‘Let them hear your voice’

Friends, community members, other concerned citizens, don’t stand by and let these politicos forget who put them in office. Remember, they are public servants! Stand up and let your voice be heard. I encourage you to also write letters with your concerns. You know as well as I do that these practices are not right. We live in too small a community to not see the lavish abuses that have been going on. We cannot continue to stand by and watch as the communities crumble due to unequal austerity measures. You can do something.

I used to be afraid to speak out. I used to think my voice didn’t matter. But it does matter. Our voices and letters, collectively, can make a difference. Start today. You don’t have to be a scholar; you don’t have to be a good writer either. Just write what you think and let them know you are not happy with the way things are. If you are affected by the austerity law, if you are jobless, if you are tired of waiting for change, then do something. Write a letter to your elected leaders. Let them hear your voice.

Dear lawmakers:

I am writing as a concerned citizen regarding the refusal of the members to even listen to Rep. Tina Sablan’s amendments for the recent austerity bill. She is not alone in her beliefs that the government needs reform.

After reading about the session when the austerity bill was discussed, I wondered how you can consider taking more money away from the lowest paid individuals in this community without even considering a reduction in what you take. That is outrageous.

We all know our economy is in dire straits. We also know that you cannot solve any of these problems overnight, but you DO have to start somewhere. One place many others and I agree you should start is with the perks many of you have and guard carefully; namely, the government paid cell phones, car leases, and especially the gas cards.

Secondly, you must modify the definition of what the discretionary funds can be spent on. As it is now, it is unfair and, in my opinion, criminal that many elected officials use my taxpayer money to “donate” to causes where they are then glorified and exalted for their “donation”. Unless, every family in the CNMI is getting the same treatment, which I am sure they are not, I do not believe you should be able to pick and choose to whom you give financial aid, picnic tables or even toilet paper. I believe that money should be allocated fairly to the agencies that are already underfunded as it is.

I am also concerned about the recurrence of suspending the “rules” at the latest meetings on the hill. As my students would say, “Why have so many rules if you aren’t going to follow them?” Of all places, the Legislature should be following the rules; after all, you wrote them.

We are all suffering here; we should all bear the burden. Leaders lead by example. What example are you setting? Rep. Tina listens to the people, maybe you should too. Do not forget you are public servants.

To those of you who are joining the good fight, I thank you on behalf of the people of the CNMI. Thank you for leading by example. [/I] [B]Leila Aldan Fleming Staffler
[/B][I]Kagman II, Saipan[/I]