People make the difference in a place, Paul. Some make a difference by griping and complaining…but that doesn’t happen often. More often than not a positive difference is made by individual people rolling up their sleeves and working at improving a place.
One way to be sure a place in improving instead of going the wrong way is to periodically reevaluate where you are, where you’ve been, what caused that line of evolution and where you are headed if you keep on in the same way you’ve been going. A major part of this process involves being honest with yourself about whether there are better ways to do things. Companies do this. Successful individual people do this. Free countries do this if they are interested in anything but the same old status quo.
I have proposed that the CNMI do this kind of self-evaluation by bringing together the talents, knowledge and ideas of a group of people in a Second Political Status Commission. Who knows what ideas and recommendations will come out of this process? They might decide that we are already on the right course (something that would obviously make you happy). They might decide to recommend that some other political relationship be explored. They might find a better way to relate and communicate with our current political partner, the United States. They might find that some other form or relationship or even no relationship with the U.S. would be in the best self interest of the people of the Northern Marianas. Notice that it is the citizens of the Northern Marianas that we are interested in. Not what is best for you in Spokane or your Aunt in Denver. Free association, full independence, a regional coalition, total realignment, more of the same, renegotiated Covenant, who knows? There are many options for them to look at.
By ruthlessly evaluating, getting input from the citizenry, ultimately making recommendations, and having the citizens who actually live here vote on the best of those ideas, we may find a way to make these wonderful islands an even better place to live.
Feel free to come and live here and actually do something to make our home better, Paul. Or you can stay there in Spokane and miss out on Paradise. Either way, our happiness and well being are not dependant on the color of our passports. It is dependant on whether we know who we are and where we are going. It is dependant upon the interest and hard work of those people willing to try to improve our lot in life. As for me, I’ll be staying right here working and building as best I can. By the way, Paul, all islands north of Saipan are my islands too! So, I won’t be running away to Pagan, or anywhere else, thanks.
The people of the Northern Marianas appreciate the help they have received over the past few years from the U.S. Our ancestors came here thousands of years ago. We have seen many countries and many leaders come and go. We are still here and will still be here no matter who we are allied with politically or how. You can bet on that. But you’re not a betting man, are you, Paul?
REP. STANLEY MCGINNIS TORRES
17th CNMI Legislature
