NOW that Jack “Trust me!” Abramoff is off the political scene not only in the CNMI and Washington, but elsewhere as well, whom will the CNMI next engage as a hired gun to prevent the feds from swooping down and confiscating their immigration control and minimalist wage structure?
There’s argument from both sides about whether that’s a good idea—to roll the lobbying dice again with no cash to back up the bet, or let it rest and hope for divine intervention. They have no economy left to speak of. They can’t even pay employees or power bills.
They had the best of all possible worlds and a blueprint for cultural and economic success, and blew it through relentless, astonishing levels of graft, greed, corruption and abuse of privilege.
Can they survive without a massive federal bailout, with lots of unpalatable strings attached? My suggestion—turn out the lights if you’re the last to leave.

DAVE DAVIS
Yigo, Guam