Continued threats of fed takeover
You’ve read it in straight news form that this issue is far from becoming water under the bridge, so to speak. It crystallizes two issues:
1.) Textile Labor Unions (special interest groups) who bankroll careers of their pet tigers in the US Congress have succeeded in their pitch to be heard.
2.) Our glorified Washington Office is basically useless in trumpeting local sentiment against an agenda that basically preaches economic ruination.
Not all hope is lost to retain the basic integrity and sanctity of the Covenant Agreement. The House leadership has taken the matter directly to “Friends of the Commonwealth” in the US Congress where they will impress upon two issues:
1.) Federalization isn’t the answer where big government dictates in absentia, thus far removed from basic reality on policies that would enhance and enrich the lives of remotely situated US Citizens.
2.) The NMI isn’t in mainstream America, thus a non-beneficiary of the “economic good times” to which lame duck President Clinton wanted to ensure that “nobody is left behind”. Nice try, sir! And if I may remind you of your own slogan some seven years ago: “It’s the economy, stupid!”
Therefore, assimilation into mainstream America is an impossibility. Geography dictates in this case. Thus, the dire need of national policymakers to understand the unique and realistic conditions of tiny island governments in this remote Pacific area. The idea of perpetuating neo-colonialism, therefore, big government, is very unhealthy.
It should be understood that this agenda has added fuel to the ruination of NMI’s image as a stable and conducive investment venue. We can’t allow liberal social democrats to reinvent US Department of Interior’s legacy of loading up on more government as our holy grail. Such ruinous policy of incompetence has honed the notion that career success is found in perky government jobs.
No wonder the superficial notion that money would rain down from the blue skies of paradise when Uncle Tom flies in for the rescue. It simply compromises the need to shift attention from “business as usual” to wealth and jobs creation. How could we accomplish this when liberal social democrats want to perpetuate neo-colonialism in this laboratory of democracy where we have proven that we can stand on our feet in meeting cost of government operations?
This superficial generosity of funneling more US mainland taxpayers hard-earned income just to keep the brown boys happy is so condescending that ultimately robs individuals of their pride and dignity. Thus, another layer of big government is the least that we need in these pearly isles.
And our detractors must learn to see these issues through our lenses and grant us the continued opportunity to strengthen our democratic institutions. Mind you, Robinhood only lived in fairy tale land. Buckle down.
This is real life situation and we deserve nothing less than the opportunity–given all American communities–to rebuild a ruined economic bridge and precious image.
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The signing of an agreement for direct air-links between Taiwan and the NMI should give these isles more visitors.
I understand the new flights would enable visitors to patronize tourism on Tinian.
I’m rather tickled to death at the proactive attitude of Tinian’s local leadership to make things happen for themselves.
Municipal leadership from Tinian and Rota have positively embraced wealth and jobs creation.
Perhaps we need to have them–through a speakers forum–discuss how this positive attitude could be turned into a mantra of leaders who hail from Saipan.