Dropping the ball on Youth Congress

It is very discouraging to see how politicians have tossed the fate of our Youth Congress from one venue to another. It is now relegated to the Legislative Bureau. Dropping it into the hands of the LB is a reflection of the apparent lack of leadership. Thus, the Youth Congress became a political tool of convenience rather than a sincere guidance on leadership.

Putting this organization under the Legislative Bureau may be a temporary solution after some legislator decided it’s too cumbersome an undertaking. But legislators must also remember that the bureau isn’t equipped constitutionally to handle running of a Youth Congress. What grand neglect of our Youth Congress. Perhaps such dropping of the ball depicts the true nature of politicians–long on rhetoric but awfully short when it comes down to commitment making tall speeches about our future leaders as real as a two dollar bill.

Indeed, it takes more than political rhetoric to guide the work of the Young Congress given that it calls for dedication and commitment. For once, let’s be honest and truthful in our words and deeds. Our young people do not deserve the usual dish of neglect. I certainly look forward to a steady and sturdy disposition of their activities through a forum that was created by guess who: the NMI legislature. Some real legislative leadership is needed to rebuild the bridge of ruined confidence and trust from our young people.

Missing the larger picture

Whether it is a provincial forte born out of ignorance or something or other, it is sometime scary how policymakers deal with policy matters paying greater attention to trivia than substantive issues. I find this bunch hopelessly out on left field though some are willing to learn the trade in their elective profession.

This tunnel vision reflects why the juvenile view versus reasoned analysis: most haven’t been reading in order to reasonably interpret the adverse impact of external and internal influences on these isles, specifically, what can they do (short and long-term) to prepare the NMI for the onslaught of, i.e., the current economic rut brought to our shores by the Asian Crisis. I honestly felt so helpless and if I feel such sentiment, I wonder about the future of our children in the hands of ill-informed policymakers.

I am not displaying sheer arrogance in this matter. But policymakers need to be ahead than most ordinary citizens on issues that eventually will require their sense of purpose and wisdom. In other words, let us not repeat bad experiences in our developmental history. Each of you must be able to be fully informed and forward looking in the disposition of issues that will affect the livelihood of the people you represent in office. On the scale of 10, I grant you a guarded five.

Ignorance will never enable policymakers to see the larger picture, muchless a vision beyond the years. It would definitely be refreshing if some political trade horse emerges from among the assorted bunch to offer some sense of purpose and organization as we march to welcome the first day of the next millennium. Hafa mohon? A` Saina!

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It’s almost a certainty that the pentagon won’t be needing the two-thirds of military land on Tinian. We must ask Uncle Sam to return it. It means, out the window goes any major contribution from a military outpost. Let’s ask that it be returned forthwith. The entire property could be put to good use for such niceties as the Free Trade Zone. It should grant us the opportunity to turn idle land into productive use during the first quarter of the next millennium. Hello?