Yes, Mr. President, It’s the economy….

President Clinton returned to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where he summarized improvements in almost all corners of the economy since he gave a previous speech in 1992. His unofficial campaign motto then was “It’s the economy, stupid”, according to an AP news account.

It should be an interesting though boastful and vacuous statement that obviously excluded the Indigenous US Citizens of these isles. For fellow Americans across the “Land of the Free”, it’s a robust economy that filters into the pocketbooks of most working people. For us, it’s an issue that we meet with dimmed hopes of a brighter tomorrow for it is obviously aimed at fellow citizens who live in mainstream America.

Thanks, Mr. President, but how true the very essence of your motto for us in this remote American archipelago that your agenda fits the prescription “It’s the economy, stupid.” Or are we supposed to be at the other end of the stick at all times?

Ms. Tighe, It’s the economy….

Ms. Ruth, the alleged arbiter of social conscience of these isles, took a Tribune bashing recently for our views on Washington Representative Juan N. Babauta.

For a journalist of depth, Ms. Tighe, you should have taken stock of the larger picture, specifically, the likely loss of all that Indigenous US Citizens here have given up for a relationship with our mother country inherent in the Covenant Agreement.

What good is this political relationship, Ms. Tighe, if federalization succeeds in the permanent destruction of the NMI’s economic foundation, rendering nearly all guest workers jobless and must be repatriated, while leaving most locals to endure joblessness, abject poverty and hopelessness? Is it justice to ruin what we’ve built over the past 22 years because some evil architect under the Clinton presidency came up with a grand plan that actually serves textile labor unions’ interest over our livelihood?

Ms. Tighe, the local taxpayers have spent more than $10 million supporting the operations of the NMI Washington Office only to conveniently ignore the railroading–through a needle’s hole–of the destructive S1052. Having seen abject poverty most of my younger days, I’m not prepared to see the children of these isles climb every hill searching for brass or copper so they can sell in order to buy their next meal, clothing and basic needs. In fact, there’s no more brass and copper anywhere on the hills of these isles.

It’s a performance rating, Ms. Tighe, which, out of a scale of 1-10 is but a dismal figure below four. It’s a failure that brings the economic fate of our people to the brink of annihilation. Perhaps you ought to scribble President Clinton’s motto of eight years ago for it is still relevant under the current debate: “It’s the economy, stupid” in hopes that you’d learn from it.

Isn’t it our solemn obligation to guard the public interest in this and all substantive issues? Or are you brokering for a job under JNBabauta, a post which he still must wrestle from Pepero? Your aspiration is good for as long as the future of the indigenous people is fully protected from special interest greed. JNBabauta has failed and if you can’t see his very dismal performance, then perhaps it is you whose depth needs excavating for rating purposes too, yeah?
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Imagine a failure seeking for the top post in concert with a partner (Rep. Diego Benavente) who’s gained wide reputation as the icon of anti-business establishment. Can you envision the future of these isles and posterity under their stewardship of hollowness and shallowness? Eh, perhaps Ms. Tighe ought to work as their press officer.