There\u2019s a legislative proposal to replace the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Its goal is to deny citizenry its rights to freedom of expression and press. Perhaps the silly season must be nearing its pinnacle, if nothing else. It boggles the mind what comes out of the silly assembly line of the lower chamber up on the hill.<\/p>\n
The first amendment is composed of four areas that says in part, \u201cCongress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.\u201d It\u2019s simple and straightforward and if our illustrious lawmakers passed their high school civic classes, then they ought to know the descending order of the supremacy of laws. Not unless they simply choose the side of ignorance in hypnagogic state, which doesn\u2019t seem humiliating for them anymore. It\u2019s fodder for laughter among civic class students here.<\/p>\n
The libel law is simple: It\u2019s a purposeful lie about someone, often malicious and published. Most educated folks are aware that freedom of expression and of the press comes with responsibility. Citizens can submit dissenting views while the press has the \u201cfair comment\u201d right to say its piece responsibly, scathing as they may be.<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t even go after those who use monikers to express their views. Hell, they have anonymity to say their piece. The court can\u2019t force the news organization to divulge their names. Obviously, the truth must hurt after these folks, some of whom you meet daily, have poked or bruised your overblown ego. But it\u2019s a way of issuing performance rating for the effete bunch whose morbid proposal only confirms adolescency.<\/p>\n
Good luck! Remember, a local law can\u2019t amend the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It\u2019s not even negotiable but rather an enduring provision that all must follow. Like personal dignity, no one can take it away from you. <\/p>\n
**** <\/p>\n
[B]As the NMI sinks[\/B]<\/p>\n
The word \u201cconfident\u201d comes from the Latin \u201cfido,\u201d meaning \u201cI trust.\u201d The deepening fiscal disaster is called \u201ccredit crisis.\u201d The word \u201ccredit\u201d derives from the Latin \u201ccredo,\u201d meaning \u201cI believe.\u201d There\u2019s more to the term beyond the dual predictions of a rosy or bleak future.<\/p>\n
Though we may have rationalized what\u2019s before or ahead of the NMI (and I doubt legislators have done their due diligence), we may still refuse to act on such rationality not until and unless we can trust what\u2019s before us.<\/p>\n
When confidence is gone, businesses withdraw and sell what\u2019s left of their assets in order to collect at least their initial expenses. When the reverse occurs, they move confidently, buying up whatever it takes to move on. We\u2019re in the former category. We no longer have confidence on both sides of the fence\u2014investors and host\u2014and we mull, in paralysis, what lies ahead.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, one would reasonably have confidence in legislative leadership that it would critically and jointly review with the administration the huge outflow of revenue (investment). It means prudence and frugal spending from A-Z.<\/p>\n
But this isn\u2019t happening! It has decided otherwise by sending members and staff to Palau for a breather, all paid for by hard times-stricken taxpayers. Legislators dither in the midst of a quickly sinking ship! The grand excuse that they\u2019d tackle issues vital for our Micronesian brothers and sisters doesn\u2019t come close to reasoning. It\u2019s shallow rationalization that only demagogues dare use to lie through their teeth!<\/p>\n
No surprise for citizenry to express contempt against the Legislature\u2019s shortsighted decision. It\u2019s common sense that you don\u2019t spend money you don\u2019t have in the local coffers. In medical parlance, do you operate on a hemophiliac?<\/p>\n
It reads banner headlines in both papers of thematic apology of \u201cdelayed\u201d paydays in order to pay CUC, Fund, CHC, and other seriously urgent obligations. And they also want to increase their monthly stipend to $4,000 per month to ward off the bad times. What about the people you represent in our legislative institution? Ooops! Sorry, I forgot that we fall under your category of non-essentials.<\/p>\n
There should come the appropriate time to see all these abuses that caters to your pockets and interest over improving the livelihood of your people. Disgustingly humiliating! <\/p>\n
**** <\/p>\n
[B]Learning from farmers[\/B]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s good to learn from two groups of folks here: farmers and surfers. The first group plans their entire year in advance of every season. It includes land clearing; selection of fast crops, seed flats preparation, manpower, fertilizer, and insecticides and diversified farming.<\/p>\n
As they move along, they secure valuable information of fast moving crops and a solid idea of market places, the taste buds of consumers, etc. No matter the weather, they still move on as difficult as the times may be. In brief, they plan their entire year!<\/p>\n
What\u2019s there to learn from surfers? They\u2019re out in the turbulent whip of the trade winds in the lagoon. They size up the situation, count waves, and calculate exactly when to move to ride the largest wave to shore.<\/p>\n
But the most difficult aspect of windsurfing is the slam when something is amiss. The surfer comes down heavy, rolls in fatal turbulent waves and whippy wind, trying to figure his way out by the seconds. He gets up, collects his surfboard and sail. Prepares once more and goes for the jugular, time and again. It\u2019s called persistence! This is the seemingly missing vocabulary among leadership when caught slammed by the huge waves of a worsening financial crisis.<\/p>\n
If we put our minds together, pounding our chest with mea culpa in Washington won\u2019t be so embarrassing. I\u2019m afraid that it\u2019s our last option\u2014beg with mea culpa for answers, any answer to domesticate the high cost of utilities, gasoline, basic commodities, etc. Let\u2019s do it and let\u2019s do it now!<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
[I]Delrosario is a regular contributor to the
\nSaipan Tribune\u2019s Opinion Section.[\/I]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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