These anonymous cowards have been taking potshots at me for quite some time now, all the while hiding behind some pseudonym. How pathetic.
Normally I would ignore snide remarks, because if there is anything I have learned in life, it’s that you cannot expect to be a part of change without creating a few enemies along the way. I’ve also learned, try as you may, sometimes you just can’t fix stupid.
To my cowardly critics “MP 96950” and “Stoptheelies,” I want to thank you two for recognizing me in your online commentary, but surely, you give me way too much credit. You see, these two knuckleheads believe that I played a major role in bringing federalization to the CNMI. They also accuse me of misleading guest workers for my “political ambition.” Wow. Seriously? What’s next? Are you going to blame me for global warming too?
If you are really looking for someone to blame for federalization, I highly recommend you use the brain God gave you and place blame where it really belongs. At the top. Does the name Jack Abramoff ring a bell? Could it be possible that corruption and incompetence might have played a bigger role? Could it be possible that our leaders took the wrong route when instead of improving our image here and addressing legitimate concerns such as labor abuse, they instead chose to hire corrupt lobbyists to buy powerful members of the United States Congress and Senate? Since reading doesn’t suit you too well, I recommend you rent “Casino Jack” and “Casino Jack and the United States of Money.” It just might enlighten you.
As far as accusing me of misleading guest workers, please allow me to attempt to educate you. I did not mislead any guest workers. I never promised that federalization will give our guest workers green cards. And I never promised anyone a rose garden. How can I make promises on something I have absolutely no control over? Are you insane?
What I did hope for was a better future for long-term guest workers, who have made the CNMI their home for decades. Many have lived more than half their adult lives here in our islands. Their children grew up here. And many of their children graduated from our local high schools, and even joined the armed forces to serve and protect our nation and our commonwealth. The CNMI has become their home. Is it wrong for me to wish that these long-term guest workers could make the CNMI their permanent home? I would also like to point out that many of these long-term guest workers contributed to the vast improvements made on our infrastructure and our personal lives. They built our hotels and our homes. They watched and took care of our children and our elderly. They nursed us when we were sick. And they broke bread and prayed along side us each and every Sunday at mass.
As far as “political ambition” goes, surely you jest. If I had any political ambition, I would be doing what career politicians do best: Riding the fences; making a whole bunch of empty political promises; siding with the powers that be, even when they cheat the people they represent; and catering to the biggest and wealthiest families on island so I can hang on to my full-time job that most people could do on a part-time basis. If I had any political ambition, I would never say one-tenth the things I say publicly. Let’s be serious. My biggest ambition in life is to be a better person and to treat people with the dignity and respect they deserve, regardless of where they come from, or how much money they have. If I feel you do not deserve respect because you cheat and lie and misuse and abuse the little public funds we have, then you certainly will not get any respect from me.
The CNMI is plagued with problems. And many of these problems have absolutely nothing to do with federalization. I am not a big fan of federalization, but I don’t think federalization caused the decline in our tourism. Remember, tourism has been declining for more than a decade now. In fact, our tourism numbers were declining even while Guam’s was booming. And last I checked, they have been federalized since ever since. Perhaps the real decline in our tourism is caused by the scumbags who rob and steal and harass our tourists. Perhaps the trash piling up at the Paseo de Marianas and along our beaches and roadways might be a part of the reason why tourists are not coming back. I’m sure we can find are a number of reasons why tourism has been on the decline for the past several years, and federalization has nothing to do with it.
Please do some research and look at the headlines from ten and even fifteen years ago. Perhaps you will finally realize that our greatest problem here in the CNMI is that we do not learn from our mistakes. When we continue to vote along family lines and vote for those who promise us a job, or a sole-source contract, or chenchule, or a tento and table, or for someone who will give us gas coupons or pay for our CUC bill, then I guess things will not get better. When enough people get fed up and start voting out the Old Boys Network and vote out leaders who continue to do nothing but try to pass casinos and go on junkets and live high off the hog while the rest of us suffer, then perhaps things will start to improve. When will that happen? That is entirely up to our voters. Perhaps things will start getting better when voters stop drinking the kool aid that “MP 96950” and “Stoptheelies” and their ilk keep serving.
Like it or not, federalization is here to stay. And if you want to continue to blame me for it, then please do so. In the meantime, I will continue to say what I want when I want how I want. They say that everyone has a price. I don’t believe that, because there is no amount of money in the world that can buy my friendship, loyalty, or integrity.
To “MP 96950” and “Stoptheelies” and the rest of their brethren out there, you keep doing what you’re doing—lying and deceiving. I am sure Satan is pleased with the work you’re doing, and I am confident he has reserved a nice warm spot for you.
And to my real friends and family, I want to thank you for all the love and support you give me, regardless of whether we agree or disagree on the issues. I am truly blessed and thankful to have you in my life and want you to know that you are appreciated. I continue to hope and pray for a better future for our beloved Northern Mariana Islands, but it will not happen as long as we have cowardly idiots like “MP 96950” and “Stoptheelies” running our government and influencing our people.
ED PROPST
Dandan, Saipan
