Sticky gecko

When we lived on Capitol Hill, a sticky mousetrap was placed in our laundry room to catch a noisy shrew that was in the house. To entice the little varmint, we sprinkled some food in the middle of the trap. When the trap was checked the next morning, the shrew had passed up the free meal, but instead a gecko was caught in the sticky mess.

We like geckos, and we didn’t want to see it suffer. So, a rescue operation was undertaken to get the glued gecko out of its mess so it could enjoy life again. It was not a simple task, because if one just grabbed and pulled it out, there would have been a few delicate limbs left behind. Our goal was to enable this little creature from becoming disabled, which was easier said than done.

We took the trap outside where we tried different oils and ointments to neutralize the stickiness. Kids and animals gathered to oversee the important life-saving effort, and after over a pain-staking hour of intricate maneuvers to free the reptile, our mission neared success. As soon as the last little finger was freed out of the trap, the patient gecko scurried away to enjoy its second lease on life – only to be snapped up before our horrified eyes by a lurking chicken who had other intentions for the poor gecko.

Whether one wants to admit it, we are in a sticky mess right now. Maybe Chicken Little isn’t yelling, “the sky is falling”, yet; however, the Commonwealth does have some nasty looking clouds hovering overhead that are threatening to turn into a real storm. To see things otherwise is to deny the emperor is naked.

When we get into a sticky situation, the knee-jerk reaction is to expect the Federal government to pull us out. Yet, too much dependence on the Federal teat encourages people to look less on themselves for solutions, and more on others to solve their problems. Is the solution more Federal aid, more tourists, more investors, or something else we haven’t explored yet?

We are in a delicate time that requires patience and cooperation. What we envision, believe and act upon will become our reality. Beware of the politicians with the Machiavellian philosophy of “the ends justify the means.” Bringing more of the wrong kind of investors and businesses could exact a cost that is too high for society to pay. What good is putting a lot of filthy lucre in the CNMI’s coffer if its citizens become morally bankrupt?

Instead of the tail wagging the dog by hoping a hodgepodge of investors will find the islands attractive to unload their money, we should determine what we desire the place to look like, feel like, and be like in the future. When that is known, then we can device a plan and strategy to turn the vision into a reality. It is within our means to transform Saipan, Tinian, and Rota into a destination of choice for millions of guest who crave the chance to bask in our sun and spirit of hospitality, and enjoy the full beauty that yearns to be discovered here.

Solutions don’t usually come about right away, but a commitment to make a difference can happen in an instance. You have the power to expect, even demand, that elected leaders show more fiscal and social responsibility, and demonstrate their commitment to the people. Will the results of the November 5 election have a bearing on the CNMI’s economic future? Good question, and the answer will be “no” if incumbent or new candidates stay the course of self-serving interests and demagoguery. Or it could be “yes”, if they are committed to improving the quality of life for every person that calls the Commonwealth their home.

There are many sincere individuals whose intentions are good, and they have demonstrated their intent while in office. There are also those who would tell you that you have no need to fear “chicken little” because the road ahead looks A-Okay. To ignore the “economic chicken” that is lurking around the corner and expects you to close your eyes to the current situation would be synonymous to the boat captain of the Titanic closing his eyes so the ship will miss the iceberg.

We have studied the issues, read about the candidates, and are still deciding whom we feel are the best people for some of the positions. Even if our minds were set on specific individuals, we are not going to tell you how to vote on Election Day (can someone play Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA in the background while we make our final point)…and neither should anyone else tell you how to vote. That is your personal choice and it is a right given to you by this great country and those who died to allow us to maintain our rights and freedoms. Make your choice count on Saturday, and remember to look both ways before you cross the road.

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Rik is a business instructor and consultant, and Janel is the owner of Positively Outrageous Results. They can be contacted at: biz_results@yahoo.com