Must reinvent old ways

Rather than strengthening a government-reliant mentality, it is time that we reinvent our orientation to teaching our young minds investment and entrepreneurship.

The ongoing economic rut is a perfect lesson in history that confirms, time and again, that government isn’t in the business of making money. Such is the role of the private sector. Thus, the need to push for inclusion of introductory business courses and the establishment of mini-incubators in the high schools here. It’s a good beginning to reorienting our children to veer off perpetual reliance on everything that is government.

Lest we forget, government (whoever is at the helm) entails the prudent disposition and distribution of our hard-earned tax contributions. If the private sector is healthy, local government could have funds to spread in the effective and efficient delivery of public services. If it is reeling for cover (as is the case today) revenue generation would slide quicker where delivery of essential services is compromised or reduced to a nil.

That the future of the global community lies in computer literacy and high technology makes it equally crucial for policymakers in education to reassess our educational goals. And in order to get a good glimpse of what lies ahead, all sectors must come under a single roof at the beginning of the next millennium to start anew an overall plan for these isles. Our irrelevant old ways demonstrate that it is time to consider new paradigms.

We’ve had great success with the Teachers Academy, including the nursing program in concert with the Northern Marianas College. These success stories can equally be replicated in teaching our young people the essence and boundless opportunities in entrepreneurship. If we begin this long process, we can someday acknowledge with pride (perhaps 20 years from now) that our decision was the right prescription to eradicating the notion that government is the answer to all our miseries.

This would also put lawmakers on their feet (if they decide to perpetuate their usual shortsighted review of strangling and stifling regulations) on current and future investments. And more so than ever before, we need to get together to map-out the future of these isles lest we would be reduced to the sideline second-guessing what happened. Friends, this is what leadership is all about–visionaries who can connect the labyrinth of complex issues–to forge a better and brighter tomorrow for posterity. Si Yuus Maase` yan ghilisow!