Let’s get off the treadmill and stationary bicycle

The more I think of our economy and where we are heading, the more I think of a treadmill and a stationary bicycle. Like both of these, we move but are not going anywhere. We keep doing the same repetitive acts and keep seeing the same scenery. We either walk or pedal at various speeds but in the end we are still in the same place. Where am I going with this analogy?

I wish to remind us that I present these thoughts not to criticize or to point fingers or to whine. But I hope to stimulate us into action. Once we know the problem and its solution, we must take corrective action at any cost. We must stop being tongue-tied and afraid of losing our job if we speak out. We must stop being afraid of hurting someone’s feeling, especially when we know that person’s actions are harmful to the community. To remain silent is to become a part of the problem and we deserve what we will get.

Over the past several years as our economy keeps sliding down, we seem to be moving but going nowhere to remedy the decline. Sadly we all know what the problems are and we really know the solutions but for some strange reason fail to implement them.

The first stimulus to improvement is to reflect and then to act! We must remind ourselves that the size and age of the country does not matter. A poor country is not poor because of lack of natural resources or because nature was cruel to it or it was dominated by foreign powers. It is poor because its people lack the proper attitude and the strong will to comply with and practice the functional principles of rich and developed countries.

There are basic reasons why some countries are rich and others poor. When we analyze the behavior of the people in rich and developed countries, we find the great majority follow the principals set below:

1. Ethics are the basic principles and the guiding lights through which any community weaves through. They are our moral philosophy. They keep us from becoming greedy and envious of each other. They involve right and wrong behavior. What are our ethical values in our community? Do we practice them and how well?

2. Integrity is one of the basic tenets in wealthy countries. It is defined as a firm adherence to a code of special moral values. In a nutshell: incorruptibility! How do our leaders and we fare?

3. Responsibility is a duty or obligation to satisfactorily perform or complete a task (assigned by someone, or created by one’s own promise or circumstances) that one must fulfill, and which has a consequent penalty for failure. How do we rate on this principle?

4. Respect for the laws and rules that we ourselves have set up. When we transgress them, we hurt ourselves and our community. How are we doing in this respect?

5. Respect for the rights of other citizens and the ability to blend in with all types of citizens regardless of their nationalities. We must work as one unit. What level of tolerance do we share with our fellow citizens? Do we look down on them because they were not born here? Do we exploit them?

6. Work loving is the major driving force. Little dependence on handouts. We must not feel that we are entitled to anything except what we earn. We must possess a strong desire to earn what we need as basic necessitates. Are we a work loving community? Think carefully before we answer. Could this be one of the problems holding us back?

7. Strive for saving and investment. Do we use our earnings carefully and plan for the future by careful investing? Look at what we have done to our pension fund. Why did we let it get so bad before we took action? Why are we so passive to allow others to hurt us? No one can hurt us unless we allow them to do so.

8. Will of super action simply means possessing the proper attitude. With a strong and proper attitude nothing becomes impossible. Even should we fail we still can hold our heads high with pride. I remember reading somewhere the following: “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.” What is our will of super action toward our depressing problems? Are we rising to the challenges they demand? Or do we just whine?

9. Punctuality is both a skill and an art. It is the action of being on time with any project or promise. How punctual we are also reflects attitude and other positive qualities in us. What is our scorecard on punctuality?

The above nine qualities are practiced and held in high esteem by wealthy nations.

Let’s see some countries that do practice them. Japan comes to mind immediately. It has no natural resources and a limited territory. Eighty percent of the land is mountainous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle raising. But it is the third largest world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products. Despite two major tragedies in the past year, it is rising rapidly from its ashes.

Another example is Switzerland, one of the smallest countries in Europe, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory the people raise animals and plant the soil only four months per year because of its severe weather. Despite the quantity not being huge, they produce dairy products of the best quality. Switzerland is a small country that transmits an image of security, prosperity, order, and labor.

We can review other countries that are also rich such as Singapore and Korea. But we should also spend time reviewing why certain countries are poor. What principles do they follow that they remain poor?

Even executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there are no significant intellectual differences. Race or skin colors are also not important. Immigrants labeled lazy in their countries are the productive powers in rich countries. See the work habits of many of our nonresident workers and foreign owners of our small businesses. So what is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people. People in rich countries practice the nine principles above. That is the answer.

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life. We in the CNMI are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. We are poor because we lack the proper attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed countries.

Yes, I am preaching over and over again the same message. We can and must help ourselves. We have rich land, good climate, and many opportunities to help ourselves. What are we waiting for?

To be truthful and frank about our current attitude, I believe we have been spoiled for too long by the United States. We have developed a belief that we have the right to all kinds of free entitlements. I dread to think what would happen to our society should the United States stop funding so many of our activities. Think about the millions of dollars given to us yearly without earning them and no need to repay them. And we still feel we are entitled to more! Where would we be without this overly generous funding?

Spend a bit of time researching why countries such as Rwanda, Guinea-Bissan, Ethiopia and others like them are so poor. If we don’t wake up, we will end up just like them. Hopefully by now you understand what we must do. Let’s do it! Let’s dig up the acres of diamonds under feet. Let’s get off the treadmill and the stationary bikes and move!

Don’t forget also to smile every day. Share that smile because it tells each of us that we love each other and want the best for us. Have a great week!