Capital Hill bullies

I have been using the term “Capital Hill bullies” to refer to some of our government leaders. Here is a definition of bully from Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. Bully: a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers or intimidates smaller or weaker people. We know these kind of people from our school days, those people who are a little bigger than their peers that gain favors by providing protection, giving away treats, pushing around other students, talking back or being impolite, etc. I think you can understand my meaning.

I have been observing our leadership on Capital Hill and some of them appear to fit the bully definition. For example:

1) The House Speaker and several other older house members try to push down Rep. Sablan to stop her from raising objections, asking questions and calling for points of order. Remember: “C’mon Tina, get on the train.”

2) Our governor sued the federal government, takes control of critical departments, fires directors of departments for no apparent reason, etc.

3) Tim and James allegedly put pressure on the CUC management for some purchases.

4) The votes in the House seem to follow the “good old boys” leadership recommendations, and they all vote as a group, with few objections because the leaders are bullying the others who in their heart disagree.

5) Some older House members, for some reason, do not want a transparent Legislature. Bullies like to hide their power.

6) Legislation is put before the house by strong legislators without due process, and push for a vote with no review and no thought. Bullies cannot stand up to review and criticisms.

7) Sole-source contracts are granted outside the governance process by people with their own agendas. Even when objections are made, the good guys are overruled.

8) Legislators pass “feel good” bills that are intended to gain voting favors and do not address the critical problems the CNMI face. Bullies need to keep public support by giving favors.

9) Tim will not do the right thing and step down from his position. Bullies do not like to give in and will fight even when they are wrong.

My list could go on and on, the newspapers are full of other bullying examples. The characteristic of all nine of the above; they are pushed or controlled by bullies, people are bullied to agree and bullying is part of our culture in the CNMI. This is one reason we have so much corruption, special favors, nepotism, uneven justice and poor management.

Bullies like to put weak people or family members in jobs below them so they can control what happens. They want to keep control of money and people because this is their source of power. They give gifts to voters to stay in power. (The voter does not realize that the bully is like a playground kid that keeps three sticks of gum for each that is given away.) This is why the CNMI is bankrupt. Think about it! Is it true that our government is run by a bunch of bullies?

What can we do? We must stop voting for the same bullies year after year, things will never change if we continue the culture of letting others bully us. The CNMI needs help, we need change!