Why is Donald Trump leading in the polls?
I found this question interesting and I wondered if anyone else did, until I started to think about us here.
My relatives recently moved to Boise because of the local Saipan government corruption and how unconnected the legislative and executive branches are from the people. And then my mind went to Donald Trump. I started reading.
Donald Trump does receive donations. To date, he has raised $5,828,922. The next Republican is Ben Carson at $2.4 million. In contrast, Hillary Clinton has raised $24 million—10 times that of Donald Trump. Why the difference? Donald Trump has received almost all of it from the public in amounts of $250 or less. The people want Donald Trump. Big businesses want Hillary Clinton.
Last week our Legislature was debating two bills. The first was to take away some of our access to Coca Cola and Pepsi products, even diet sodas. The supporters of the bill felt that the Big Brother government should have the role in dictating what you drink in order to curb diabetes, only it won’t because access to simple sugar carbohydrate foods fill the store shelves. It is cheap and we don’t have a lot of extra family income to spend on protein foods like fish. I think the U.S. government tried that a while ago. It was called “prohibition.”
At the same time, the Legislature was debating another bill. This was to bypass liquor laws that every bar and restaurant is subject to and exempt the casinos from a liquor curfew. In essence, our Big Brother government would unilaterally allow casinos to keep us drugged with alcohol so that we will gamble more, being without the normal inhibition of our senses telling us that moderation is best.
I saw a program on TV the other night. It appears that lower animals use the first impression or a feeling or premonition more than humans. They have to react very quickly to a predator. If not, they might be eaten. As our brains started to develop, more cortical critical thinking evolved and heck, we learned calculus. Alcohol inhibits this higher cortical reasoning. At large amounts it may even inhibit our ability to breathe but that is huge amounts. When our cortex is inhibited our reasoning goes and our lower brain resorts to that first impression or premonition feeling. Rolling a roulette on a number carries a one-in-38 chance, yet people will say, “It is going to be 17. I can just feel it!” This is why casinos serve alcohol. They want us drugged all night long. There is no magic to it.
So our Legislature is on one hand debating our rights to access to soda products and, on the other hand, debating to keep us drinking a drug that makes the casinos more money.
Well, where is the bill to help our school system? Why is the government-owned CUC charging us sky high utility rates? Why is gasoline so cheap in Thailand and so expensive on Saipan? Where is that health care reform bill we were hearing about? Why is the 99 percent finished dialysis center on Rota not completed?
The answer is that our legislative and executive branches of government are ruled by an elite Chamorro class of us that thinks they are better than the rest of us. Heck, have you ever tried to contact one? They are either off island (often on the taxpayer’s dime), on vacation, or just plain out of the office. Look at how many are not in session to cast their votes reflecting our opinions.
Donald Trump is winning because the people of the United States have had enough with the old guard elite class in Washington. In the Senate and House, a new member rarely can get enough votes after they introduce a bill. Everyone looks to the Senate or House leader for his or her opinion. The older the senator or representatives, the more likely to get a bill voted in and, without their approval, the bills really don’t go anywhere. Every committee chairperson is looked to for their opinion. The vote only goes somewhere if they want it to.
On Saipan should we vote in again our old friend the senator? He is the uncle of my brother twice removed. He calls on me to be a Chamorro sister. He tells us that we must stick together and he will take care of me. Who takes care of the future of my children?
I for one would recommend that next fall we not vote a single senator or representative into power that is already a sitting incumbent (been there before, done that before). The election after that in two years, we should remove the other half in the same way.
Donald Trump says he will still run if he does not get the Republican vote because the Democratic and Republican parties are the ones that really control the agenda. So this coming and the next election, why don’t we get away from that elite class of Chamorros in office that think they know what is best for us by taking away our Pepsi and Coca Cola and instead drugging us with alcohol at the casinos so that the bribe money can keep filtering in, and get some new kick arse legislators/governor. Let us remember how the casino law was not put to a public vote because of the money trail. Let us remember our school system.
I think it’s better to vote in the independents. For sure not the ones who have been there a long time. These incumbent people are the big brothers that are destroying the future for our children. They give and take on a bill until there is nothing left of it. If it is the casino then they can’t help themselves for the money is for the greedy elite, thinking they know what is best for us.
