Flip-floppin’ on federal takeover

Through the grapevine, I heard that Marianas Washington Representative Juan N. Babauta now supports local sentiment against federal takeover legislation being sponsored by our detractors in the US Congress on immigration and minimum wage.

I honestly went soul-searching why the flip-flop shift or convenient reptilian tendencies in Babauta’s on and off colors. Specifically, why would he apologize to Senator Daniel Akaka for views expressed against the Aloha senator’s position to compromise the rights of the people of these islands to self-government?

Furthermore, Mr. Babauta donated some money in recent years for the re-election of Senator Akaka, an islander in one of two most powerful chambers in Washington who views the rights of Chamolinians otherwise.

Mind you, Akaka’s bill seeks to impose a federal takeover of the NMI which will be considered on 15 February. Perhaps, it is just as appropriate now to ask Mr. Babauta whether he can slam the brakes on his friend’s legislation that would come closer to denying our people their rights to self-government as penned in the Covenant Agreement.

It certainly boggles the mind why would someone we elected to trumpet local sentiment has vacillated so royally while on the other side of the Pacific and shifts positions instantly when he’s on our side of the ocean. Now, which is which Mr. Babauta, your White Knight role or fighting in defense of our freedoms in the seat of power in Washington?

A day or so ago, I heard through the grapevine that he now supports the positions articulated by Speaker Ben Fitial against federal takeover, dire need to revive the local economy, among others. I was taken aback to hear such major shift in position and pressed Speaker Ben Fitial for his views. Asked he: “Well, where has
Babauta been over the last nine years?” If I may say so, perhaps he’s too busy looking for strange bed fellows like the arch-enemies of these isles, i.e., Senator Akaka (US Senate’s version of the House of Representatives’ Congressman George Miller).

However an islander, the only time that Senator Akaka can scrap his measure against the NMI is when all hell freezes over. Certainly, I can understand where he’s coming from: Akaka hails from the most highly unionized state in the union which started back during the incipiency of the sugar cane plantation when foreigners
(Filipinos, Chinese and other ethic minorities) worked the fields as indentured slaves. Ironically, Akaka has conveniently forgotten his Aloha State’s own dark history on slavery. Talk about the epitome of hypocrisy. Akaka, Miller and Babauta definitely fit the philosophy of generous social democrats who believe that government should and must be the holy grail of the governance.

I just can’t figure out the reptilian tendency of our glorified representative in Washington who finds vacillation a forte. And for an annual budget of $1.6 million in NMI taxpayers money whose interest aren’t trumpeted with truth and integrity, then it goes without saying that the money is best spent on education and health right here in paradise. May I strongly suggest that the budget for the Washington Office be reduced to skeletal level. After all, he’s taken a contrarian position against the people he represents in Washington while conveniently shifts gear when he’s here looking for supporters for his gubernatorial bid. Nice try but lest you forget you “can’t fool all the people…all of the time”. Dios miho!

Finally, the Year 2001 will arrive in no time and that will be the most appropriate juncture to cross the bridge to see who’s and what’s on the other side. Presto!