But the more important question is, who will emerge victorious in 2010?
I say this because the Democratic Party, which stands for core Democratic values such as workers rights and workers pay issues, distinguishes itself markedly from the Republican Party.
Of course, this does not mean that Republicans do not care about workers. But party insiders who are part of the establishment have ties to industry players. So even if the GOP would like to fashion a policy statement on workers’ rights, their enthusiasm would be curbed by industry players.
The point is that the Democratic Party on Guam will cease to become a viable party if it apes the opposition or if it becomes GOP-lite. What is the status of the Democratic Party in the CNMI, for example? It is largely overshadowed by the Covenant Party and the GOP. Similarly, the Democratic Party here will emerge as a bit player because it has failed to articulate and put into action core Democratic economic policy issues.
Whatever benefits workers have received have come from the hand of the federal government, or rather Democratic counterparts in the mainland to which some here still oppose such as the earned income tax credit.
If the Democratic Party can only supply the “bodies” that other parties need for their victory, then it would cease to be a force to be reckoned with.
MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam
