Just think, there wasn’t ONE public meeting, poll or survey the government to determine the true approval rating for federalization yet our leaders chose to determine for the people that the majority were against federalization. Now we are being asked to throw $400,000 of good money after the millions in bad money we spent in the millions on lobbyist fighting federalization only to see it implemented in the end — what a waste of money and political real estate.
I was really surprised to see Rep. Tina Sablan as the only politician willing to reflect the needs of the people over politics in her quest to save us from this administration. We still have another year of this SOS and I don’t mean “save our souls.” I’m sure if we had the appropriate scientific political tools to assess the “approval rating” of this administration I’m sure it would be somewhere around 10 percent which speaks volumes to what the Legislature SHOULD be doing instead of DOING NOTHING.
I’m very confident Tina is right but she just doesn’t have the “raw data” to prove it to the Legislature and if she did there would still be those in denial.
But I have no doubt that a year from now that time will prove Tina was right because we will have gone nowhere fast for another year only to find ourselves still complaining about the source of the problem that the legislature could have fixed.
No WAY No HOW No MORE Fitial and no disrespect intended.
Tina is offering the ultimate solution but the Legislature isn’t listening because it will change the politics of the CNMI for EVER and for the BETTER. If this governor is removed the bar will be raised and we may never have to worry about a governor take the people and the Legislature for granted again – it’s the Legislature’s job and they have to send the message just as we see in some of the judicial decisions that are MEANT to send a message to deter future felonies. A lady has proven herself to have more political will to do the right thing for the CNMI than the men. You go girl!
We are living in desperate times and “desperate times calls for desperate measures” — Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The economic catastrophe we are facing is a phenomenon that is being experience for the first time by the indigenous people and we have an administration that doesn’t know how or what to do to turn things around and wants to fight the very people (the feds) that want to and can help us, which is why the administration’s approval rating is so low.
The game of politics in the CNMI has been more about alliances to get elected and re-elected than getting things done for the people, which is what politics is supposed to be about.
P — stands for the PEOPLE who must be first and foremost in a politicians mind before her/his party and chances for election. Tina has proven she cares more about the people than politics in her demonstration for all people living in the CNMI because she realizes that we will ALL find prosperity together or not at all. We can’t segregate prosperity — it doesn’t work that way.
O — is for the politics of the “Obvious” needs and desires of the people that must be considered in any political debate. I’m sure no one offered an “opposing” solution to Tina’s OBVIOUS solution for fixing the CNMI’s economy.
L — is for “leadership” in the face of adversity. Anyone can lead when times are good and there is plenty for everyone but the test of leadership and greatness only comes when confronted with adversity. We see how the present leadership has chosen to handle adversity by trying to put the blame for our economic downturn all on the feds when we were already suffering BEFORE federalization became an issue and now he’s blaming PUC when he is ultimately responsible for governing over all public entities. He had full authority from day one to change or fix PUC.
I — stands for “integrity” and I really don’t have to explain this one because everyone with and without common sense knows the integrity of this administrations is figuratively in the toilet.
T — stands for “tolerance” and the willingness to compromise. The fact that Tina stood alone and was even attacked is a clear indicator that the level of tolerance, objectivity and professionalism is at an all time low in the lower House. Just stay strong and professional Tina.
I — for “intelligence” in the art and science of politics. I have often asked who is really a political scientist in our Legislature and we are finding out that the lower House is lacking in this category given their obvious and overwhelming rejection to what is clearly the desire of the people for a DRAMATIC “change” to address our deteriorating economy and power situation.
C — stands for “consistency” in representing the people. I’m sure the average person will agree that Tina has been one of the most consistent and outspoken representative for ALL the people in the lower House.
S — stands for “service.” Tina is one of the few politician in the lower House that has “reached out to the public” to perform a free service to the people which speaks volumes to her counterparts that want to blast her. Her short record of public service has already proven her to be more worthy than many veteran members of the Legislature. Her efforts to serve and unite the people for a better and improved CNMI are to be commended.
I said earlier this year that the Legislature needed to commit a “mutiny” if we want to change our present economic course to find prosperity and I’m glad someone in government took note.
It should be clear the CNMI style of leadership in the Legislature is to “do nothing” about political issues and hope they just die. I’m also not going to stand around and watch a bunch of men jump on a lady who is dedicated and truly trying to do the right thing for the people of the CNMI in opposition to the traditional “old school” politics of the CNMI. We (the people) need help not a fight with the feds.
It is now up to the Legislature and the people to be active and to take the appropriate actions to fix the leadership of the CNMI NOW and not in 2009 when the people are going to do it anyway! One people, one direction for new leadership.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
