A letter from ‘Dino’

I just got a campaign letter from Congressman Dino Jones today. I don’t know why he even bothered, since I am not a voter in his district.

But I am glad he sent me such a letter anyway. It was awfully nice of him to think of me during his important re-election bid.

Besides, his letter gives me something to write about; I had been racking my mind for a suitable topic all afternoon, when his unexpected letter arrived.

Let’s see, where shall we begin? Why should we re-elect Congressman Dino Jones?

The first reason is socialism. As is the case with practically all CNMI politicians, you vote for him because of socialism–because of the pork barrel spending and government benefits galore he will offer you, “courtesy” of the taxpayer.

Since it is not his money, he can afford to spend whatever it takes to please the public. He is not talking about tax cuts or a flat tax. He is not talking about protecting your private property rights. He is talking about the government expropriation of private resources–of the violation of private property rights itself. He is endorsing it, aiding and abetting it, bragging about the $300,000 he appropriated “for the construction of youth centers in Tanapag and As Matuis”.

This is not the political philosophy of maximum economic freedom and individual rights. It is the philosophy of big government and “Big Brother knows best.” It is the philosophy of “$350,000 for the construction and/or renovation of basketball courts in Precinct IV”.

For goodness sake, if you want to get in shape, get yourself a membership at Gold’s Gym or the Saipan Fitness Center. Pay for it yourself. Build a private basketball court in your own back yard if you must; don’t force others to subsidize your recreation. It is rapacious and unjust.

But Congressman Jones is not only offering generous government perks at taxpayer expense, he is peddling xenophobia and protectionism as well. Vote for him because he once authored a bill “To protect and assist economic business advancement of CNMI/US citizens by directing that business of no more than $1 million aggregate capitalization be reserved for CNMI/US citizens”. Vote for him because he wants to limit the number of aliens in the Commonwealth, because he believes they cause all kinds of “community problems,” and because this “is also a genuine concern of the federal government.”

Who cares what the federal government thinks? Are we voting for Dino Jones or the federal government? The heck with the federal government. The federal government doesn’t own us. The federal government should not dictate local policy. The federal government is not going to live with the consequences of their policy prescriptions.
The CNMI is a representative democracy. We are a self-governing political entity.

The aliens Congressman Jones wants so much to reduce are far more important than the federal government. Alien labor and the free enterprise system built the Commonwealth and allowed it to thrive and prosper. Alien labor and foreign investment built Duty Free, the Hyatt, La Fiesta and the garment industries–not the federal government.

The federal government stifled our economic growth and development for years. Will the voters of Precinct 4 allow Mr Jones to do the same?