None of the above

Next month, the U.S. will decide who the next president will be, but the choice will be tough as neither candidate really fits the bill, both plagued by scandals and while Clinton compromised her integrity in the now infamous email scandal, Trump simply lacks any integrity whatsoever. There should be an option on the ballots for the voters to check, “None of the above.”

We, too, will be heading to the polls next month and hopefully only those who can and are willing to address our Commonwealth’s many problems will get elected. Forget party politics for once and it should not matter if one belongs to the majority or minority, those elected into office serve the public.

This year, time is of the essence as our workforce issue is becoming a major nightmare for all of us. Take a look at what can happen if no permanent solution is achieved with respect to our CWs:

First, we need to know how many CW workers and their dependents are here. Compare that to the number of people who will be left behind after 2019.

Any drastic reduction in the number of CW workers who fill the long list of work categories in both government and private sector will have immediate and very long term negative effects on us, our economy and our government. Their departure will diminish the number of taxpayers, shoppers, CUC, CHC and service industry customers, resulting in budget deficits, business closures, employees downsizing, etc.

Locals will lose their jobs and because there will be fewer customers, the cost of merchandise will skyrocket to cover diminishing customer base. Their incomes will be reduced but will have to pay more for their needs. Just think about how many businesses are owned and operated by non-locals. Even those with EB visas may close.

Our government, faced with a huge revenue decline, will face possible shutdowns, merging of duplications, realignments, and maybe even bankruptcy. Retirees not on Social Security as well as laid-off government and private sector employees will be left in the dust dealing with poverty, bankruptcies and foreclosures.

No worry, Best Sunshine is here. Really? Do we honestly believe that BSI will hang around even if it is unable to find all the employees it needs for all of its operations in its planned hotel and casino? Ask them where the line is, the Rule of 7, or maybe 14, the point that determines when they will leave for better opportunities with all the right factors in place.

We do have a tendency to forget the bad years in our short history. The garment industry and the Tinian Dynasty epitomize the highs, and their closures the lows. But there’s a problems looming in the horizon should we fail again. And it will be far worse than we have ever experienced or can ever imagine. I cannot say prepare yourselves if you’re living paycheck to paycheck. That one requires a “good luck!”

So, next month, choose your candidate wisely. Reason it out. Why that candidate? What are their experiences and overall background? How business savvy? Rational and logical when explaining things? Sensible? Voting straight down the line is no longer kosher. Why vote for that candidate? Make your votes count. The 20th Legislature, Delegate Kilili, and others will determine our legacy to pass on to the next generations. Forget today, think about your kids’ future and their kids’ future. The election ballot should have a check box with “None of the above” on it. I famaguon. Man sinsasaga sa ti nahung i sueddo para guma. Man e’e’insinayau. Tisiña man ayau gi banco par CDA sa makat. Ya pulan mauleg i “Cultures and Traditions” i Refaluasch yan i Chamorro.

Rudy M. Sablan
Garapan, Saipan