Reportedly, the CNMI is in dire financial straits with far less money in the coffers than we\u2019re willing to admit. But there\u2019s equal confidence something would break for the better shortly.<\/p>\n
Similar to tidal shifts, high and low that occurs daily. It grants us some room to pay current obligations amidst fluctuation in revenues. It\u2019s a case of \u201cbeen there, done that too!\u201d <\/p>\n
\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n
Freedom:<\/strong> Let\u2019s join hands and extend our silent and solemn prayer to all who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure freedom descends on these isles forevermore. It came down some 75 years ago.<\/p>\n Indeed, laymen would have a hard time understanding the \u201cultimate sacrifice\u201d soldiers endure in battlefields. Thus, I bow my head with heartfelt humility and gratitude for your courage! Si yuus maase`!<\/p>\n Our pioneering elders worked long and hard in our eventual attainment of self-government in 1978. We\u2019re even represented in the most powerful chambers in the world\u2014the U.S. Congress! <\/p>\n Imagine our fate as a people if freedom never descended on these pearly isles. Would I be writing or scrubbing filthy floors at a hotel toilet somewhere to earn a living? <\/p>\n \u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n Resolve:<\/strong> After 41 years of self-government we now hear redundant call to cut down expenses in view of the deepening economic contraction.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tired PR material that persistently highlights lack of resolve confirming special ability at double-talk. To cut as pouted would give taxpayers more of their income to take home on payday Fridays.<\/p>\n Comparatively, nearby Guam with a population of over 164,000 has a unicameral system with 15 members. Ours is a bicameral system with 29 members for a population of over 56,000. What other fundamental laws does the NMI need at this juncture? Must downsize at all cost!<\/p>\n Downsizing should include the executive and judicial branches of government. Cutting it by half should allow taxes to be spent on worthy and meaningful programs here. It isn\u2019t the case now, sadly.<\/p>\n There\u2019s the obvious redundancy of one too many department and agencies assigned to aid the \u201cindigenous\u201d people. You lump them together to explore if, in fact, programs have been formulated and implemented to improve the quality of life of the indigenous people. There\u2019s too much focus building another layer of government as to neglect the letter of the law. Humiliating! <\/p>\n \u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n Priority:<\/strong> In the process, politicians are conveniently confused over priority: fund \u201cpet\u201d projects or the education of our children.<\/p>\n Kilili is the only one who batted for our kids. He reminded peers of a constitutional requirement of 25 percent of total revenues for education. He remains constitutional while the rest peddle trashy views on policy, delusional.<\/p>\n Sure, politicians would tweak pertinent constitutional or statutory provisions contextually to meet their purpose. They\u2019d do it, ignoring \u201cwe don\u2019t born yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n But isn\u2019t education the only way out of poverty and ignorance, thus the need to prepare our children for life\u2019s challenges? Why do you think it is included under the Constitution? Didn\u2019t you give some towering speech about the importance of education? Did you change your mind? Your new wavering viewpoint says it all!<\/p>\n Finally, there\u2019s the national Democratic Party\u2019s debate where each candidate wants to fix a soaring economy under the Donald. Fix a soaring economy? No wonder they\u2019re stuck in lunatic derby. <\/p>\n \u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n Calif.<\/strong> The golden state pays its legislators $82,000 per year as lawmakers. It also requires submission of proof that they have something in the mill for review and consideration. Without it, no payday!<\/p>\n We should impose the same legal requirement on all 29 legislators here. Unless he has major legislation introduced for review, he or she doesn\u2019t get paid. Must earn our tax contribution! Getting elected isn\u2019t a free ticket for automatic payday. Nah! I reiterate: must earn it!<\/p>\n Moreover, let\u2019s see how many are actually gifted with what\u2019s known as \u201cdepth of perception\u201d to understand and secure some clue what entails legislative fiduciary duty. I\u2019m sure this would put pressure on unqualified aspirants to look for jobs elsewhere! Sayu? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reportedly, the CNMI is in dire financial straits with far less money in the coffers…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-302874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302874\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}