On half-baked federal policies

Policy is defined as a “course of action” or “procedure.” Research and analysis are conducted on a thorough basis to ensure that all substantive issues are considered and organized before the final draft is made.

Data gathering includes public hearings with the people who would be affected by the planned policy. It is a critical process especially when the targeted population doesn’t benefit from equal representation in such powerful chambers as the U.S. Congress.

The evolution of new federal policies on labor and immigration is loaded with intellectual arrogance. It isn’t surprising how Western policymakers emerge from the conceit that all wisdom is contained in its disciplines. What of our inaudible voices in a political landscape that excludes our being equally represented?

The purposeful exclusion of our sentiment is obvious when the final policy should have included at least a portion of Marianas history, culture and values of our people. Isn’t it true that in order to understand a society, one must study the depth of their culture that gives clarity to a way of life? History is replete with evidence that the culture of any society outlasts any and all facets of conquerors’ imported ways and it is for this reason that we’re still here today.

It’s sad that the U.S. has been here for over 60 years, yet there’s purposeful exclusion of our sentiments on matters pertaining to our livelihood today and over the long term. It is clear that evil geniuses behind the construct of new mandates were bent on perpetuating neo-colonialism in the CNMI. How do we know if this isn’t the gradual fortification of the islands as what happened here during the CIA’s NTTU operations?

Too, it is mind boggling that there’s hardly a holistic approach to studying, with the shared use of our prism, how best to approach improving dismal economic conditions in the islands. The new dictates simply violate the very essence of the Covenant Agreement that mandates the US government to ensure a “progressively higher standard of living” for our people. Economic annihilation of the new policies runs contrary to this provision of law under the agreement. It’s very clear too how intellectual arrogance and failure dominated the manner these policies were handled. They simply placed their pride and dominance first and foremost over our livelihood.

As though there isn’t sufficient inoculation of an impending economic paralysis, a group of staffers headed by Tony Babauta of the U.S. Congress will arrive here on Sunday for more information gathering on federalization of labor and immigration. But then if their half-cocked product is now with the Executive Branch at Pennsylvania Avenue, is the impending mission orchestrated to fulfill the failure of the U.S. Government Accountability Office to submit a thoroughly researched report?

It is also rumored that the real mission of the Tony Babauta and cabal is to support the candidacy (payback time) of their choice. This activity may be perfectly legal, but when it involves the hard-earned nickels and dimes of U.S. taxpayers then it would seem to me a pure political junket that must be paid back in full upon their return to Washington.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern that this expenditure is illegal and it brings into focus whether Babauta has any conscience at all. I mean, U.S. taxpayers had to endure skyrocketing cost of fuel at pump stations, loss of family homes in the current housing crisis across the country, and increases in the price of basic goods.

This trip demonstrates the tyrannical strength of the majority that blatantly perpetuates an unjustified sense of omniscience in self-destruction. It’s the single pill cure-all that fail to envision the net result: emboldening anti-federal sentiment in the hearts, souls and minds of our people. Local elected officials who subscribe to promoting neo-colonialism in perpetuity have no inkling that they represent the indigenous people. I quiz too if they understand the essence of island nation-building or is the concept too farfetched for their nimble minds?

Finally, the feds must learn to part with its Atlanticist attitude when dealing with the peculiar needs and interest of emerging island nations in Asia and the Pacific. It must understand more and preach less—endeavor to afford due recognition to the uniqueness and uphill challenges facing island communities in all their very essence and circumstance. This could very well trigger understanding—a concept entailing a two-way street—a word we’ve missed though it’s been under our nose for over 60 years. Or it could equally trigger the move to severing the current relationship. The latter is the better alternative!