Sometimes I think talk radio is ‘poison.’ Why? You get the same people calling in expounding their same — maybe insane — views like as if that is going to make others change their mind. So if you cannot change minds, what are you trying to do? If you, on the other hand, can get minds changed, more power to you.
Consider two fellas: Their codenames maybe real first names “Jack” and “Carl”. Jack tells Newstalk K-57’s Breakfast Show host Ray Gibson (May 15) that “Matt Rector wants us to jump off the cliff with him” and “when it comes to Ben Pangelinan, no one knows where he stands; with the ‘small person’ or ‘big business’.”
This view is not uncommon or controversial. In fact, more than a few hold it. But consider how much clout Matt Rector has. How much influence does Rector and the union have today (or even in yesteryears) both at the legislative level and Adelup?
Surely, Guam is not on the verge of a financial meltdown because of Matt Rector and his economic policies, is it? You have to be “insane” to believe that his fingerprints can be found on the ‘cold dead’ body which is the fiscal health of GovGuam.
We have already jumped over the cliff and if we are still breathing or doing somersaults in mid-air, it is because of Uncle Fed and all the derivative benefits accrued thereof.
When it comes to Sen. Ben, folks call in (like a Carl) and say that the former speaker is ‘anti-business’. This is also an insane statement. 75 percent of the Chamber’s recommendations, Ben Pangelinan adopts as well.
And while we are at it, this “Carl” fellow keeps saying “we need to grow the economy.” All economies grow, (maybe except Zimbabwe’s). You need good, sound elected leaders, something Guam lacks terribly. And folks still vote for Felix Camacho (and GW Bush).
The thing is, people making minimum wage (or middle-class families) do not have the time (or maybe the werewithal) to call in and make their views heard. The top dogs (some) in the business community can ‘hide-and-wait’ till Election Day to con the people and get “brainwashed” folks to call in on their behalf.
Meanwhile, the Matt Rector and Ben Pangelinan have to fight the good fight. Carry on friend!

MATT PHILLIPS
Mangilao, Guam