Hokog must resign!

Some sense of humility is in order after an alleged lieutenant governor (who never had the mandate of the people) forcibly whisked us into unsolicited humiliation.

I’m alluding to Biktot Hokog being named a defendant in a lawsuit filed in federal court by Mr. Takahasi Yamamoto for alleged personal “enrichment” of the investor’s $3.4 million—money used to buy the MV Luta. Hokog scrambled as a spinmeister claiming innocence. But let’s see how the lawsuit unfolds as the chips fall in their place in a competent court of law.

More bad tidings in the saga of the MV Luta did nothing but wrought unsolicited humiliation to the people of the NMI as the plot of suspicion of alleged corruption thickens. It re-awakens and re-polishes the historic reputation of ladrones, courtesy of Hokog.

Fearful of impeachment and conviction spinning out of the MV Luta case, Hokog’s out in full force allegedly ensuring his ill-fated Republicans are elected to prevent the inevitable. There’s nothing up that alley, sir! Most voters aren’t buying your useless Republican product of failure!

Meanwhile, Hokog’s mess derails the rights of the indigenous people from strengthening self-government or a government of laws! Ever heard of the word integrity, sir?

Perhaps Hokog takes our people as servile fools convinced he could go skating through with impunity, unscathed. What happens now to the $400,000 taken from the taxpayers, given the larger lawsuit?

This is a huge black eye against the NMI, especially when dealing with other investors where we struggle to put on a straight face in humiliation. Save the people of these islands any further unsolicited humiliation, sir. In brief, step down now! Resign!

Da Republican agenda
While the Legislature has approved raising the minimum wage to $7.25 for all employees, the administration (Raffy Torres) has delayed signing it into law.

In fact, he has urged the Legislature to recall the measure so it includes the following increases: $130,000 for governor, $120,000 for the lieutenant governor, $80K for mayors, $70K for legislators, etc. This shows their commitment to “we the people” by first taking care of their own pockets over easing hardship they’ve created for the rest of employees.

Two things come into play: 1). constitutional limitation when the increase could be received. 2). That it’s an explosive issue, its consideration would come after the election. It would require a three-fourths vote per house under a lame duck legislature.

It’s an agenda designed to leave people in the filthy mud of abject poverty. Republicans are still at it after 25 years of suppressing minimum wage and a sterling record of abysmal failure.

Restoring rule of law
The single most vital issue that we must remember at the polls this Tuesday, Nov. 8, it’s out ability to reject corruption in government that seemed to have blossomed under a Republican charge.

“It is the rule of law, whereby the rules are known and fair, equally applied to all, and where corruption is not tolerated,” wrote Richard Rahn, head of Improbable Success and Productions. The same can be said about the abysmal mess at home where perception of the islands drowns in being a welfare state infected by corruption on every corner.

Rahn pointed out, “Highly corrupt countries are usually poor, and countries with the rule of law and low levels of corruption are usually relatively prosperous. He added, “The end of great countries and empires was most often caused by internal decay, not by foreign enemies”—ancient Greece and Rome being prime examples.

He noted that Scandinavian countries have higher incomes than would be expected, even though their governmental sectors and tax rates are well above the optimum, but this large disadvantage has been offset in part by the very low levels of corruption and strict adherence to the rule of law, without favoritism. Can the NMI claim the same after a certain firm was freed of agency review led by Sen. Arnold Palacios while all others must face the music and dance accordingly? Call it the ruination of our credibility!

“The American founding fathers argued that the greatest danger to the republic would come from the erosion of the rule of law. America has never been free of corruption, but most of it has occurred at the local level,” said Rahn.

Said he, “Prosperity and corruption do not long exist in the same place. Unthinking citizens who vote to support the obviously corrupt are signing their own economic and civil society death warrants.” Let’s vote for change!

No future at home
It is seriously disconcerting seeing returning scholars who had to head back to jet ways in search of meaningful employment in Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. There’s none at home!

Yet we spend several million dollars annually sending our kids to colleges and universities abroad. That they can’t find jobs here is a tale that our scholarship program needs revisiting so it includes accommodating returning scholars. Otherwise, let’s just scrap the program altogether.

A student who left recently explains the lack of opportunities crammed under a failed economy where the NMI government remains the largest employment industry. Embarrassing!

This is the legacy of republicans honed since twenty some years ago!

Ignoring basic infrastructure
Most advanced countries in the world ensure the emplacement of basic infrastructure, e.g., electricity, water, roads, sewer, air and seaports, among others.

Their timely installation encourages investments that firmly bring in “wealth and jobs creation.” There’s the natural gravitation to invest where basic facilities are in place.

The NMI seems complacent, if not clueless, how basic infrastructure plays in any planned development growth. It pushes for growth then uses the Sen. Arnold Palacios syndrome to quiz if the immediate community could still get sufficient water, power and sewer when the new facility opens. Apparently, brain and mouth aren’t in sync!” Seesuzzzz!