The reason is pretty clear, academics get to tell the truth and we don’t have to worry about politics. On the break after I gave my speech, I went out and asked the documents table for an extra copy. The table had quite a number of speeches on it but the staffer told me all of the copies of my speech were gone. In the marketplace of ideas, forbidden speech has the most value. Everyone at the seminar knew about the fuss made over my presentation, and it greatly raised awareness and attention to the things I had to say. The test will be how many of these ideas will stick with the other 10 U.S. and UK territories in the next five years.
Here is the Guam view as of this week. Between June 11 to14, 2011, using a direct sample method, we surveyed 180 Guam voters on the following questions:
Which of the following political status options do you prefer?
Forty-six percent wanted the Best Deal Possible; 30 percent preferred Statehood; 11 percent liked Independence; 11 percent said Free Association; and 3 percent didn’t know.
This question reflects the fourth option offered by the UN, or getting the best deal possible as a possible answer. Combined with statehood, the 76 percent status quo/statehood group has held consistent. This has been the general view for many years. As I mentioned in my presentation, this is largely a function of U.S. federal funding.
Should Guam have a voice in the U.S. Senate?
Ninety-four percent agreed; 5 percent disagreed; and 1 percent didn’t know.
We have tested this question a number of times and this is the highest level yet. It is likely due to public awareness that the U.S. Senate is very important. Senator Frank Blas has a bill to make this idea a reality, but other senators with courage need to support it.
Should Guam adopt a Local Constitution?
Eighty-two percent agreed; 14 percent disagreed; and 4 percent didn’t know.
With a local constitution, Guam would control more of its local affairs and it is a step forward. This is a rational, incremental step to getting to the doorstep of changing political status.
Seventy-seven percent prefer U.S. Citizenship; and 23 percent prefer other nations. Most notably, 4.7 percent preferred the PI! This fits the view of “Guam USA.”
If Guam were to make a political status deal with the United States, what would it look like?
As a basic premise, we should probably keep all of the benefits of status quo, such as mirrored taxes, and seek to improve our federal relationship in a number of ways. We should have a voice in the U.S. Senate. We should have a sense of inclusion in the U.S. family. We should have better healthcare access and better educational opportunities. But we need to look outside the box and we need to ask in the right way.
RON McNINCH
Mangilao, Guam
