It's their turn, but would they go for it?
With the deepening economic woes of the Northern Marianas, it is really up to Democrats to capitalize upon a situation to which there doesn’t seem to be any rock solid plan by republicans to mitigate the impending hardship facing the average citizen.
The combine of a worsening economic condition and the use of ad hoc approaches to such conditions turns this midterm election into a boon for Democrats and a bane for republicans. It’s theirs for the taking any which way they want it, but there’s equally a fundamental drawback in the Democratic Party itself: Disunity!
Such disunity turns boon into bane where both the traditional and splinter groups hopelessly mourn the death of a once tight group. In the end, it’s all the shy expression of condolences and regrets that would predominate discussion on the “what might have been” had key leaders allowed magnanimity and statesmanship to prevail.
But a proactive attitude toward this goal seems to have been inscribed into another fairy tale of opportunity lost.
Local Democrats are in fact the conservative group in these isles. Other than its propensity to play up disunity that lasts a certain cycle, it is also troubled by underfunding as it heads out the campaign trail. But this fundamental drawback need not deter them from their social responsibility to making a difference in improving the economic lot of our people. In fact, it is crowned with equally talented people who can collectively put their best foot forward. It’s really all up to them–make amends now or forever hold your breath–as the GOP impugns another shoe-in this midterm election.
I liken this democratic intransigence so riddled with pride to a group of tourists sitting by a volleyball court waiting for the game to start. Well, unless someone steps in and invites them to play, nothing much will happen. Someone must step forward saying: “Let’s play volleyball. This group goes to that side while this bunch takes the other”. The game (meaningful discussion among key democrats) will definitely take on a new and hopeful beginning. The mañana attitude isn’t going to do much good in this case.
I think the pen-ultimate test of republican dominance would come around the gubernatorial race in the year 2000. It would have to be the beginning of, believe or not, the end! It’s a natural political cycle where one dominant group slides down its treasured seat in what’s known as hierarchical burn out. In fact, nothing would work in their favor when extreme hardship engulfs families throughout these isles. In simple terms, joblessness and helplessness can’t be pacified with fancy political rhetoric. It just won’t work at all!
Finally, whether you’re a republican or democrat, these islands will see poverty at its worse beginning this year or as we pretend to prepare for the challenges of the next millennium. It need not be this way unless we so choose to head down the alley of joblessness and helplessness. But I still have hope (guarded optimism) that there’s someone among this group from both sides of the political divide who could swing it even with minimum campaign funds. All he needs is a good and well poised campaign organizer to escort him to the villages where the simple people live. It’s all a game of getting to the grassroots who would be going through the pain of joblessness and helplessness.
There’s nothing more powerful than the will of ordinary citizens rallying behind a visionary to make life better and brighter for posterity.