In two years, let us finish with the other half of them. Let us find that independent group of Chamorros, Carolinians, and others who call this place home. Being a politician right now means being a professional liar or a professional vacationer or a professional at diluting a bill with give-and-take until what is passed has nothing of value. How many bills ever get passed a year, three, four or five? It is no wonder if they are always off the island. How often has a governor taken a stand that is for the people and kicks arse? How long has it been since we have heard anyone kick some arse up there on Capitol Hill?
It is time to find our own Donald Trump. I don’t care if he is arrogant and obnoxious as Mr. Trump is. That is exactly what we need now. I only care that the person we elect next has honor, won’t bleed a bill dry of any real value and will kick some butt. We need to change people in this elite class. The ones in there now are worthless. How is our healthcare? How are our schools? How are our roads? We need to change the future for our children not to keep in the same monkey’s uncle because he will help get us a job. Let’s look for a powerful minded independent, not another professional liar promising change but delivering no hope for our rights to live the way we choose. Let us vote in someone who has never been a politician and comes from a successful business, non-government background, void of all of the give-and-take big brother elitist type of thinking.
Mary Tomokane
Garapan, Saipan
Trump has picked “people’s issues” that resonate with the average American who feels threatened by an economy that skirts them and uncertainty in their security. The same could be said here and the obvious disconnection of reps. and their people. Why the alienation remains a myth.
GREAT!!!!! PIECE AS I HAVE EVER READ IN THIS SO-CALLED “NEWSPAPER” …. YEAH, YOU ARE RIGHT THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT CW-1 WORKERS TAKING THE JOBS FROM THEIR U.S. CITIZEN CHILDREN. THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT THE CHINESE CONTROLLING THEIR FUTURE!!! THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BECOME HOMELESS DUE TO THE SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF A FEW, A VERY FEW ELITES THAT DONT GIVE A SHITE ABOUT THE REAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.. THE PEOPLE DONT WANT A FEW CHINESE STORES CONTROLLING THE PRICES OF THEIR FOOD, THE PEOPLE DONT WANT THOSE POLITICOS WHOM HAVE SOLD THEIR BIRTHRIGHTS AWAY BY MARRYING CHINESE AND FILIPINOS TELLING THEM THAT THEIR CHILDREN MUST WAIT UNTIL 2019 IN ORDER TO GET MEANINGFUL JOBS!!!!!! YES, THIS IS WHY DONALD TRUMP IS LEADING THE POLLS!!!! BECAUSE HE IS SPEAKING REAL TALK FOR THOSE VERY REAL PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING ON AMERICAN SHORES; THOSE SAME AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THE CNMI-DEPT OF LABOR AND THE CNMI-GOVERNMENT STATES THAT IT CANNOT FIND AND OR ISN’T QUALIFIED U.S. WORKERS!!!! BUT, WHAT GOES ROUND , COMES ROUND CNMI!!!! REMEMBER THAT ONE?
I hear you, Ms. Mary. But the likes of the donald is to settle for someone who will rule with with absolute power and that is not an option for us who love our freedom. No Bernie Sanders for you? He is also fed up but is evolved enough to use reasoning. People like him and Elizabeth Warren (wish she was running) know what is right and want to do the right thing. Those are the type of people we need to mirror. The only thing the donald will lead us into is chaos and another world war. We could do with much, much better role models than trump. Have you been reading the things this narcissistic psychopath has been saying he would do as president? Read up on what psychopaths are made of and the donald will be the first on the list.
All year long so many complain and talk about “voting out” the incumbents. Then come the elections and we have the same recycled misfits to choose from, both from withing and without trying to get back in. Then it comes to voting for the lesser of the evil.
We need more people to step up to the plate in the NMI and get involved. we need off islanders that would meet the requirement for the office sought.
We need educated people with some kind of a real trade and actual business experience instead of these wan to be and wish to be past failures that have no platform and only run on their many family names with all kind of promises that are forgotten as soon as the votes are tallied.
All voters should be looking for the “new faces” to come forward, experience in politics is not desired, no experience necessary. Only common sense (which is non existent within the elected) A willingness to actually serve the people’s interest. the problem is that so many possible candidates are easily intimidated and force away by the controlling families that threaten them and their families livelihood and safety.
