I will share with the public the same chart that I have used in government classes on how to pick the best candidate. It is relatively easy to get 20 or 30 students in a class to be fair and objective but the true challenge is getting adult voters to apply a fair and objective approach to grading candidates. Biasness and subjective grading is not accurate nor is it a fair assessment. For example, I’m sure voters don’t want their child graded on how well the teacher likes their child because we expect students to be graded fairly on their academic deeds and the same is true for grading politicians. Voters have to be objective and honest even if you don’t like the politician to select the best candidate.
The formal requirements for being elected are a matter of law (citizenship, age & residency) but voters really need to use this chart of Informal Requirements to make your scientific and educated decision about whom to vote for in the delegate race and in all future races. Incidentally, the real purpose of pocket meetings is to gather data on candidates so you can grade them accurately — not to eat and drink free beer. I can promise voters the CNMI will be a much better place socially, economically and politically if all voters followed this simple guide fairly and objectively.
Grade candidates based on facts using a 1-10 scale in each category — the first was done for you. A political science degree is the most important for a person in the U. S. Congress.
The criteria:
Education
Experience (political, edu., health, safety, econ.)
Track Record of Accomplishments
Political Connections (CNMI & Washington)
Political Power (CNMI & Washington)
Vision or Plan for our Economy & Future
Most potential for success in Washington
Motivation- public service record
Stature and status in Politics (CNMI & Wash.)
Stature and Character in Society for Leadership
There is NO WAY a bad candidate can get elected if all voters followed this simple chart using an objective assessment based on the facts. This field of candidates should make it really easy due to their vast differences in the many areas of the informal requirements. If voters will grade the candidates like a teacher honestly, fairly and objectively the total points won’t lie to you and you should know who deserves your vote because ONE candidate is going to stand out about the rest. You don’t have to worry about a tie with this group of candidates because ONE will clearly stand out over the other candidates.
I know some voters will appreciate my efforts on voter education but I’m also sure some will hate my efforts because the truth hurts sometimes. But that’s life and you can’t please all the people all the time. However, I do know what I have been writing about Juan N. Babauta being the best is the truth about this class of candidates and the politics of this election. I am extremely confident that this grading chart will prove to most voters that Juan N. Babauta is the best in this class if they will grade the candidates like a teacher.
Civic Virtue is a vital part of electing the candidates to have the best government possible and we need more voters to practice this critical principle of voting for the CNMI over their personal concerns or we the people will lose again on November 2nd and we will continue to lose unless we get lucky or divine intervention saves us. We the people voted ourselves into this political and economic mess. Now we must start voting ourselves out of this political and economic mess by voting for the ONLY candidate with real support in Congress and a plan to revitalize our economy through Congressional Legislation — Juan N. Babauta. One people one direction for being informed voters and playing a better political game for the CNMI in the voting booth.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Former BOE Teacher Rep
