Politics, Saipan-style

Let us take a look at why the governor did not want the budget passed. As long as there was no budget he could just keep on spending money and hiring new employees. The game is as old as politics itself. The more people that he could hire, the more votes he will have for his re-election bid. How long are you going to let the politicians use you like a bunch of pawns on a chessboard? You seem to have forgotten that the politicians work for you, not you for them. As long as you let them use you and keep you in fear of speaking up they will continue to control you. When a government worker is afraid to speak up for fear of reprisal, you are in trouble. This is supposed to be a democracy, not a Third World dictatorship. Everyone has the right to speak their mind. If you or a family member is harassed because you spoke up, there are laws that protect you and your family. All you have to do is file a report with the proper federal agency. If you want to make a descent place for your children to grow up, the time to start is now. Stand up and be counted!

As for the governor, what does he stand for? He has opposed the Marianas marine monument, but we see him in the newspaper and TV hugging President Bush after he signed it into law. He is opposed to federalization but we see him all smiles at the ribbon cutting at the new USCIS office in Garapan. So just what does he stand for? Or is it that he himself doesn’t know? It seems to me that all he really knows is how to spend money and hire people for which there are no real jobs. Then he has he nerve to demand that the men and woman that have been doing the work take a pay cut so that he can hire more deadwood and try to buy enough votes to get re-elected.

I do not know about the residents of Saipan but I feel that it is time to bring politics on Saipan out of the dark ages and into the modern era. The only way you can do it is to use the power of your voices and your votes. How about it; are you ready to demand an honest and open government? I sure hope so!

Speaking about the upcoming election, isn’t it strange that every in election year all these community projects come to life. Do they really think we are so stupid that we cannot see what they are doing?

Let us talk about another matter: the stimulus money that the CNMI is trying to get. Has he forgotten that he has a lawsuit against the federal government? What makes him think that he can have it both ways? Sue them and still ask them for help at the same time. Ask yourself: What would you do if you were the federal government? What makes it even worse is that he did not play by the rules in the first place. The Covenant says that if negotiations fail, either party may sue. But the governor did not bother to try to negotiate. He went right to the lawsuit. I guess he thinks he is above the law and can make up his own rules. The sad part is that the hardworking residents of the CNMI are going to end up paying the cost for his actions.

Residents of the CNMI, now is the time to stand up and be counted! When you go to the poll to vote, ask yourself which candidates are going to make the CNMI a better place for you and your children to grow up in. You can make the difference. Vote for the candidates who will work for the people and not only for themselves.