A sad day for America

Writing as an historian and a veteran of the Vietnam era who survived the riots of the Nixon administration, this is a sad day for America in my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong, the Marianas will do well under the national Republican administration and our governor’s close relationship to the Bush administration will be in our favor. The National Republican Party has always supported its overseas bases. It was the Republican Nixon administration that sought Commonwealth status for the Northern Marianas in return for base rights here. The economy of the Commonwealth as well as Hawaii will grow over the next four years, no matter what happens on the American mainland.

With that caveat out of the way, it is time to reflect on America today and tomorrow. The election is over, the white moral majority in America has spoken. They have given the Republican Party a mandate to expand its military establishment and restrict civil liberties. It is time to face reality. It is simply pragmatic to make the best of the cards we have been dealt with. As the old saying goes, if you can’t lick ’em, join ’em.

Get the name of Dick Cheney’s stock broker. Invest heavily in munitions and military supplies of all nature. Invest in Halliburton. Invest heavily in Saudi Arabia.

The CNMI garment factories should start looking into U.S. government contracts to manufacture uniforms and GI issue underwear.

The draft will be the only mechanism capable of supplying the troops needed to carry forward the Republican dream of becoming the world’s super policeman, carrying the cross and sword before them. The new Republican Congress will comply. Prepare for it. If you have enough money, get your kids in colleges where they might be exempted. Invest in Canadian property, especially apartment buildings in border cities.

Anticipate riots in America as the non-whites who voted for peace and lost are once again forced to bear the burden of war. Invest heavily in mortuaries.

Bush will feel he has been mandated to clamp down on any activity or any individual he considers to be ‘un-American’. Invest in companies that manufacture listening devices. If you have an old McCarthy sticker, dust it off.

Stem cell research and the cures it promises for so many diseases will be put on hold for the sake of the white moral majority and the expanded war effort. Invest heavily in pharmaceutical companies that supply expensive long-term medical treatment.

Invest heavily in long-term health care facilities.

With the Republican nominees to the Supreme Court and a Republican Congress to approve them, America can kiss Roe vs Wade good-bye. Forget the concept of personal choice for the next four years. Invest heavily in Utah.

The federal government is already deeply in debt. The surplus generated by the Clinton administration which was intended to pay for medical research and expanded educational opportunities has been spent on the American National Republican war machine. There will be only a pittance of funding available for new schools in America. Invest in private schools. Anticipate new taxes.

If you don’t want to believe what I have just written, read the history of America during the Nixon administration. Had more voters paid a little attention to history before the election, America would not have to face such a dark future at home today.

Don A. Farrell
Tinian