The politics of worry

It’s appalling how politicians and bureaucrats have created the politics of baseless worries as though it emanated from the citizens of these isles. It’s self-inflicted fear to snare the ignorant into believing well concocted trash!

They want us to fret; it gives them the grand excuse to show they care. Care about what? Trivia over Substance? Some have even used their post to take us on a bumpy bus ride of shallowness as though we were born with something other than brain in our cranium.

It is even stunning how well they have honed their skills at viewing the trees over the forest. In other words, they refuse to see the larger picture. Most wanted their tañgantañgan trees for instant barbecue, especially when tasked to deal squarely with matters of substance. They retract, in nanoseconds, like hermit crabs in their wild tañgantañgan forest.

There’s the decision on continuing retaining Preston Gates. The firm has successfully derailed legislation in the US Congress (federalization of immigration and minimum wage) that would have otherwise sent the fragile economy cascading into permanent ruins.

Opponents rambled that they want to see performance so that taxpayers money are spent wisely. Nice try! Such excuse is the perfect display of a small-island mentality hardly wary of the reality of Washington politics.
The shallow cabal wanted to save $2 million while grandly chancing the likely loss of over $200-plus million in annual revenues. What shallow ramblings? Save $2 million in order to lose $200 million? Strange arithmetic, partner!

There’s the Senate delegation now in Washington who apparently missed their appointment with critical members of Congress at the Capitol Club. Where were they? Burning meat at the porch of the Marianas Washington Office. I could envision the tiny saviors claiming unearned accolades to cover their grand failure to make a dent versus the Franks bill, one beer at a time.

Let’s cut the chase fellas: Did you successfully slam the brakes on the Bob Franks bill? Did you know that members of Congress you stood up subsequently sign-on as co-sponsors of the measure? Nice summer vacation, gentlemen!–at taxpayers expense too, di ba?

Some may quickly claim ignorance as freshmen, but ignorance of the reality of Washington politics is definitely not an excuse! You’re not dealing with your tiny Senate staff here who jump at your whimsical command. Washington is the Nerve Center of the World and if you have difficulty conceptualizing your inconsequential role in national politics, it wouldn’t hurt to start right here and now! It should be quite a humbling experience.
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Then there’s the almighty savior (who can’t even get along with his colleagues) proclaiming at the most inopportune occasion that he can change anything at will in the CNMI or even in Washington. Well, I know that the senator’s forte isn’t reasoning.

And notice too the spelling of almighty in this paragraph. It’s the small letter “a” which depicts my less than sterling impression of the individual. But then, I’m willing to let him have his say even though we know that he knows not but proceeds to display his almighty ramblings.

It pays to know your league, lest you discover rather belatedly how you’ve turned yourself into a grand fool of fools. If anything, it’s best to keep your trap shut and keep them guessing than brave a word only to erase all doubts. Gee, the politics of worry is worrisome, huh? A` Saina asi`i i man-ignorante!