AS the election gets nearer and nearer, the same old question is being asked of voters, “do you want the same-old-thing or something-new”? You don’t need to be an economist to know that the CNMI is in far greater jeopardy of economic collapse than ever before when ARPA runs out. Given the 2-Billion for two typhoons and the pandemic, there have been PLENTY of opportunities for greatness only for the people to see one failure after another, the devastation to our economic base by getting in bed with China, the many Photo Ops of projects that never materialized, the failure to plan & invest in our Tourism Infrastructure that now hangs in the balance hoping & praying the Japanese will return and the list just goes on and on. I’m sure the majority of voters are DUN with the same OLD Poli-tricking of Ralph.
The BAD and even sad thing is that Arnold was part of all of this and didn’t say nor do anything — just “took it on the chin and remained silent,” as these are HIS own words from the forum that where self-incriminating for his complicity and failure to “Protect & Serve the People and OUR Constitution.” He has some nerve wanting to be Governor or should I say “opportunist.” It is beyond sad too BAD as too many AD voters “can’t handle the truth about Arnold,” as my fellow activist Fabian would say. I hear some AD voters are even talking about how Mayor Apatang is going to make sure things are done right — the very “Baby-sitting” that Arnold is rejecting, LOL. Voting for Arnold could be like “jumping out of a hot economic frying pan right into the darn FIRE of oblivion” as my MaDear would surely say about this situation.
The NEW & the Secret Word
There is no question that Tina represents ALL the NEW that We the People have been longing for and not just the words being tossed out by Arnold. The forum exposed a lot and I have no doubt the debate(s) will expose even more. Now we just have to wait and see if the Governor is going to be a no-show AGAIN. It was said that he was on Tinian for a funeral which is no excuse for not participating virtually. He may get Covid or something for the Debate given the FBI are now breathing down his neck. He doesn’t want to even address any RICO questions along with other questions like WHAT happened to Tinian’s Slaughterhouse and the list goes on. I have no doubt that Tina, who is a real scholar (one of those A-students we all witnessed in school) will literally SHRED the Governor and the Lt. Governor who will both be on defense far more than offense in a debate.
New will usually always win-out over the Old, which is why many voters have their hopes so high in this election with a real chance for the CNMI to be “born-a-NEW” after this election. Hope is a powerful emotion which is driving a “NEW-thing” over the gossip (Coconut Wire) called “the secret-word.” If you don’t know the secret “D-word” you need to ask someone. Voters have finally learned to keep their vote secret, because of the furloughs and the continuous retaliation firings. “Fortune favors the brave” but our voters don’t even need to be brave — just keep your vote a secret, from the RETALIATING Republicans! Tina & Leila are obviously our BEST Hope for NEW! To be continued: One People One Direction for NEW & BETTER Leaders!
The writer 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 & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
