By Ambrose M. Bennett – Activist
THE Truth is WE, Americans, are facing a REAL Existential (Empirical-Fact) Threat to OUR Democracy & Quality of Life under Trump. Is it really OK; 1. Trump’s self-aggrandizement & Political pardons for criminals. 2. Destroying ALL the safeguards & guardrails 3. The abolishment of USAID & DEI for the People of Color in America & the world. 4. Giving the rich a tax-break by making us-regular-folks & poor PAY. 5. Prosecuting “political opposition leaders.” 6. Courting Putin like a “bedfellow” instead of holding Putin accountable. 7. Turning ICE into a “Federal Police Force” violating the RIGHTS of virtually everyone they take into custody. 8. Sending the National Guard into cities predominately occupied by People-of-Color to Federalize our nation FOR Trump. 9. Refusing to give Federal Funding & Aid to certain “Blue States & the Insular Areas of America” (Territories & Commonwealths) of People-of-Color.10. Blackmailing Education Institutions with the threat of taking Billions in Federal Grants & No Federal Aid to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) as they represent People-of-Color. 11. Invokes his power as “President & Speaker-of-the-House,” as the real Speaker is acting like Trump’s Micky Mouse. 12. Destroying OUR White House & Declaring WAR at Trump’s pleasure on whomever he pleases without Congress’ approval. I could go on-and-on, but the point is CLEAR, “Our Democracy is being KILLED”!
Trump is doing all he can to take America BACKWARDS to the days of “KKK, Trump’s Jim Crow style Leadership & even Segregation when it comes to getting Federal Aid”! A return to a “White Controlled America Again” the ultimate goal of Trumpism. Heck, the Republican President in the CNMI resigned, like others with morals under Trump knowing Republicans are WRONG. To remain in Trump’s wagon that’s going off-a-cliff is imminent assured Political DEATH! Every Republican with real “morals” is getting away from Trump which speaks volumes to what voters need to do in Voting-Out Republicans IF voters want to put America & the CNMI back on the Right-Course for a flourishing Democracy for ALL! The days of Republicans touting their “Big-Tent” are over due to their tent being STAINED & Falling-down by Trumpism.
Ambrodamus even predicted our Delegate would NOT be delivering the millions in the tens-of-millions like Kilili & Democrats used to do. WE only got an Interior Grant, as the taste of TAYA-to-come is real. Our Delegate will have been paid over a-half-of-a-million dollars at the end of her term while WE receive virtually TAYA! WE are surviving on “fumes” (a loan) and next year’s budget will be even MORE challenging-duh! The Australian Company did their job in creating a “Great New CNMI Brand & LOGO,” which is like “opening a NEW Store” but it’s also like Circul8 Managing Director Alana Stocks said, “it is on the People & Business Community to build the brand” (put something on the shelves). Now the work begins as WE must now create the “cultural events & activities” like the Hawaiians created their Culture Center FOR Tourists. The Director is right, “This new identity is something we can all build upon (create-a-NEW by)— our residents, our businesses, and our visitors together,” (& Our Government). “Unified under one strong and authentic Marianas brand, our focus in FY26 is to enhance the visitor experience by strengthening the quality, accessibility, and cultural authenticity of on-island offerings.” The success of OUR New Brand now depends on us “Doing-the-Work,” as presently there is very little on OUR shelves in this New Store (Brand) for tourists to experience. Like the Director said. “Through these efforts, we will develop new tourism products, boost demand, and renew investor confidence in the Marianas.” WE must Do the WORK, set & execute a real plan set by OUR New Brand. Hotels are in ICU about to DIE needing NEW Developments like Circul8 said, as their plan even implies creating a “Family Destination” for the CNMI like Ambrodamus has been saying (predicting) ever-since Covid — HELLER!
Congratulation Vinnie as the GOP candidate, but the Party has already destroyed their credibility and since Joel Camacho’s declaration to run for mayor, it now seems WE have a NEW Independent Party evolving among Independents, but they have yet to declare themselves as a collective group. This collective of Independents is growing & spelling BIG-Trouble for the GOP & Dems. KUDOS to these Independents for uniting. However, and I’m not hating Dems, GOP nor Independents, but WE need leaders who “can chew gum & walk at the same time,” as to “deflect & gaslight” massaging their image by grandstanding an invitation for competition yet putting-off their election plans is UNACCEPTABLE! They are already “poli-tricking us” by putting their plans for the CNMI’s future on the backburner when they should be FRONT & CENTER if they want to lead! If they didn’t FIRST do their Homework to create a Plan they should NOT have declared a candidacy- poli-tricking with no Plan(s) — duh! WE are facing “never-ending austerity, NO Insurance nor 25% for Retirees, and Economic DOOM, which is why WE need to be holding ALL the elected leaders’ feet to the “fires of accountability FOR a BETTER CNMI”! Heck, the real TEST is “WHAT do they offer to fix the many OLD-Oversights & their NEW Reforms,” not the Same-O poli-tricks absent of real substance & progress FOR the People. WE with common sense want “a plan to fix the OLD Oversights & a real Economic Recovery Plan with justifications of the plan’s viability to be executed” which is the main TEST to PASS for voters, as no Group (Ind, Dems, GOP) have yet to PASS! Poli-tricking won’t work anymore so Get Real Candidates, No More Free Poli-tricking Passes!
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
