Dystopia: Where nothing works!

In the court of law, the government shows it can’t pay its share of employer’s contribution of some $221 million to the Fund. It’s a legacy imposed mostly by Republican administrations that brought the Fund to its knees. It would render current retirees penniless in two years’ time.

Money for home loans, health insurance, and other family obligations would come to a screeching halt. Apocalyptic hardship makes its final descent into these pearly isles.

In the court of public opinion, governance has expressed vicious discontent. In a nutshell, it no longer trusts the ability of local government to navigate the impending apocalyptic economic devastation. They know that inaction would turn into further hardship. This sentiment is especially prominent and clearly expressed in Marianas Agupa, a radio talk show about our people, our islands and our future.

Our people are usually reserved in their views on issues. But this shifted into high gear last weekend. The intensity of frustration in callers’ voices clearly depicts dire hardship that families would face in the face of new or impending increases. It includes gasoline, surcharge, non-potable water, basic goods, and CUC’s $10 million loan that consumers must pay. All these increase against income that has remained stagnant or non-existent as a result of underemployment or unemployment.

The deepening mess presents a perfect bird’s eye view of the fiery magma that consistently moves into our presence. Inevitably, the hardship will leave an indelible impression in the minds of governance that this wasn’t what they sought six years ago. Would lame incumbents have the gall or conscience to recast the same failed promises this midterm election? Would they brave disoriented agenda and sugar lace it with redundancy while tucking their tails between their legs?

Bankruptcy and the consequence of dire economic hardship annihilating the livelihood of governance turn difficult tools of political persuasion. In fact, it becomes fodder for the opposition who’d use it to cannibalize incumbents. In simple terms, governance can no longer accept mediocrity. It makes re-election difficult for any and all incumbents. But then they must have earned their stripes, too.

Loss of first family home

On top of a pile of increases and accompanying hardship, family matriarchs and patriarchs begin to ponder the eventual loss of the first family home to foreclosure. And they pine for answers as they quietly ask: “Would we ever own our home again?” Can you imagine your children asking, “Mom, when are we going home?”-missing the comforts of, yes, home!

Though NMHC did its best to assist its clientele, stagnant income, salary reduction or unemployment drained any hope of meeting this obligation. With zero in the family pocketbook, taking the exit is often the better option in order to save and use what’s left for food and other family needs. It’s no longer a challenge but one hellish whole beast to contend with forever.

Foreclosure instantly turns into the displacement of families. It forces moving to a relative’s house, siblings, or parents or help on tight public housing. It instantly triggers unhealthy crowded conditions. So much for the culture of building safe and sanitary dwellings for newly established families. A bad economy forces a case of homelessness! The magma of familial hardship is fatally unstoppable.

Private industries sputtering

The business sector’s condition has surpassed the anemic stage now suffering from jaundice. It’s sputtering to death trying to navigate (as residents do) assorted increases that simply make doing business here unprofitable. Spikes in surcharge and wage are sufficient to force anyone into bankruptcy.

Once upon a time they’d use their brains to think and plan. Today, they are thinking with their feet, ready to move elsewhere. This doesn’t bode well with fast eroding hopeful aspirations to rebuild a grossly devastated economy. But then with the comforts of mañana, what’s to expect from a new culture of reluctance and acquiescence?

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Consequence of lack of trust

When something isn’t right, any reasonable person can almost instantly notice it. It is highly sensitive and easily detected, especially when it wedges different application of law or set of rules in the conduct of business.

For instance, the idea that the CNMI doesn’t grant equal protection to all citizens and those legally situated is bad news. It has reverberated negatively and irreversibly among friends from near and far. That the enforcement of laws fudge in favor of locals when equal application is the fair paradigm creates an uneven playing field that people easily notice, too.

Our land policy has jolted the trust of investors for the lack of a trustworthy legal code that provides equal protection for everybody. Isn’t there room for assimilation of investors who also want to be a permanent part of our community? It is this aspect that has had many of them thinking with their feet. Most have finally decided, “enough is enough” and left for venues where the grass is greener, i.e., Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The discriminatory aspect of Article 12 has been trumpeted loudly and became a major hurdle to reviving investment on the islands.

The economy shrinking beyond anemia, we must buckle down and resolve fundamentally flawed policies or forever hold our breath as paradise annihilates as a result of our inability to rebuild burned bridges via fair policies. It’s all in the palm of our hands. We can do it. It’s now or never!