THIS point has been made many times before by many other commentators all over the world, but voters need to be reminded of it constantly: We won’t just hire anyone to pull out a broken tooth, treat an illness or fix our car. We will go to a reputable expert: a dentist, a doctor, a mechanic. And yet when voting for politicians who will deal with socio-economic issues that affect our and our loved ones’ lives, we usually select the most “likeable” candidates. And we like them because we know and/or are related to them. Or we like the way they smile. Or the firmness of their handshake. Or we agree with the things they say. And they also promise to “listen” to us.
Which should terrify us. We don’t want our dentist, doctor or mechanic to “agree” or “listen” to us. If we know what’s wrong then we wouldn’t be consulting with them. They’re supposed to know more than us about our problem. They’re the experts. We should listen to them.
But the only expertise one must possess to get elected into office is to know how to get elected. And once in office, these officials will make major decisions about the government and the economy with consequences to our livelihood and quality of life — our very future. We should expect them to know more than we do about the problems they intend to solve. But if they would merely echo the “observations” of ordinary people like us who have neither the time nor the inclination to study closely the major issues of the day, then why do we need elected representatives? Why not just hire a trusted off-island polling company to conduct surveys whenever we’re faced with a contentious policy decision. Cut the middleman, and save tons of money. (But then again, government doesn’t truly “save” money; it usually spends its “savings” on something else. Which is another topic.)
In a recent meeting with CNMI businesspersons, only one lawmaker — just one — admitted that she was way over her head. “It is a very hot seat that I’m sitting in,” she said. “You know, I’m new in this Legislature and I feel intimidated knowing that you guys have a, you know, a vast knowledge [and] background [about] the economy in [terms of] insight….”
We need more elected officials who can freely admit their limitations, and are willing to know more about the issues. We want them to listen to and consult with the acknowledged experts on the CNMI’s tourism-based local economy — those who are in the thick of things. Those who, for many years now, own and/or manage existing — and prior to the pandemic restrictions — viable businesses. Those with extensive experience dealing with CNMI and federal officials, and their rules and regulations. Those, moreover, who regularly consult with other authoritative experts in, for example, specific tourism markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, etc. Those, in other words, who have skin in the game. If they’re wrong they will lose a lot of their money.
If you want to know more about the local economy and/or the local tourism industry who would you rather listen to? But horror of horrors! Who do you think gets to decide on these issues? Politicians who won an election.
In a meeting with CNMI businesspersons, a House member said the Commonwealth should pursue “sports tourism.” He was told that “we have a college team from Korea that will be here in the spring. We…have a lot of requests. We’ve only got one field, but we do and are getting sports tourism conversations going because we do have a large soccer pitch…. We have a baseball field that’s finally back up and operational…. We are getting sports organizations interested in conducting tournaments here. Three-of-three [basketball] is going to happen here with FIBA. We are going to get AFC and EAF [soccer] teams coming out here to train with our kids and our national teams. We are going to see baseball teams come in… Badminton…is a very big sport in Asia, [and we’re holding international] tournaments here. We just had one recently for the Olympic trials conducted over a two-week period.”
Another House member said businesses, including hotels, should include the word “Saipan” in their “brand names.”
“That’s a really, really good idea,” a business executive replied, “and…just for the record…Crown Plaza Resort Saipan and Hyatt Regency Saipan…are the two organizations I know of on the island that actually brand most of their [items] and we’re talking about stuff you get in the room [and those in] the gift shop.” Another business executive noted the “thousands upon thousands…of dollars worth [of other] Saipan merchandise that is all about Saipan.” And there’s also the now iconic I ♥ SAIPAN store in Garapan.
So yes. We do need more elected officials who listen to people…who know what they’re talking about.
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