Tid Bits from Paradise

The trade winds has picked up some strange mix of hot and cold air. It was breezy earlier in the day, then there’s dead calm late in the afternoon. In the quiet corner of my mind lurks queries I can’t answer, specifically: Is the CNMI on its final trip into the abyss of a deepening and deafening economic crisis?

I tried avoiding that troubling query, but like a two-headed snake, it kept crawling back into my mind. What I find most troubling though is the livelihood of the multitude when most economic activities are slammed into a screeching halt. Strange goose bumps was creeping up my back. I’m hoping and praying it’s just the skeptic and cynic nature of the journalist in me.

Something’s amiss here and despite my guarded optimism, pessimism keeps crawling back stronger than ever before. Well, let’s see how things pan-out over the next several months. It’s scary and let’s hope and pray that there would be room to mitigate a major drop in revenue generation. It looks ugly, if not, nasty! Can someone bring in the Salvage Squad?

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The political season is nearing its take-off point. The room is a bit crowded, too: Democrats, Covenant, Reform, Republicans, and the “Others” tandem. Gee, it’ll be a real fiesta on top of other fiestas, yeah?

There are the fully groomed, those who think they’ve been groomed and others who didn’t know it takes some grooming to get their feet wet. A gubernatorial aspirant remarked–when seeking grassroots support–“Eh, money isn’t a problem to foot campaign expenses”.

Such grand statement knocked me off my tennis shoes. I was like: “Eh, Mr. Money has is really stylin` it with hands in pocket, but can he collect votes down the stretch?” Da bugga has a lot to learn about local politics despite the fact that he’s local. He’s yet to get his feet wet in the local political arena. That aspiration is anything but lofty and Mr. Money could just as well end up intoning: “Tristeyo`” most of his days out on the campaign trail.

On the lighter side: My friend, an alcoholic, has happily declared that beginning this April, “I will stop buying beer!” Quizzed whuzzup. Said he: “Eh, plenty candidates and there’s lots of beer out there. Why buy when it’s free!” Makes sense, yeah?

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My cousin Lifaru asked via e-mail if all’s well in paradise. Said he: “My job as a computer analyst here in Silicon Valley is superb, but it has really taken me away from the humble lifestyle of the simple folksat home. I really want to return home.”

I fired right back: “If you wish to court joblessness, I’ll set up a Committee of One to roll out the carpet upon your arrival.” He asked: “What’s wrong in paradise these days?” Answer: “Nothing works!” I was ready to slam him with the “I don’t know Maria” answer.

Asked he: “Hasn’t leadership worked the clock to salvage what’s left of our fragile economy?” Told him to answer it himself. I wasn’t about to volunteer regurgitating all that I’ve said in recent years. Be good and take charge!

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.