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Must defend economic freedom
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Posted on Jul 14 2000
At Issue: The threat of losing the last sturdy sector of the local economy now hanging in the balance.
Our View: We must defend our economic freedom at all cost in order to prevent a fatal meltdown.
The CNMI is swimming in shark infested waters. In fishing parlance, we are the tiny juvenile rabbit fish that stands the grand opportunity of instant extinction when pursued or stampeded by huge predators. We, therefore, must constantly be on the look out in defense of our livelihood.
Until such time that history grants us the relished goal of equal representation in the US Congress, the only way to guard our interest with perfect view of the trend of events or issues is through a powerful lobbying firm. How unfortunate the perception that we have representation on Capitol Hill when in fact it is a glorified liaison office that is ineffective and inefficient at best, unknown among the powers that be at worse.
This is where the test of leadership comes into play. Do we continue viewing the expenditure of $2 million to protect and defend our economic freedom in simplistic and shortsighted fashion? Isn’t it time that we grow-up and acknowledge that while we may spend this amount, we save more than $200 million plus in revenue and thousands of jobs for in both sectors?
It is an issue that we must learn to accept for there’s no other way to fight against huge predators always ready to gobble or devour tiny rabbit fish we know of as the CNMI. It is big league game that must be fought by major league players. The CNMI is nowhere near the pony league level either. We still need to learn how big league politics is played at the national chambers.
Like health education, we no longer can view it as just another expense. Rather, it should be viewed as an investment! Let us invest wisely in protecting our economic freedom on Capitol Hill. It assures revenue generation and jobs for the multitude who now enjoy bringing home the bacon to their families in dignified fashion. Si Yuus Maase`!
