Of course the feds are not going to give up “mutual consent” in the Guam commonwealth proposal. That would be saying, “Hey, Guam, you are so special. You can do anything you want. Just keep us informed after the fact, will you?” If the feds did that, that would be tantamount to the break-up of the republic. You will find other jurisdictions, incorporated or not, testing their ability to “do anything they so choose.”That federal laws take precedence over local laws is given.
On the status issue itself, we can learn from other jurisdictions near us. Do you see the feds taking over the Freely Associated States? No. Of course you can pick the CNMI as an example of a commonwealth treaty gone sour, so to speak. But that is largely the CNMI’s fault for being beholden to the free-wheeling private sector.
If our local representatives were really on their game, we would have found out that we, too, were eligible for a commonwealth status.
The status issue is very clear. If you want to receive federal monies, obey. If you do not, then you are free to go your own way. That’s why the only choices for Guam are Howard Hemsing’s independence and Patti Garrido’s free association. Statehood is a pipe dream and status quo is interminable.
Lastly, I think the feds value the military stranglehold on Guam — and all the ensuing material benefits to the people — so much that they will not risk losing Guam as a strategic asset.
MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam
