Essence of traditional values

Is it really difficult drawing moral lessons from time-honored traditional values? If so, then I strongly suggest that we begin watching “Gun Smoke” or “The Rifleman” if only to draw direly needed moral fable from these Western TV programs.

“If you neglect to do this now, you will pay a penalty later. If a corner is cut here, you will regret it there.” To ignore moral fables is convenient but it equally mortgages our future to what would eventually become a neglected past. No such thing as “and he lives happily ever after” only found in fairy tales.

I often quiz why the miscue or seeming lack of perception on issues of substance and the open trashing of fiduciary duty as though it’s business as usual. Is it ignorance mired in pride? Is this why logical reasoning suffers heavily on issues requiring deliberative discussions?

For those who’d venture reframing the question you’re out of luck. I will still insist that you answer the query. I want truthful answers not demagoguery!

Self-Destruction: Avoiding the issue is a sure pathway for politicians to run aground the reef of career destruction. It would haunt you for failing to engage reasoned conversation with people you represent and among yourselves. Don’t you have institutional memories of events unfolding around you? Why allow matters to disappear in the fog of related but unnecessary issues?

Bankruptcy: A case in point is the now insolvent Settlement Fund poked to death by liberal politicians who never saw the consequence of draining the program of its last penny. The unfunded liability is around $789 million or the amount owed the program until the last retiree dies. The annual fiscal obligation would bankrupt the NMI quicker than meets nimble minds. Is this an issue for you at all?

Real experts must be retained to revamp the program so it is cash-balanced. Or is this too difficult an undertaking and are we supposed to sink because policymakers have stuck to their guns of “do-nothing?”

Budgetary Shortfall: Perplexing, if not, alarming that even at the get-go the $146 million for FY `16 is short by $40-plus million. It doesn’t include utility debts by agencies under the NMI umbrella. This in a nutshell is the NMI’s fiscal posture. What have the 29 legislators done to improve upon revenue generation?

Alternatives: How do you navigate resolving the persistent fiscal crisis? Would you impose new taxes; borrow from a loaning institution or reduction in force (RIF). Do the guys and gals have the resolve to undertake one of three options? Or would they quietly resolve to sleepwalk it once more?

Would you be blind to impose taxes against taxpayers when recently we had to deal with new increases in health premiums and deductibles while literally struggling to endure increases in the price of basic commodities? Is the NMI fiscally poise to borrow even a penny? Do we have the political resolve to begin attrition or reduction in force?

Self-service healthcare: CHC needs about $40 million for operations. Policymakers never saw the need to fund it since several years ago. Is it now policy that healthcare at the hospital is “self-service” because the Legislature simply failed to fund its operations? Do legislators understand the consequence of their decision on this issue? Isn’t health one of three basic essential services requiring greater attention beyond demagoguery?

Bold Actions: The NMI must necessarily take bold and unusual measures including opening up the single license casino to at least two to scrounge up more mullah. Isn’t it money that we need to pare down spiraling deficits and obligations? Eh, $60 million is double what the NMI has collected so far from a single license casino. Common sense, anybody?

Ceremonial BS: There’s also the glare of wasteful spending of hard-earned taxpayers’ contributions we’ve addressed, ceremonially. You’ve heard speeches to downsize the 29-member useless bicameral legislative system. Did it get anywhere other than to nowhere land? Was that discussed perceptually or realistically?

Then there’s the picnic attitude to milk taxpayers to death employing more than 4,000 people doing a lot of nothing. Don’t you think taxpayers deserve a break by implementing attrition or cuts forthwith? Isn’t it the primary role of local government to provide three basic services in health, education and public safety? An across the board desk audit ought to eliminate “nice” versus “real” qualifications. Do we have the coconuts for it?

Demagoguery: Some politicians have started mastering demagoguery—appealing to popular and disoriented support over the more thoughtful and rational views—on issues. Yet, you carefully and critically pace their spouts versus what ought to be done and there’s nothing up that alley that is consistent and relevant. Be it the Rifleman or what have you it’s time to buckle down to rationality, now!