They’re killing our sick democracy

Voters, especially my students and others students who know better, are very disappointed in our representatives who voted to circumvent the will of the people as they are clearly trying to kill our sick democracy. We are reading everyday about how the economy is improving and tourist numbers are rising without their help and yet they are asserting the casino as the only fix.

In a true democracy the people rule but that is not the case in the CNMI. Our Covenant governors and the Legislature have managed to keep us (locals, mainlanders, and now retirees) divided on many alternative solutions like Article 12 and marijuana legalization. Now they are expanding that division to retirees with the casino issue just to get elected. With only a few months before the election they could have put it on the ballot but it seems they don’t want the people to decide on anything anymore!

I actually witnessed 60 protesting retirees who had been pre-informed and organized by you know who to overrule 4,000-plus signatures! Just think 60 voices versus 4,000-plus and they listened to the 60, which tells me our democracy is now in ICU and it’s not funny! It was another skullduggery rush job and the anti-casino voters never had a chance to organize a protest as only the retirees were organized and ready with such a short notice.

Circumventing the law and stripping the people of their right to decide with a referendum does not justify the means as they claim because they are destroying our democracy and dividing the people, which is far more valuable to the CNMI than the 25 percent owed. What about the land compensation people who are suffering and even on their deathbed as they have been owed 100 percent for over 20 years and are clearly at the front of the line to be paid by our government? The protesting retirees just don’t get it that they are being used; they just don’t care about the rest of us! Retirees should take the money if it comes because I will, but I won’t be stupid and reward traitors to our democratic process with my vote and I pray the majority will do the same if they want to heal our sick democracy. “Anybody but Inos and his cronies” will be my battle cry and I pray the majority of voters will join me.

The protesting retirees are obviously limited in their ability to see the big picture and can only focus on their 25 percent, which is why they don’t understand what is happening to them. Our sick democracy is the reason why there were no other alternatives to a casino, why the Covenant governors killed the ferry, marijuana legalization, and other alternatives to casino and why retirees are the only ones given an audience with the governor and Rep. Demapan! Retirees are being played for suckers and don’t even know it so we must pray for these church-going people who think a casino is their only salvation. Maybe they should stop going to church with that kind of faith because I’m sure God does not agree with the handful of retirees on casinos and what they are doing to destroy our democracy that is clearly disrespectful to the majority of voters in the CNMI.

We are teaching their children and all our young folks the principles and the right way for governing in schools but the old folks (retirees and leaders) are throwing the principles of our democratic republic in the trash for a measly 25 percent in trade for a vote, which is obvious and a horrible example for our children and future leaders.

Retirees should want a better government in November so we will never have to worry about the 25 percent and the many other financial challenges we face. P.T. Barnum of Barnum & Bailey Circus one said, “There is a sucker born every day,” and retirees are proving he was right, falling for the old money in the hand bribe for their vote. Retirees and leaders are turning their back on the rest of society so don’t be surprised in November if the majority of voters gangs up on the governor and those in the Legislature for trying to kill our democracy. Voters did it in the last election and they can do it again to finally fix everything!

Ambrose M. Bennett
Kagman, Saipan