Seeing the CNMI through ‘studently’ eyes

I didn’t realize that my comments would stir up such an emotional turmoil for Dr. Jesus Camacho. With due respect, I would like to respond to his comments. But please note that I am just a mere student, sans an economics background, as my career is in line with healthcare. But I don’t think I need to take up economics to see Dr. Camacho’s conflicting statements and his unfair view of Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

First, he compared the taxes and revenue collections for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Was Gov. Babauta the governor in 2000? I thought our family voted for him in November 2001, so why will Dr. Camacho blame him for even the previous governor’s performance?

Second, Gov. Babauta took official rein starting year 2002, three months after 9/11, at the time when, paraphrasing Dr. Camacho’s statement, “every country comprising the international community” has been “directly, or indirectly influenced by the economies of other countries,” thus, my comment about the budget deficits in the U.S., Japan, France, and Germany and California, which directly or indirectly influenced the economy of the CNMI. Did I paraphrase it right?

Third, increased expenditures cannot be, by itself, attributed to, using Dr. Camacho’s term, “internal mismanagement.” Expenditures can be a sign of increased activities, capital improvement, movement in economy. Despite reduction in revenue collection, the expenditures cannot be reduced because the needs of the people remain the same.

Example, if my father’s income is less this year than last year’s due to him being laid off in his second job, so will my father reduce our meals to two as opposed to three meals a day? What if we are all in college with increased needs? Will my father tell one of the children to stop going to school, or perhaps put some of us out for adoption so he can balance the family budget?

Fourth, my comment was more focused on the figures pertaining to taxes, revenue and expenses in his first letter yet he started to talk about Compact Impact funds and other issues not even mentioned in his first letter. Do I need to take up courses, grow up or develop my maturity to figure out conflicting and confusing statements? Why will very educated people deluge students like me with jargons and several pages of dissertation when the issue is very simple? Why can’t we just stick with the real issue? Students are always captured victims of professors who confuse them more than enlighten them. Does that make me a retard?

Fifth, I think Dr. Camacho has been out of the island for so long that he failed to see the improvements from way back 2002, the official start of Gov. Babauta’s administration, to present. I am a pure local, meaning I was born in the CNMI and grew up there. But I’ve seen with my own eyes the installation of additional traffic lights, our house now has a physical address, roads are paved and improving, I have a Paseo De Marianas to, as what my Mexican friends in San Diego say, lamierda around. Even Speaker Fitial used that area as his backdrop in his campaign video, which is a sign that even Speaker Fitial admires what Gov. Babauta has done. So, has Dr. Camacho seen all the improvements? Don’t we need to spend to improve, to keep the economy growing? Didn’t Gov. Babauta fight to take the surcharges out? Didn’t he not fight to eradicate the toll fees for calls between islands?

Sixth, Dr. Camacho asked if he spread misleading raw information, I say No. He just spreads confusing and conflicting information accusing people for things they did not do. Do you think he just overlook that? Maybe, but it took a mere student like me to see the weakness of a person with doctoral degree. Do I still need to take up economics to do that?

Seventh, Dr. Camacho wanted to conduct a poll, very typical of the old school. We don’t go around preaching theories and then ask the students to raise our hands if we agree. We are in the world where students are NOW allowed to debate with professors, to question theories of the past, to search for weaknesses in order to strengthen the truth. That’s philosophy but in the healthcare world, it’s called MINIMUM data assessment.

Eighth and hopefully the last, in real world, I hope Dr. Camacho, you do not suffer economic crisis. I hope you keep your job. I hope the best for you even if the real world does not allow a perfect life.

I am a mere student with eyes open. I have been a victim of professors who are so confined with the books that they fail to raise their eyes and see the world. You cannot close your eyes to the improvements in the CNMI since Gov. Babauta took over. And I am still proud to be a part of a small island, whose governor hopes to improve the quality of life further, despite the crisis and the challenges from the global community.

I come from a poor family with parents struggling to make ends meet. But with one vision and a united front, my parents, brothers and sisters are moving, although slowly, towards the attainment of our goal.

Translating the same simile to our island, I just hope to God, that our leaders of today, hold true to their word. In 2003 I remember around Thanksgiving Day, the Covenant Party’s Speaker Fitial said that for the sake of the CNMI, he would set aside politics and work cooperatively with the Babauta administration.

He said something like “politics must die, unity begins.” Good words, but does it involve you, Dr. Camacho? You claim pride of your heritage, yet you can’t even speak well of your leaders and help in the improvement of our island. Have you paid your taxes already?

Our island may appear to be in crisis for those who refuse to see. But Gov. Babauta’s accomplishments will speak for themselves. What he had done transcends books. I know, because in my young and “studently” eyes, I can see them and with my heart, I can feel them.

Yes, I still believe that the future is bright, the vision can be a reality with Gov. Babauta. He needs time to continue what he had begun. He needs time to completely hurdle the odds. He needs four more years. And I intend to give him that. Need I say more?

Lyna Vizconde
Saipan