Student’s defense of Babauta is weak and insubstantial

I am taking the time to respond to Lyna Vizconde’s letter to the media to provide clarification for some of the nebulous comments she made, as well as place in the proper perspective some things surrounding Juan Babauta as governor.

Lyna Vizconde’s recent letter to the media was a presentation of flawed thinking and a weak argument in defense of Juan N. Babauta who is running for a second term as CNMI governor. As with her first letter regarding me, she has demonstrated that her thinking is not only myopic, but not pliable and open enough to be receptive to and accept constructive criticism, as well as the obvious truth.

Lyna Vizconde discussed “improvements” in the CNMI and that Babauta should be given credit for them, e.g., street signs, lighting. And what credit should Babauta get for squandering $4.6 million on the La Fiesta Mall and Pacific Gateway project; not adequately providing $6 million for the Public Health facility that is in dire need of very important maintenance and repairs; and the Public School System that has had to publicly remind the governor to “pay” PSS in order for them to take care of vendors?

Moreover, what about the lack of planning for funding for the new prison and the projected $17 million that will be required to complete the construction of the new Public Health clinic scheduled to be completed in 2006? Will Lyna Vizconde absolve Babauta for dropping the financial ball for all of this?

If funding for these major improvements does not become available, then the new prison and possibly the new healthcare clinic will end up like the La Fiesta Mall—a physical facility that cannot be fully utilized and maintained because the government does not have the funding.

Giving Babauta credit for street signs and lighting is laughable simply because the cost for signs and lighting is in the thousands, as opposed to millions that are required for education, healthcare, and social services. Since the cost differential is significant between street signs, lighting, and the public school system, healthcare, and social services, there should never be an analysis comparing them.

Another responsibility that Babauta has not lived up to is the Retirement Fund. The Fund has been not been taken out of arrears since Babauta was inaugurated in 2002. He was handed the fiduciary responsibility to take care of this, but has failed miserably for nearly four years to ensure its stability vis-à-vis consistent payments to keep it current. Ask the retirees in the CNMI if the Fund has been neglected.

So I ask Lyna Vizconde if payment for the street signs and lighting were made at the expense of not consistently paying the Retirement Fund so that the individuals who “paid their dues” with government service can receive the money that is rightfully theirs?

Babauta was elected into office in November 2001 approximately one month subsequent to the start of FY 2002, which began on Oct. 1, 2001. Regardless of what the governors that preceded him did, the responsibility of the health of the CNMI economy still rests with Babauta. Blaming someone else and not owning up to what you are responsible for is a blatant “cop out”.

The 14th Legislature has done their job with trying to come up with a realistic budget to contain the deficit. Babauta has vetoed the past two budgets due to his insistence that his Integrated Fiscal Plan be included—increasing more taxes and fees to the residents and businesses of the island community.

The fiscal health of the CNMI has clearly deteriorated and become unstable for nearly four years under the gubernatorial leadership of Babauta. It is Lyna Vizconde’s prerogative to vote for Babauta if she chooses. However, it remains to be seen if the island community will select an incumbent governor who wants to slam the residents and business community with higher taxes and fees while they are frantically trying to make ends meet and feed their families adequately with three balanced meals a day. I guess we will know on Nov. 3, 2005.

Since Lyna Vizconde clearly has yet to grasp what a “balanced budget” is, I will take the time once again to define it for her. A “balanced budget” means when an organization like a government has expenditures that are equivalent to the revenues which are collected. Not spending more than you take in will allow a government to eschew “deficit spending.” Indiscriminate spending and using the excuse that you are doing it because of the needs of the people is akin to spending more money than you earn because you have a multitude of needs that you think must be met, e.g., purchasing high octane gasoline for your car in lieu of “regular unleaded.” To substantiate spending that does not reflect prudent thinking is clearly irrational and not pragmatic, especially if it propels you into the “red.”

The question I would like to pose publicly to Lyna Vizconde is, “How can the future be bright for the CNMI when the deficit for the CNMI climbed to a staggering $110 million and the Babauta administration continually says that he will implement “austerity” measures, but then does the antithesis of it? Would Lyna Vizconde disagree that the definition of hypocrisy is when an individual overtly does what they say not to do?

The example of Lyna Vizconde’s father reducing the number of meals to two as opposed to three if his income were less than the previous year is a poor example in illustrating a pragmatic response to austerity. Anyone who has “less money” will need to do less unless they wish to climb into a bucket of debt. If a father’s income is lessened, for whatever reason, he will presumably continue to feed his family three meals, but obviously he will not be financially equipped to provide for them the same amount and/or quality of food as when his income was greater. If Lyna Vizconde’s father is spending more than what he earns to feed his family then he has chosen to be involved with “deficit spending” like Babauta has practiced for nearly four years.

As far as conducting polls are concerned, I recommended to the media that they be taken under advisement. Because the media utilizes polls on a regular basis to ascertain what people in the island community think, then this “old school” methodology Lyna Vizconde categorized it to be must not be too archaic. If Lyna Vizconde will “read” as opposed to “looking at” what the media produces, then this will be evident to her.

Lyna Vizconde mentioned that Benigno Fitial told the media that he wanted to set aside politics and work with the Babauta administration when he captured a seat in the CNMI Legislature in 2003. Since he is presently a gubernatorial candidate running against Babauta, I am not entirely sure if Fitial still believes and espouses the position of “politics must die and unity begins” between him and Babauta.

Lyna Vizconde will always be a “victim” she described herself to be in academia if she does not shed the thinking that people with advanced degrees, e.g., doctorates, are preoccupied with books and are not cognizant of the world around them.

Granted, not all people who possess an earned doctoral degree know and see everything. However, to possess the ability and will to pursue and attain an advanced degree like a doctorate requires a tremendous amount of intestinal fortitude, perseverance, and the ability to demonstrate the skill of rational thinking and communicating. That is precisely why the attrition rate is 50 percent for the people who embark on a doctoral degree program but, for whatever reason, do not complete it.

If Lyna Vizconde chooses to continue to “stereotype” the professors who are trying to teach and prepare her for the real world, or anyone holding a doctorate for that matter, then she will always encounter difficulty in making progress in academia. Moreover, if she does not change her attitude about “learning” and make a concerted effort to remove that rather enormous chip on her shoulder, then she will always be “a victim” with a future that will more than likely be problematic in her chosen field and in the real world.

And finally, if Lyna Vizconde does not work on making the necessary adjustments regarding her weaknesses in academia, she will not move forward and grow as a student and always remain in the category with those students who perform marginally. I rest my case.

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, California