the symptoms rather than the cause of the persistent fiscal crisis at home. For instance, we wanted a casino industry with fees that would return the 25-percent cut by Gov. Eulogio S. Inos sometime late last year. Would the $30 million cover future needs of retirees? This was never answered. It must be self-righteous for legislators who contributed to the demise of the Fund. It goes to show their tenuous hold of reality on this matter.

The elected elite wanted casino without delving into plans that resolves land for such facility and basic infrastructure like water, power, roads and sewer. There’s another huge plan that requires the same need. Has the CNMI earmarked funds for this purpose? Wouldn’t the building of this industry adversely affect immediate communities on water, power, and sewer? I see, so we hone another new patch-up job: advancing to the rear!

Prominent issues
Indeed, it’s painful listening to fellow retirees present problems with health issues, giving up health insurance, sacrificing basic family needs, inability to pay high power bills, among others. It’s a dire situation or a homerun against family pocketbooks. However, this forced condition must be given thorough ocular review to see how it evolved into “forced hardship” against the multitude.

It isn’t the fault of retirees that they have to literally struggle to make ends meet. Last year, this administration simply decided to illegally cut pension pay by 25 percent because it is broke or bankrupt! Inos’ decision confirms local government bankruptcy and so cutting retirees pay was his first illegal option.

In the process, Inos found political expediency in quick fixes like his casino law. He joins others who place the politics of their re-election first over the long-term interest of our people. Now we embark on a new Marianas anthem, You Are My Sunshine! We’ve been sold for 30 silvers! Are you satisfied how easily the elected elite trashes our voice when we said “no” twice?

The rollout of Obamacare here was given red carpet treatment by the Inos administration, ill-equipped to tell in advance how a 40-percent increase in health insurance would ruin family pocketbooks. Many (retirees and underemployed) had given up their policies when deductions were made, emptying the last pennies in their paychecks. Did Inos or Kilili ever seek exemption of the CNMI from this highly destructive federal health insurance policy? Never!

The high and derailing cost of power is another major issue that was never fully addressed nor resolved by this administration. Legislators who tried their hands went as far as New Zealand and came back with gastritis after eating some strange sandwich. That was the extent of their vacation at our expense. I’m sure CUC’s Alan Fletcher would come out around October with a newly hatched energy program as the savior to reduce power rates for end users.

I say “nice try” but it’s an issue that should have been addressed seven years ago. No worries, sir, for we also could discern desperate measures you can’t hang your hat on.

The pile of fiscal and financial mess has spread like cancer. We only need to find out whether it’s stage three or four. The debts have done nothing but impose excess baggage of hardship against our people while the elected elite cleverly sought sympathy as victims of their own failed design. Hmmm! Sleeping on the job, huh?

Is there hope ahead?
We now must cultivate the younger, academically and professionally equipped folks who have put their best foot forward to work on decent policies for the CNMI. Most incumbents have trashed our interest, placing theirs first! A few of them should be retained including Reps. Ray Tebuteb, Ralph Yumul, Janet Maratita, and Frank S. Dela Cruz. The rest we could leave as broken lawnmowers at the Marpi landfill. Oxidation should render a fruitful future for these folks as political dinosaurs!

Interesting the entry of young folks with college degrees under their belt. I’ve met some of them or have read their views in the newspapers. I thought hope was completely drained of its essence. But I found in the young candidates the resetting of buttons to do the thing right by doing it right. I’d be more than happy to work with these folks for a fee: Free! More so than ever before, I see the political maturational process taking its permanent seat right here at home!