Ambrose M. Bennett
THE Truth is WE, the CNMI, is figuratively in genuine need of a Renaissance Movement (New Beginnings) as for TRUE the CNMI is clearly off-course and floundering very near the deadly rocks of economic DOOM. When I told the Governor WE must “Reform the Cannabis Commission” his exact words were, “just STOP working on fixing the Cannabis Commission as I don’t know about this reform stuff.” This ominous statement sends a chilling message of CHANGE being unattainable, as WE have a government run by Republicans that “only does what is has to do” which is something I was told by a Highschooler who was rightfully disappointed with our government. If highschoolers can see the problem, why can’t the adults see the problem and fix it, as WE need to elect New Leaders to “send a message that WE the People have seen and suffered ENOUGH”! WE must “try to find New Beginnings,” as there were protests in every state & worldwide against Trump but WE do TAYA & Accepting TAYA from Republicans but wanting BETTER — duh! The absolute power voters gave Republicans to control the Government and ALL the Boards & Commissions, which are “Republican Outpost,” has only served to create a Dragon. The Legislature passes illegal legislation, more than once, as the AG is fighting now to stop the GOP’s illegal Tinian’s Marianas U.S. Dollar-HELLER!
The Governor defended his decision on the Casino Commission, and I PRAY readers, especially voters, saw what he said about resolving the Casino Commission: “Executive Order 2025-002 does exactly this by merging overlapping functions to reduce waste and streamline government operations.” Well, I think everyone who read about the “dysfunctional & waste of revenues on the Cannabis Commission (CC)” in my Op eds can easily see the need for this CC to also be resolved and merged into exiting Government Agencies like the Governor said — LOL to keep from crying because it is Public Knowledge the Governor refused to merge the CC, as his relative Joe Palacios was outspoken & scheming against my efforts to save his $55,000 a year job for one or two meetings a month and doing TAYA to build & promote the industry. It’s pathetic the Governor can get away with this nepotism & waste in our faces while the Legislature plays “blind & dumb” like Arnold did when Ralph was wasting OUR Federal Relief Funds. The Legislature has failed to render any checks & balances nor oversight on the CC FOR the People they work FOR!
It is truly time for an awakening for a Renaissance in OUR Government from “top to bottom” as much as possible because some Senators will not be up for election this time. And speaking of Senators, I’m sure most readers who are up-to-date on OUR Government have to see & know that most of OUR Senators have become “silent watchers playing safe to keep sitting” instead of being “LOUD Activist” fighting for a BETTER CNMI. Just go down the list of Senators and you will see how some were so active & loud before but are now acting like Church Mice figuratively. However, Hope is still alive for a real Renaissance, as I was sooooo glad to finally see a business owner speak-up about OUR disappointing government. I must offer my KUDOS to Business Owner Steve Jang’s AWSOME Op ed “Fix the system, Free the Future,” as even the Business Community is ignored when they offer ideas to this Administration. I LOVE Mr. Jang’s writing style, and he even offered solutions that will surely fall-on oblivious ears. However, WE need MORE Business People and Community Leaders to start Speaking-Up & OUT for CHANGE given the Legislature has become a “rubberstamping body that only disagreements among Republicans and only “do what they have to do” and ill-relevant legislation for fixing our economy like the illegal & unnecessary “Marianas U.S. Dollar” scheme. The labeling of Betelnut is another, next they’ll be taxing betelnut like cigarettes — continuing to PREY on THEIR People! WHO cares about a Betelnut label when the price of living skyrockets and TAYA HELP from Arnold who gives OUR taxes away dismantling OUR future — AWFUL Stewardship and I can only PRAY for the People of the CNMI.
I agree with Mr. Jang, as Arnold & the Legislature have failed miserably to help the business community & promoting local entrepreneurship (good stewardship over the CNMI) but he didn’t have a problem giving-away our taxes to rich investors from Hawaii and even their personal incomes, which was a REAL Insult to every Local taxpayer, especially when WE got no guaranteed returns on OUR Taxes, just a promise, as WHAT kind of Business is THAT??? Just wait, as I PRAY, I’m still here when J&P Holdings starts opening up businesses and won’t be paying any taxes, operating with a clear “unfair competitive advantage FOR J&P,” giftwrapped by Arnold, as that’s when the business community is really going to start yelling FOUL by the Government and wanting justice just like when it was realized the Casino wasn’t paying taxes and it had to be fixed — didn’t learn any lessons from History. But then, Arnold will have retired by that time and could care less, especially IF he’s on a beach in Hawaii living-it-up with J&P! It is truly time to WAKE-UP and start a New Renaissance FOR Change and a BETTER CNMI!
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.
