Future of policymakers

A lot of people have sought sensible views on future policymakers—the entire nine yards—from legislators to the next governor. I would purposely deflect giving direct answers if only to listen to their expressions how politicians have mouthed off endlessly while piling more promiscuous promises that leaves voters infuriated.

I’d defer to listening in order to gauge just how many have realistically come to grips with the urgency for competent leadership. I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard outside.

Most are miffed and are ready to shift gear after nearly 10 years of grueling hardship and the obvious lack of opportunities at home. The gripes, howls of anguish, and squeals of pain spreads like wildfire in most conversations.

As folks unleash their concerns, I heard the echo of what Winston Churchill once said about conscious leadership: “If the price of greatness is responsibility, we have neither today.” Had to swallow the bitter pill of audacity, gift-wrapped in arrogance.

With severe economic depression—quadruple the effects of a recession—where nothing works, serious queries emerged from the conversation.

Critical questions

Where would you take the CNMI from its rock bottom miseries where the multitude is floored by the huge increase in the cost of living, further strapped by the huge debris of leadership negligence?

How would you create economic prosperity or deal with wealth and jobs creation?

Do you have a socio-economic plan to use as a guideline or do we proceed with ad hoc mode of doing things, randomly?

Is your plan fully thought-out and capable of luring anchor investments that would gradually turn fiscal and financial crisis into steady and sturdy revenue streams?

Have you plans to resolve the high cost of health insurance and power that has robbed families of their buying power?

I probed their minds a bit more to see what’s in their conscience downstairs. There was no holding back in their saying, “Throw the bums out!” This expression hailed from the informed, college-educated, including retirees and others wary of issues. They’re bent to ignore them too this November.

The disengagement

The appalling disengagement and apathy have filtered down to simple villagers whose livelihood drowns in miserable hardship. Said another, “This is the price of leadership scarcity when we most need it.” It hurts my ears listening to persistent painful expressions. My hope for happier conversation was drowned out by explosive expressions coming straight from the heart.

Although the discussion was simple and straightforward, I heard the confirmation of the need to elect quality leadership endowed with academic and professional competency, especially spiritual wellbeing fully aware that their role is to improve the livelihood of others. In brief, it’s about others over the self, a missing link under incumbent leadership on both sides of the street on the hill.

Ousting of incumbents

What about the fate of legislative policymakers? The incumbent Legislature has failed royally to improve the quality of life of our people coupled with the heinous disregard for the will of the people on the casino issue. It is a perfect recipe for complete ousting. This sentiment has gathered powerful steam lately.

As I weave in and out of the deserted land of economic dystopia—where nothing works—there’s the urgency for a fully thought-out socio-economic plan backed by quality and stable policies designed to encourage “anchor” or lasting investments. The envisioned investments would gradually lift everybody’s boat long stuck in the sands of bankruptcy.

It’s a must though the CNMI is sadly reputed as a “cesspool” where lasting investments was ignored in favor of organized crime. As such, investors of substance have steered clear of the CNMI for this reason alone. What’s our future under this troubling scenario fostered by dimwits on the hill? None! I suppose walking off the cliff has become fashionable among the elected elite here. Humiliating!

Thoughtful plans

Why am I talking plans, lasting investments, jobs and wealth creation? It’s the pathway to exit persistent financial and fiscal crisis. We owe it to our children and need not live off their backs by denying their economic freedom in advance of finding their place in our community. No one had to leave “home” to find opportunities abroad. This is “home” forever more. Let’s make it one hell of a paradise teeming with economic opportunities.

What’s the goal here? The NMI needs a brief period in its developmental history to set investments in place so we put it back on the right track or on the road to economic recovery. Add to the complexity of island economies, we must have a set of economic goals to allow the system to self-correct over the infusion of scarce public funds to kick-start it. This makes a set of plans mandatory. We can’t chance ad hoc planning on an issue as fragile as island economies. There would have to be an annual period for review and refinement.

Reality of income fluctuation

There’s a hell of a difference in income at the prime of your career versus retirement or golden age. This issue turns into a serious concern when your fixed income is cut by 25 percent. Add the new health premium or throw the high cost of power and you quickly begin panting for air above the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Your bouts with survival becomes even harder when you begin shuttling between home and the hospital to treat degenerative long-term illnesses. Every penny is stretched and strictly limited to basic needs. Often, the forced cut in pension makes imperative a must divide consumption of a can of tuna into four meals.

With a host of folks similarly situated, we’re down in the dark valley so deep and dense rendered useless and fully sandwiched in a dead zone area. We’re stuck down here with a thin thread of hope to making it to another day. Didn’t someone promise “better times”?