As far as Donald Trump, I like his “style”, he is saying it like it is in most cases and not politically correct. Which in many times is good,
Most of us also think the same way, BUT he does not put forth any plan on how to accomplish his agenda and comes off with bisar statements that would not be practical..
Maybe if he settles down he will withstand the race and get the nomination, but it is doubtful. Even if he does manage that the big business may well swallow him up on the other side. But I doubt if Hilary will win as she is following Obama’s failed Admin.
Within a couple more months we will see just where Donald is standing. But at any rate Donald would not be able to do even half of what he states he would. But he would be interesting to watch in office and see just how much he could change.. (maybe even dangerous)
We’ve done it twice: impeachment and complete change in the legislature. This resolve needs nurturing so people don’t conveniently change their minds that allows retaining the same corrupt bunch in perpetuity!
ALL YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVERYONE THAT IS OFFICE THAT IS AGAINST YOUR( MEANING INDIGENOUS) BEST INTEREST ARE MARRIED TO EITHER CHINESE OR FILPINOS. NUFF SAID..
THEN , I’LL RUN.. BECAUSE THOUGH YOU FOLKS DONT CALL YOURSELVES BLACK, YOU’RE BEING TREATED LIKE BLACKS.. LOWER CLASS BLACKS AT THAT!
And so the question continues to stretch on why Donald Trump is the front runner in the GOP polls. Is it his aggression? his non-filtered mouth? his fortune? Perhaps it’s because he stands out from all other candidates? The republican candidates have only themselves to blame for Trump’s steadily increasing lead. Why? Because these veterans violated the first law of politics: They let Trump set the agenda. The more “Trump” he is, the more attention he gets! I applaud Mr. Trump for manipulating the media to his advantage.
Mr. Trump presents this attitude of “winning”, but is his way of “winning” best represent our country? He’s horrifying words against Muslims, his degrading remarks about the Hispanics, his disturbing comments against our current president, and his mockery against a reporter who suffers from a chronic condition that affects his arm movements is no way a presidential candidate should be acting! His actions has created barriers between countries. Petition to not allow him in U.K has also been going around! So ask yourself, do we really want Mr. Trump to be the face that represents our country?
So who does Mr. Trump attract? According to the Washington Posts, Trump’s support is strongest in the Midwest, conservatives across the country who do not have a college degree and (perhaps not surprisingly) those who report the most negative views of immigration and Mexican immigrants in particular. 60% of all Americans support the idea of offering undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S some form of legal status; 57% believes that immigrants strengthen the country!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I ask my fellow brothers and sisters back home to not be swayed by the influence of the media. Take the time to look into each candidates agenda, study them, then decide which candidate best support your views. The media has the power to persuade and influence voters, and it is important that we do not fall into this trap.
I agree that the future of the CNMI is at stake at the rate we are going at now. Families are fleeing the CNMI for a better life; tourism rate is going down; CHCC and CUC has many issues; premium rates for insurance has sky rocketed; and burglary and deaths seems to have increased throughout the years! We need to start investing on making people want to come back to the island, not leave it for good! We have a lot of talented and bright people in the CNMI and I would hate to see it go to waste. Will Saipan continue to be a tropical paradise or the next Eritrea?
Trump’s success (or failure) will not be affected by our people in the NMI as they cannot vote for a US President.
BUT the outcome of a US Presidential election may ultimately affect the insular areas especially if the same party that sit in the seat along with the same party controls all the other branches of the Govt.
Best the NMI people living in the US mainland take note and evaluate whom they will vote for US Pres. as it will affect their family back ‘home’.
ALSO their absentee vote also greatly affects who our local political ruling party is and the lack of progress due to the failed people constantly being voted into office due only to family connection and not accomplishments.
Until that is corrected and more “untainted” residents come “back home” and throw their hat into the political ring we will continue following the downhill course.
Due to my age and possible health condition that would not be fair to the people if by chance I was to actually win.
Although I am still strong and still keep busy working daily, may change as I also have to go off island regularly for medical “check ups” We shall see where we are at in the next general and after this midterm.
It is best to get some “NEW” untainted younger blood with education and an actual “skilled” trade into these elected offices. We voted a few in last time and maybe more will come forward this time and hopefully the last ones will not fall into the “old failed style”.
he appeals to what people want to hear in times of crisis