It seems that wage and immigration are just the beginning and there is no one to blame but ourselves.
Kudos to the group that is finally taking the Retirement Fund to court for protection against our own government because everyone knows the Fund has literally gotten robbed by the government with no plan or seemingly intention to pay the money back.
We may actually see another form of federalization at the Retirement Fund for our own good.
Economist Bill Stewart, myself and many others in the community warned about the on-going robberies at the Fund YEARS ago when the debt was approaching $100 million but, as usual, the powers that be pretended not to hear us and now it’s over $200 million.
I was so glad to see some of our citizens place a real check on our government and hold our government accountable for the funds.
The average retiree can’t afford to take the government to court and it is really up to the elite who get those BIG retirement check to help their fellow citizens.
Kudos to YOU!
Their efforts to get a federal receiver to take over the Fund also demonstrate the power of citizens to place a check on government when we work together and become one people in one direction for holding the government accountable.
The same is true with all aspects of governing and we (the people) must do more to hold our government accountable in the future.
This group has given new hope to saving the Retirement Fund and I am praying for them to be successful and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Enough is enough as the saying goes and certainly no one can disagree with the fact that we must get the Retirement Fund away from the influence and of our local government.
But it doesn’t stop with the Retirement Fund because right around the corner is Article XII and if we haven’t learned to fix Article XII from our experience with wages, immigration and now the Retirement Fund then we will see federalization again on land ownership.
Federalization here, federalization there, federalization everywhere if we (the CNMI) don’t wake up and truly take responsibility, be accountable and control of our destiny — the feds will do it for us.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
