Economic meltdown under federal takeover
Let’s review with a sense of detachment the impact of the never ending issue of the proposed federal takeover on the local economy even under a 10-year transition period to which our detractors haven’t shared specifics with local leadership.
There’s the definite termination of not less than 10-14,000 guest workers who will be displaced either gradually or instantly. It turns the battle cry for respect for human rights on its head for such measure would displace them forthwith and right into the sea of instant abject poverty and joblessness. This would include more than 1,500 local employees who now work in non-garment jobs and in support businesses that have emerged as a direct result of the apparel industry here.
It means the loss of $32 million in direct taxes, in addition to income and other taxes from the apparel industry that now feed the local coffers. Throw-in the tourism industry and others and the loss or substantial decline in gross revenue will be more than $100 million. Most industries would struggle for survival, if not, permanent shut down and head to nearby friendly investment venues. The NMI would be caught in the swirl of bankruptcy where heinous crime begin to increase because we had to steal or kill each other for survival.
Public and private land being leased by the various industries would come to a full stop. Private landowners lose out over the short and long term. There will be a concurrent loss of revenue when these venues–now being rented and a beehive of business activities–turn into ghost towns. About the only best use for these properties is the perennial collection of cob webs and the eerie noise coming from broken rusty windows and doors.
The brave assertion today of “So What?” turns into an explosive “Now What?” Wealth and jobs creation comes to a screeching halt leaving nothing to support education, health and other essential public services we take for granted today. It sounds a bit far-fetched, but this is the socio-economic scenario under a federal takeover recently approved by the US Senate.
Friends, change is a very difficult phenomenon. Imagine the magnitude of an economic meltdown we would all live to see if our detractors are successful in imposing their ill-conceived blue print. Abject poverty would be the order of business, joblessness a daily routine drowned not by hot coffee but salt water, murder and robbery a norm right so imposed by a blue print we never were a part of from the outset.
I am not ready to repeat history–hardship we had to endure in the early sixties–when there was a change in stewardship from the Navy to the US Department of Interior. Essentially, we’re marching towards a suicide cliff, a cliff of economic annihilation ready to put us back 50 years at the whims of special interest groups. Our inaudible voices will be no better than hungry and lonely wolves in the wilderness of abject poverty and joblessness.
Our future is in the palm of our hands and our survival rests in how well we articulate and defend our rights as Americans hardly known of across the country for we are tucked away in this remote archipelago. Yes, I will never be a famous politician in the pages of local history nor even dare claim such trophy. But I can certainly say that I’ve exercised my freedom of speech and press against economic genocide for it is wrong to do so against a powerless group of US Citizens. Say your piece now for it is really all up to each of us to work FOR Chamolinians, BY Chamolinians and OF Chamolinians. Si Yuus Maase`!
