States of human conditions

The story of the Northern Marianas as part of the American family should be a story worthy a book by itself. It is a story of about 40 years, where a page or two letter to the editor would not do justice.

The biggest question during all these years is whether or not our people have enjoyed a progressively higher standard of living comparable to those Americans in other states.

I can say with absolute certainty that during the past decade, our people’s standard of living have regressed to or near Third World countries’ conditions and much worse than any state in the nation.

To be sure, consider the drinkability of our faucet water. Name a state where its inhabitants cannot drink directly from faucet water for over 30 years.

To be sure, name a state where its medical referral patients have continued to be sent to Honolulu or Manila for over 30 years.

To be sure, name a state where its power rates are comparable to our electric rates and per capita for the past 30 years.

To be sure, name a state where the cost of living is comparable to our cost of living for the past 30 years.

To be sure, name a state where the cost of retail gasoline has been more expensive than the price of gasoline here for the past 30 years.

To be sure, name a state that has a lower minimum wage than ours for the past 30 years, where employment in the private sector is minimum wage dependent.

To be sure, name a state that has not paid private landowners their rightful compensation for land taken for public use for the past 30 years.

To be sure, name a state where its government personnel’s wage and salary structure is non-existent and where one’s wage and salary is more politically influenced rather than merit influenced for the past 20 years.

To be sure, name a state or a country for that matter, where its immigration system allowed its foreign workers to overwhelm its own citizenry by offering a path to voting citizenship by a ratio of 2 to 1 at least.

And last and not the least, to be sure, name a state whose pensioners now get 25 percent less at a time when they need help the most.

And last and not the least, again, to be sure, name a state whose chief executive is on hemodialysis—very sick and disabled, cannot function and perform to the highest standards demanded of such position.

The above ”states of human conditions” call for some immediate and serious thoughts and reflections and considerations. I have always believed in our people’s power for change. Would this be the election year to say “Enough is enough”? Let our good-hearted people decide!