‘American values’
For years we have been hearing the same, tired old refrain from the U.S. federal government. “American values,” we keep hearing over and over and still over again, as if that catch-phrase alone, in and of itself, were sufficient to cast away all opposition and force federalization firmly upon the backs of our indigenous peoples. “American values” keeps getting shoved down our throats, whether we like it or not.
“American values”–that slogan persists to the present day. Federalize the CNMI because CNMI immigration is simply inconsistent with the so-called traditional “American values” (as defined by our most hardened detractors).
Never mind that America supports liberal democracy. Never mind that America supports democratic self-government: government for the people, of the people, and by the people. Never mind that America was founded upon the principle of liberty and limited government: the ideal notion that the best government on earth is precisely that state which governs least. Cast aside these profound and fundamental issues for the moment. For by George (Miller), basic American values are at stake!
The CNMI must not be permitted to continue exercising its sacred right to local self-government. This is simply inconsistent with America’s fundamental values. America’s founding fathers may have revolted against colonial England because of “taxation without representation.” But this does mean that the US federal government should not impose “regulation without representation” upon the indigenous peoples of the CNMI. After all, we are clearly speaking of important “American values” here–and they shall not be compromised, not even for a moment.
After all, we are clearly dealing with nothing less than “indentured servitude” here. Which is not too far removed from outright human slavery. And no principle of local self-government, no democracy, Al Stayman will be the first to tell us, could ever justify the terrible price of human slavery.
Forget for a moment that America had black African slaves without critical OSHA inspection for greater than a hundred years. Forget for a moment that the America of 1776 to 1973 was not subject to the enormous federal regulations now aggressively applied to every CNMI garment factory. After all, we are talking about appalling CNMI “indentured servitude” here–clearly not a subject to be taken lightly.
What is CNMI “indentured servitude”? you may ask.
Vicious anti-CNMI propaganda aside, it just means we import nonresident workers to fill our labor needs, to staff our local economy, since we clearly do not have enough local workers to sustain a viable, successful economy. It’s just the federal government’s twisted, perverted and depraved way of referring to our much needed expatriate worker population.
It is a practice common to many countries with severe labor shortages. The United States itself, to this day, employs alien workers, particularly in the high-tech areas. The only difference is, Uncle Sam grants them greater opportunities for US citizenship and permanent residency status. (The only country in the world that does so.)
But if the US were really concerned about basic American values, why did it ever allow us the provision of the Article 12 land alienation clause? Nothing could be more anti-American, more un-American, than our Article 12 provision. If US federalization prevails, will article 12, based on “American values,” soon be next?
