The shifting sands of paradise

Having spent a good portion of my government career in the legislative branch–both with the former TTG’s Congress of Micronesia, the Marianas District Legislature and the current bicameral system–it seems the golden of considering issues on their merits has been relegated to the ash heap of history.

Most entrenched policymakers are either too slow and shallow, if not, hollow, or have learned to employ self-destructing gamesmanship. It’s an unfortunate shift from industriousness to vacuous political posturing. The net effect is the obvious delay in the resolution of substantive issues–people’s issues, i.e., jobs–that has sent hundreds to the food stamps office.

Is indignity the legacy that entrenched policymakers wish to leave permanently in the livelihood of its constituency especially when nothing else works except swallow their pride and line-up at the NAP office at As Lito? How sad the wind, we’ve voluntarily and aggressively ripped our own sails! In the process, political careers will be ruined permanently. But this isn’t the disturbing aspect of current intransigence as much as the net effect of policymakers’ apparent ineptitude to shove aside differences in order to rebuild the local economy.

It’s an interesting coincidence that this adolescent attitude is heard loud and clear by the Class of 2000 marching out of graduation exercises. Need entrenched policymakers–who can’t see beyond the years–relegate the future of our young people to greater uncertainty? Well, direct this query to your senators! Ask them to define the essence of real leadership, not alleged leadership, di ba?

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It isn’t surprising how the tide shifts from realistic resolution of substantive issues now trapped in the little world of entrenched GOP senators. Not only have they seen fit to employ the Peter Principle, but it has also seen fit to dig their own political graves.

But then the last drop of hope can still be found in the sturdy leadership of such veterans as Governor Pete P. Tenorio, Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and former Lt. Governor Pete A. Tenorio. I have spent time discussing the disorientation of the younger GOP which is juvenile at best, out of focus at worse. Well, it’s a difficult course to re-map given the arrogance with which the young turkeys have redefined GOP leadership: Self-destruction!

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With the exception of a few, most of the adolescent GOP turkeys, have lost all their marbles in a now seemingly strange phrase–reasoned analysis–or the consideration of substantive issues on their merits.

It’s obvious that the current gridlock revolves around who’s supporting who between the two GOP gubernatorial tandems. It should have been treated with political maturity. But it seems it is headed down to the wire where both camps would play hardball using tennis balls loaded with titanium metal. The divisive primary would further wedge GOP solidarity. It certainly spells the demise of the GOP.

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I suppose familiarity breeds suspicion. In other words, the taste of power has gotten to their heads and subsequently translated into pure political arrogance. Who was it that said “listening” is one of the strongest trait of real leadership? Hello? Anybody home? The train of GOP political demise is at top speed. Hold on to the rails, you may need it down the stretch! A` Saina i mañan tontu sa` mas ma-atisa pago!