Fear is real, not perceived

Many, if not most, voters will vote for change this midterm election. Why? Fearful people would give it their all (silently too) to change their circumstance. After all, the elected elite is visibly and clearly exhausted. It has lost touch with reality as “do-nothings,” a tale of inexperience handling power, ineptitude, and leadership atrophy or obsolescence.

You see, the behavior of voting folks isn’t wedged in any ideological or philosophical beliefs. It is perception and the delivery of such perception at the voting booths that would force a shift that removes them from having to perpetuate apocalyptic conditions today.

The disastrous economy plastered in uncertainty had overridden any other issue in this hellish hole. If a slick politician wishes to offer change, we ask: Will it be more of the same or worse, sir? You see, simple folks worry about the certainty of their jobs as revenue generation degenerates quickly. They know that the contraction would eventually translate into reduction in force.

Whatever happened to the offer of “better times”? Was it devoured by the economy as it sleepwalks toward Fiscal Cliff? It goes to show that vision isn’t sufficient for any leader to pull through. He must enunciate it and prove he’s worth the salt of voters via leadership by example.

The economic depression-a condition far worse than a recession-is real, not perceived. Folks are fearful that they would lose their jobs. Retirees also know that their pension paychecks may soon disappear. Scholarship funds are contracting and evaporating that doesn’t leave students much hope for the future. The perception of fear is a very powerful emotion that is difficult to untangle once it sits.

Therefore, the real fear of job losses in the near term, pension paychecks evaporating, scholarship funds disappearing; first family homes suffering foreclosures; high cost of utilities; tax increases versus business; didn’t ring a bell in order for the elected elite to sooth the angst of voters. Instead, they all leave Capital Hill daily before sunset contented of their fully earned trophy inscribed, “Do-Nothings”. And as the fear perception deepens, the guys and gals are still playing “hide-and-seek” who’s going to call the next leadership meeting. A`Saina!

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Hypocrisy of Article XII

The shifting sands of hypocrisy underneath the wobbly feet of folks peddling Article XII have become a personal study in contradiction. Proponents comprised of bigots and racists wish to keep NMI indigenous hegemony and pure through this unconstitutional provision.

On the flip side, they want to open the floodgates via the powerful agent of change, casino, to secure the exact opposite. Which is which? Is it indigenous hegemony or permanent displacement of your people? Your positions are oxymoronic at best, disoriented at worse.

Furthermore, they feel shamelessly contented that while its position literally denies others “equal protection” under the law of the land, it’s perfectly suitable for them that we spend the tax contributions of these folks for essential NMI services. Isn’t this a complete case of hypocrisy that has no place under a democratic republic?

For some reason, this mindset depicts Obama’s agenda to tax the wealthy and rich for his purposes. But he won’t come out publicly in fundraisers to say so when the donors and sponsors are funneling thousands of dollars into his war chest. This must be the pinnacle of hypocrisy! Did we learn this from him or did he acquire it from the NMI?

Now, there’s universal fear that constantly feeds upon itself: the deceleration of investments that concurrently depletes revenues in the local coffers. The simple folks hopelessly pine for answers but the guys and gals on the hill are still struggling to get together. Would you believe this? Do these guys have any inkling that this government is literally broke? The prevailing hysteresis isn’t going to cough out a miracle at year’s end. No sir! The issues before you require real time proactive leadership not obsolescence, dismissive acquiescence and neglect.

The deepening political divide has wedged any meaningful meeting. Now, everyone is parroting a familiar expletive, “Screw You!” Nah! At the end of the day, it is the taxpayers who get the perfect royal screw from simpletons who have forgotten what leadership is all about.

The deepening intransigence while we eat away the tax contributions of non-indigenous folks we’ve denied “equal protection” to meet our needs. Does the elected elite have any moral compass at all? Did they park their Christian values in their back pockets? How long could they honestly embrace hypocrisy?

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Investors flock to US

Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder that renounced his U.S. citizenship to avoid paying taxes, is probably of the belief that his action would spur others to do likewise.

Well, not quite, Mr. Saverin. Today, thousands of wealthy foreigners are flocking to the U.S. to invest and in the process secure U.S. citizenship. This phenomenon creates wealth and in turn, jobs; big time too!

Under the federal government’s EB5 Immigrant Investor Program, foreign investors can get conditional visas that allow them and their families to live, work and attend school in the U.S.

To qualify for the visa, they must invest at least $1 million in a new or recently created business, or $500,000 for businesses in rural or high-unemployment areas.

The investment must be demonstrated to have created or preserved at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers within two years. The success rate is astonishing that some 20 countries have keenly followed the U.S. on this innovative method of investment. They could make it but not as good as what the U.S. offers for well-heeled immigrant investors.

Too, the flock of new investors has equally exploited real estate markets across the country. They are interested in a new family home and a good neighborhood where their kids could go to school and bolt into what personal freedom offers upon graduation from college. The US seems to hold the prize of an innovative paradigm to investment designed to improve cities and towns across the country ravaged by the lean times.

The NMI has sought for the establishment of a regional center for EB5 Immigrant Investor Program. But in doing so, it must also eradicate bad policies that deny investors “equal protection” in these isles. This is a hurdle it must overcome with agility in the short term. If it doesn’t happen, then it’s stuck in the filthy mud that its people could have their cake and eat it too.

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John DelRosario Jr. is a former publisher of Saipan Tribune and a former secretary of Department of Public Lands.