Recovery or wreckovery?

Most of us have struggled to understand the spread of disorientation and high cost of inaction. Be that as it may, we cautiously pace the cost of living shooting like 4th of July fireworks in February, wondering when would it ever end.

Indeed, these are trying times, exacerbated by the lack of fully thought out policies in health premiums, utilities, pension pay and economic opportunities, among others.

We’re bewildered by the muted silence at home. The lights are on but nobody’s answering the door. Are they inebriated with the new alcohol spirit known as “Do-Nothings?”

Obviously, there’s no leadership with vision but we do have tons of followership with B&W television. Are we ready to repeat a history of grand failure?

Or do we move the needle of political maturity forward by electing a more academically competent and professionally qualified group of policymakers? Don’t we owe this to ourselves so we save ourselves from ourselves?

Our esteemed and illustrious delegate Kilili must be all smiles as retirees and employees are floored and sent reeling for survival when the new increase in health premiums increased. It robbed them substantially of nearly everything that is left in the family purse. Is it because Kilili and his staff are exempt from Obamacare?

The simple folks pine for “recovery” of sorts to ease the pain of misery in destitution. But what they’ve seen so far is “wreckovery,” the exact opposite of the former term.

Retirees have to endure 25-percent cut in their pension. Next, their buying power with what’s left in the family pocketbooks is reduced by more than 40 percent when the new price hike in health premiums takes effect upon policy renewal. This doesn’t include slated power rate increases and the impending increases in the price of basic goods.

Mind-boggling what the CNMI’s esteemed and illustrious Delegate Gregorio C. Sablan, Kilili, is doing to ease the heavy blows against families here from Obamacare. I suppose he’s also followed Nancy Pelosi’s infamous statement, “Let’s pass it [Obamacare] and find out what’s in it later.” Well, right here and now, Obamacare has reduced the buying power of nearly 3,000 retirees sinking in the filthy swamp of unprecedented hardship. Sayu?

‘My Dear Uncle Sam’

A long time ago, I’d sit by elderly folks serenading under a shade punching sweet tuba with beer. They’d intone a song that says in part, “Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam, my dear Uncle Sam, won’t you please come back to stay.” I must have heard this tune more than 50 years ago.

Now, if you pace our developmental history, you’d find that Uncle Sam has marched back slowly. We messed up on immigration and so he came in and took over, including minimum wage, labor, and health. Perhaps it was intended to demonstrate that the CNMI is a government of laws, not of men. That’s what a democratic republic must strive for—a government of laws!

The one area which he should take over is the Legislature. It would be a savings of nearly $10 million and a relief as realistic policies are emplaced to fix, yes, the economy or fiscal impotence of the CNMI. Last election depicts the maturity of voters. We expect the same this election year, too.

It should do this for at least a decade while legislators take up introductory or 101 courses at NMC in English, Economics, Current Issues, Public Administration, Public Policy, Accounting, and Business Management. Imagine if these guys could engage in what’s known as “educated” discussion. But then how many of them would require remedial courses?

It’s appalling the legislative agenda focusing on every mundane issue so far removed from the deepening economic mess at home. I mean it’s humiliating we’re worried sick about drying panties at the patio in houses near the hotel area, cockfights, village signs, and other provincial issues. Isn’t it still the economy, stupid?

This behavior reminds me of a joke about a man who ran into the bus and sat next to a fully clad lady. The rich woman looked down and saw only one shoe. Said she, “I think you forgot the other pair.” Said the man, “No, I found this and decided to wear it”. A` Saina! Thanks Uncle Sam, at least your presence has started sinking in the ultimate message that the greater problem has been and continues to be wearing a shoe we’ve found somewhere else.

More trouble with Obamacare

Your hospital Medicare admittance has just changed under Obamacare. You must be admitted by your primary physician in order for Medicare to pay for it! If an emergency room doctor admits you it is treated as outpatient care where hospital costs are not covered. This is only the tip of the iceberg for Obamacare. Just wait to see what happen in this year and 2014!

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS… At age 76 when you might need it most, you are not eligible for cancer treatment* See page 272 What Nancy Pelosi didn’t want us to know until after the healthcare bill was passed. Remember she said, “We have to pass the bill so that we can see what’s in it.” Well, here it is.

Judge Kithil of Marble Falls, TX highlighted the most egregious pages of HB 3200. Judge Kithil wrote:

** Page 50/Section 152: The bill will provide insurance to all non-U.S. residents, even if they are here illegally.

** Page 58 & 59: The government will have real-time access to an individual’s bank account and will have the authority to make electronic fund transfers from those accounts.

** Page 425, line 4-12: The government mandates advance-care planning consultations. Those on Social Security will be required to attend an “end-of-life planning” seminar every five years.

** Page 429, line 13-25: The government will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order.

HAD ENOUGH? Finally, it is specifically stated that this bill will not apply to members of Congress.