Thoughts from a frustrated optimist

I am a frustrated optimist! No matter how loudly I shout and how many times I repeat that we have many opportunities to correct our economic tailspin, almost no one in government is listening. Some of them insist that borrowing more money is the way to solve our problems, but with no plan on how to repay it. Some are screaming that casinos are the answer. But they cannot prove it. Others simply don’t know what to do or understand what the real causes are. But let’s look at some causes for the situation we are in and discuss how to correct them. We created the problems and we can solve them. Our problems begin with us!

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” This is a basic evolutionary theory. We must ask ourselves what kind of world are we living in. How has it changed over the past 20 years? Do we understand the changes? Simply put, the world has changed and so must we if we are going to survive.

One of the most important and immediate tasks is to build our local labor force. We must train ourselves to take over the jobs that our nonresident workers are currently doing. Two major improvements will happen when we successfully do. One is that the unemployment rate will drastically drop. At present there are over 12,000 food stamp recipients and growing daily. Add this to the number of people without jobs and our unemployment rate may be as high as 33 percent of our population.

Another is that more money will stay here to circulate in the community. When people are working they feel more confident and happy. Remember Dec. 31, 2014, is only two years and 10 months away. That is the date nonresident workers must exit. Are we preparing to take over?

For years we have neglected the training of our local labor force, preferring to use nonresident workers. The excuse is that the minimum wage is too low. But what should a non-skilled worker receive? The minimum wage is only a door opener. Once a worker becomes skilled, his salary will increase. When a worker becomes skillful, he becomes a “creative server,” not a warm body. He will be able to do the work of two men because of his skill and ability. He will demonstrate his excellence. Another one of the most intangible benefits is the pride of doing a good job. I know because I have seen these happen for over 48 years in various countries, not only on Saipan.

In the CNMI there are two welfare programs. The first is the U.S. sponsored food stamp program. Whenever we drive past any grocery store we see blazoned across its entrance a large and overbearing sign: We Accept Food Stamps! Wow! What a declaration! It is as though it is a medal of distinction. Then inside we see people almost proudly shuffling the coupons to pay for their foodstuffs. Why is this happening when opportunities abound under our feet?

Please understand that I am not against helping anyone in need, but when that person refuses to help himself but prefers to live like that, then I am against the assistance. We all need help at one time or another. But we must search for ways to improve our ability to work and help ourselves.

At NMTI we receive applicants from the food stamp office who wish to learn a trade. Let’s say 50 people show up. After only a few sessions, the number drops to about five. Why? They return to the food stamp office and claim that they are going to school and have a right to receive their food stamp allotment. This must stop or we will never recover from our depression. We must change our attitudes.

The second welfare program is our local government. For years we have embraced employment in our local government. As a result our government budget pays about 75 to 80 percent of its funds just for personnel. The mere 20 to 25 percent is left to offer services to us its citizens. Is it any wonder that we have inadequate service in our basic needs such as power, water, police security, health services, education, and infrastructure?

If it weren’t for the huge amount of money given to us by the United States, we would be living in utter poverty. As long as we persist in jamming ourselves into a government job, the less chance do we have of overcoming our depression.

As I have written previously, a prosperous country has a solid working class of trained and skilled laborers. The size of the country and lack of resources are not what keeps a country in poverty. It is the will and desire of its people to work that creates prosperity.

The government and businesses must act in a complementary role. Each must set goals and create opportunities for our citizens. However, this does not happen here. The government is only interested in restoring work hours for its own personnel. Meanwhile many businesses are only interested in hiring nonresident workers. As a result the government and businesses rarely discuss how to rebuild our economy together. One cannot do it without the other.

To achieve economic success we need three pillars: Government, business, and the general public. All three must work in harmony to balance our lives. For example, government can set the ground rules as to laws and taxes, but they must be based on what businesses can properly afford. These two entities must also listen to the general public for its input. Thus our society becomes balanced: government, business, and general public.

We must stop depending on mythical investors as if they are our salvation. Investors come and go. When the climate changes, they depart and leave their garbage behind. Remember the Plumeria Hotel? It stands vacant, slowly rotting away. Just above it is the infamous Nikko Hotel or Palms Resort—closed! Yet its darkened towers rise high into the sky casting a dismal picture of our past experience with investors. Across the street is the once lovely shopping mall, the La Fiesta Mall. Drive by and take a look at what remains. Yet we crave more of this. When do we step up and become the owners and operators of our own islands?

Though I am a frustrated optimist, I will persist believing that we have acres of diamonds under our feet. The puzzling thing about that saying is that we expect outsiders to come in as investors, exclaiming to them that our islands are a great place to come and put their money in, yet we fail to do so ourselves. This I do not understand. No, it is not because we do not have the money. A good plan always attracts funds. Frankly I ask, do we lack the will and confidence to help ourselves?

True prosperity and true happiness will not come to our society until we bend our backs, wipe the perspiration off our brows, and enjoy the fruits of our own labor. The only way to lessen poverty is through vocational training and job placement.

A prosperous country needs a trained and skilled labor force. The CNMI has all the ingredients for creating it. We have people waiting to be trained and eager to work. I meet them daily. Come join with us and reclaim our land and prosperity!

Along with becoming skilled workers, we must improve our education endeavors. We must improve our minds and become not mere workers but creative servers. This subject I will discuss another time.

Remember: Find a job we love and we will never work a day in our life.

Do I see a smile on your face? Make sure it opens your heart to the person you smile at. A smile is the universal sign for saying: I care about you! So even if things don’t go your way keep smiling! Have a great week!

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