The next economic crisis nears

In medical parlance, whenever Japan catches a cold, we end up with a severe case of the flu, requiring attention at the ICU for major complications.

It’s difficult turning your head in this case as though we can perpetuate the “fiesta” attitude. Not when an AP story says “Japan appears headed toward crisis”.

The crisis would definitely affect even economies of scale in nearby Asian countries. Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and others are equally on guard, diligently watching just when would the crisis descend in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Why should the CNMI be concerned with the cascading, if not, tsunami-like effects of another economic crisis in Japan? Simple: Japan is a major tourism market and other forms of investments right here in paradise.

I find it very unsettling that we really don’t have any plans to deal with the impending economic crisis. If such is the case, then it simply means there would critically be far less revenue generation and jobs for everybody who treads planet Marianas.

One need not revisit the fact that we shot ourselves on the foot via the approval of self-serving though self-destructing policies in the last eight years. We did nothing but fuel the onslaught of the Asian Crisis with ill-conceived policy issues in years past.

To shove aside the devastating effects of the next crisis is to royally dig our own graves hoping it’s all superficial fodder and fictional material for a novel. The more I delve into this matter versus our agility to perpetuate the “Ke Sera Syndrome”, the more I find it troubling not for this soul, but our children whose future we’ve basically ruined with mañana. How sad that hopelessness and joblessness would eventually descend even in paradise.

• • • •

Lighter Side:

The Reform Party is in a bind–a power struggle–between former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio and Senator Ramon S. Guerrero (Kumoi`).

Lang is running as the legitimate Reform Party political trade horse while Senator Kumoi would be chasing him horseless and spurless, too.

It’s comically interesting how one can run under the Reform banner that “doesn’t exist”. Woe! I am sure Lang has Sen. Kumoi` sacked on this issue.

But then all these missed punditry only grants the others a better shot at the gubernatorial smorgasbord in November. Yahooooooo!

• • • •

At a state funeral, the lawmaker who delivered the eulogy was given strict instructions by his colleagues to stick to his prepared text.

He did well until he decided it was perfectly fitting to look and sound like a veteran speaker. His colleagues were miffed with heads down, cringing as he struggled with spontaneity:

“I am hopstimistic (optimistic)…and may I extend, on behalf of my college (colleagues), our condoms (condolences) to the family of the ‘beyond the reef’ (bereaved) for the lost (loss) of their loved one….”

His colleagues didn’t do him any justice after the grand fumble. In fact, they gave full accolades for a job well done. Said he: “Yeah, `nai, I practiced that speech all night”. Seesussss!

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.