Obamacare on life-support

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Posted on Feb 09 2014
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Appalling that legislative committees on health never lifted a finger to explore if Obamacare is good and healthy for the NMI. Obama’s signature law, if you will, is now under life-support system, having failed grandly since its rollout days several months ago. It has denied health coverage to millions of people across the country while destroying more jobs ahead.

Nobamacare came out with good intentions. But the unintended consequences started showing its ugly faces when it became obvious that the scheme is to bump off the young and healthy from their private health insurance coverage and move them into exchanges under Nobamacare. In other words, it is so designed to saddle them with higher premiums in order to support expenses of seniors in the system. Why should they when they can’t even pay for money owed their credit cards?

Would the health industry eventually move in for crony capitalism too?

Here at home, the effect of the 40 percent increase in health premiums rendered some retirees negative pay—nothing’s left after the new rate kicked in. Many have pulled out of the program in order to save what’s left for familial obligations. How many of them would qualify for Medicaid when they are right above the federal definition of poverty level income?

Perhaps this is why the chime for more self-government, so leadership could bankrupt everything like it did with the NMI retirement program. What crown jewel! How much longer must we endure the product of the elected elite who’s decided to bask in mediocrity? It’s just the tip of the iceberg and the larger mass of this creature would emerge as we march to the vote count down this November.

[B]Immigration: Effects on economy[/B]

It seems leadership is snoozing as federal immigration threatens closure of the service industry. It has already completely shut down manufacturing here in recent past. It’s federal immigration policy uncertainty that would further adversely disintegrate a fragile local economy as though power rates haven’t done its share of destruction already.

Legislative committees need to employ greater agility reviewing this policy issue, including realistic alternative energy to reduce power rates. Sleeping on the job only serves the ego of legislators while its indecisions and inactions rob “we the people” what’s left in the family purse or pocketbooks. It’s appalling the grand sense of apathy upstairs!

Shall we hear some words of wisdom from the head of the House Committee on PUTC, Rep. Lorenzo “Larry” Deleon Guerrero? Or is inaction a simple legislative complicity fanning the fire of incompetence at CUC?

Are political pundits like Rep. Trenton Conner and Sen. Francisco Cruz on the ball to probe the effects of U.S. immigration to the hilt? Could they do it with the view to resolving the anomalous relationship that evolved from it? Snoozing won’t bring forth clarity on the predatory effects of U.S. immigration law. It’s all about the economic future of the CNMI, true?

The usual simple apprehension would be woefully insufficient. Nor would presumptuous knowledge of fact suffice in bringing home clarity and understanding. It would require knowledge of reasoned facts from A-Z or mega-analysis. Only then would both sides benefit from answering with honesty whether the imposition of U.S. immigration was necessary. Am I making sense?

There are military plans that would need additional land outside what’s in the agreement. Are you up to the job exploring what the plans entail? Is there room anywhere in these plans that include assimilation of both communities? If so, what are these plans? Would it include defraying facilities outside the gate? I’d be treading your progress on this matter.

[B]Laughter with Santa ’14[/B]

There’s a lot of room to poke fun at incumbents seeking re-election this year. I mean it’s good for casual conversation and watch them grope for words or dillydally with every excuse they’ve already depleted from their bag of tricks.

If you wish to quickly derail their mind, ask for academic competency (college credentials) and professional experience. The first part would send them reeling for answers they can’t find. The second part is a tale of experience so irrelevant to the task of policymaking. No wonder the disconnection and obvious lack of perception on issues of substance.

Take ’em on a trip on economics and fiscal issues, specifically, stimulus measures that would neutralize any further assault against the family purse. I’m sure most would revert to groping for words for chancing an explanation they have no clue about. If they’re sufficiently edgy or cornered in humiliation, leave them alone so they find some breathing room to regroup. There’s serious doubt though they’ll ever recover. Quiz ’em about debts and deficit of more than $600 million.

Most importantly, quiz our men of wisdom if it is right to saddle the young people with “generational loan”, i.e., pension obligation bond that would deny them their economic freedom? Why force our young folks into ill-conceived loan schemes they know nothing about? Is this their vision of the future of our young people—saddle them with debts?

The people of these isles yearn for leadership (not followership) and if in recent past you haven’t done anything of substance to move the needle of misery in abject poverty forward, don’t you think you’ve literally sealed your own self-inflicted political doom? What else is here other than a regurgitation of failed promises of recent past? Don’t you think we are equipped with sound mind to dissect the deepening hardship hailing from your negligence and ineptitude? Is this why I thought I heard Santa somewhere nearby with a huge laughter in his energy-filled tummy?

[I]John DelRosario Jr. is a former publisher of the Saipan Tribune and a former secretary of the Department of Public Lands.[/I]

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