By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

Bite the bullet

THE commonwealth government budget process, which is already too complex, has gotten even more complicated and baffling. Fiscal and budget officers report “savings,” but don’t explain the numbers in a way that adds up. It must be a new mathematical system employed for the purpose of explaining how the austerity measure paid for by some government workers can result in hundreds of political hires.
But now the administration says that collections are down and the revenue projection cannot remain at $193 million — a figure that this newspaper described as a pie in the sky even before the Legislature passed the governor’s budget proposal. Now, moreover, there is talk of reducing rebates that this broke government owes taxpayers. In other words, because of poor tax collections, the government’s solution is to raise your taxes.
As we have said before, this government has to learn how to cope with its financial problems. It should take its cue from ordinary wage earners who are already suffering from the islands’ worsening economic conditions. The government shouldn’t spend money it doesn’t have. It should live within its means. It should stay out of other people’s pockets.
The administration’s austerity measure, in ay case, achieved at least one thing even if it didn’t realize savings. It proves to the public and government employees alike that the government doesn’t have a bottomless pit of resources and that a balanced budget is important. It showed that avoiding hard decisions as previous administrations have done is not a good thing for the government or the public. And it demonstrated the urgent need for competent, knowledgeable and experienced administrators.

Wanted: New leaders

THE commonwealth needs new leaders — people who are motivated by public considerations and not a desire for personal advantage. One or two good leaders in the Legislature are not enough; good candidates must take seats in the House, the Senate, as well as in the executive branch. Stanley T. Torres stands out in this legislative term as the one member who exercises his conscience and is doing his best to protect the people’s interest. Then there is Cinta M. Kaipat who has adopted a good cause, one that should have been the responsibility of the executive branch and the general public, true, but at least beautification and environmental issues now have a standard-bearer. And it is much better than introducing bad bills.
New voices are speaking out, expressing disappointment with the old way of doing things and clamoring for new, constructive ways of achieving progress. A generational change is taking place, and the challenge now for the people is whether they can act to change a system that no longer serves them well.

Education remains a key issue

TOP education officials, some argue, are not qualified to run the system they are entrusted to manage. A closer examination of work history, experience and temperament indicate that these individuals are more invested in propping up bad decisions than reversing their ill effects.
This can also be said of CUC, which charges more for less whilesquandering its cash paying for continued bad policies. But, in the utilities agency’s case, these bad policies can be changed at any time with manageable consequences.
Education’s failures, however, affect the community long-term. Children who don’t progress have a difficult time finding jobs — or they find jobs that they do not and cannot adequately perform. When top education officials spend more time worrying about administrative details, propping up poor decisions and keeping their jobs, the bigger issues like improving student performance, recruiting and retaining good employees, designing smoother and quicker processes for school administration get waylaid and mediocrity prevails.
This is an important issue for the upcoming election, and it will determine whether things change or remain the same in the commonwealth.