Resident Rep. Q & A

The campaign for the Washington Representative’s Office is apparently well underway. So far, three candidates are vying for the post: Agnes McPhetres, the Democrat; Pete A. Tenorio, the Republican; and Herman R. Guerrero of the new Covenant Party. The Reform Party has yet to field a candidate, and House Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider has reportedly backed out of previous plans to run for the Resident Representative’s office.

The issues before this office are quite fundamental, and would probably be best elicited through a Saipan Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum or debate. The candidates should be asked the following crucial questions:

Question # 1 (The most important question): “Do you support the Federal takeover of our immigration, taxation, and minimum wage rates?”

Correct answer: “Absolutely not! Under no circumstances! I fully believe in local self-government and would fight every takeover attempt with every fiber of my being.”

Question # 2: “What are your views on the Covenant’s 902 process?”

Correct answer: “Frankly, it is overrated. It all depends on the administration in the White House. If the President is hostile toward our interests, as Clinton was during the last eight years, then 902 will not prove particularly useful. It is just another option. It works fine with the right administration. Otherwise, since the American people don’t care about it, it would be better to lobby Congress directly, which has in fact proven more effective.”

Question # 3: “Would your office primarily serve as an official begging agency for CNMI Federal grants and funds?”

Correct answer: “No, I firmly believe in maximum economic self-reliance. If you get money from Washington DC, there are always strings attached. With each federal grant, we are basically selling our very souls–our sacred liberty–to the Federal Leviathan. The CNMI will never become a prosperous island community because of Federal entitlements. Entitlements create welfare state dependence and weaken our initiative. We should generate our own funds through productive enterprise and investments, which allow us to control our own destiny. Besides, local CNMI government agencies can handle their own Federal grant applications just fine without me.”

Question # 4: “Do you agree with your predecessor Juan N. Babauta about the alleged imprudence of employing professional representation in DC?”

Correct answer: “I disagree totally and wholeheartedly with my predecessor. Look at the terrific results. Because of our wise move, we have averted several takeover attempts. We have educated the US Congress on the actual situation in the CNMI. I would be very happy to work very closely with our firm in DC. Those guys are simply the best!”

Finally, question # 5: “How do you feel about a CNMI non-voting delegate to the US Congress?”

Correct answer: “Frankly, it would be largely symbolic and quite useless. Remember, it would be ‘non-voting.’ The status quo suits me just fine by comparison.

“Even if we did have a chap who could vote, so what? In fact, it would be far worse. I mean, look, we have enough trouble getting our 27 Congressmen and Governor to do what we want. How much more trouble do you think we would have if we also had to contend with 100 U.S. Senators, hundreds of U.S. House Reps. and a U.S. President? Let’s just worry about governing ourselves with liberty and keeping the Big Federal wolf at bay.”

Strictly a personal view. Charles Reyes Jr. is a regular columnist of Saipan Tribune. Mr. Reyes may be reached at charlesraves@hotmail.com