But it does highlight one thing for true — not only is this administration incapable of finding new money for our economy they can’t even spend millions GIVEN to us by the Feds. Just imagine someone giving you 45 million and you can only figure out a way to spend 3 hundred thousand — see how ridiculous that sounds.
Using the rational that other states are using the money to help with medical payments —heck almost everyone in the CNMI needs help with medical payments. We are complaining about CHC’s money problems and the feds have already given us money to help CHC. I’m sure there are a lot of reimbursements that could be made with this money. Why isn’t there a plan to help offset the cost of our power which I know everyone in the world can justify now? Pointing the finger at NMC, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., the Ports Authority, and Public School System saying they are not under the executive branch is a lie, not rational when there are cabinet position to govern over each of these public agencies — what are they getting paid for, to watch and do nothing. The reality is every public service offered in the CNMI is “governed over” by the Executive Branch of our government — duh! High school students know this fact. The problem is the Executive Branch is not governing just “letting it be” like there new slogan says. Well if they keep just letting it be I’m sure the people are going to change that slogan and finish the sentence by saying in November “let them be gone”. Legitimate rational is OK but the reality is we are being given the same old political run around and its taking us no where fast — we are dead last.
I’m writing this because my wife and I really want to know what the h*&& is going on and I’m sure we are not alone. Somebody needs to start quick, fast and in a hurry doing their homework to get that money into our system where it can do some good. I know what the problem is, this administration is still on island time and we all know what that means when it comes to being prompt and prepared. We are literally in a competition with 50 states, one commonwealth and three other territories and we are dead last — people with common sense can easily see we need to change our game plan and some of our personnel in the front office.
As a teacher one of the things we must do is plan our lessons and do our homework to be prepared and as students we are taught to do our homework and always plan ahead for our career. I’m sure the Governor and his cabinet did go to high school and finish but it seems they forgot the two most important life skills taught in school — do your homework and plan ahead. The sad thing is they have everyone else in the CNMI following them and depending on them and they don’t have a plan and it is obvious they didn’t do their homework. One of the jokes told to me by students at school is “what is the difference between Dr. King and our Governor — Dr. King had a dream and our governor doesn’t have a clue.” Well even the Bible tells us we can learn from our children and I think this time we need to listen.
I always tell my students “a failure to plan is a plan for failure” and the rational offered by this administration doesn’t match or justify the reality when the CNMI is dead last at spending free money. Heck we could have used some of the existing plans in other states but you know in the CNMI there has become a tradition to try and reinvent the wheel because we are so special and unique. Well we are proving our uniqueness and we are coming in dead last with that kind of attitude. Our leaders had better learn quick fast and in a hurry how to play this federal political leadership game or we will remain in last place. We are apart of the federal system not just our own commonwealth system and that requires us to be consistent (wages & immigration — duh) with other parts of the system and to compete with other parts of the system within our nation.
I just pray that who ever wins will have done their homework and will hit the ground running in January with a real plan. Speaking of homework and plans, I have heard the GOP has combined the H & A platform with a plan to work as a real team and they are coming out with their newly completed platform. Well once they release their plan everyone who processes real civic virtue and really cares more about the CNMI over their personal relationships and preferences should compare all the plans before they vote. Get informed and you will KNOW without a doubt who to vote for in November. One people one direction for leadership that has done their homework with a plan — everyone in the CNMI is depending on YOU to VOTE smart and not with your heart in November!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
