Ambrose M. Bennett
THE Truth is WE have succumbed to the POWER of an organized party (Republicans) suppressing the hopes & desires of an unorganized People, which is the very core of the challenges to CHANGE the CNMI for the BETTER! I’m sure that Ambrose, Zaldy, Mr. Jang and Jack Romolor are not the only ones wanting a BETTER CNMI but from where I sit in the cheap seats, I can’t tell, as the Democrat “People’s Party” is not even “saying or doing anything.” WE the People are in a very real Political-WAR of “Liberalism v Conservatism” and the CNMI has chosen the latter too often and for entirely too long, as OUR very destitute economic situation is living PROOF for your “lying-eyes” if YOU don’t see the problem. WE the People of the CNMI need our next Governor to really be a Champion of Liberalism like the new NY Democrat Mayoral Candidate, Zohran Mamdani who really inspired this Op ed out here in the Pacific, as TRUTH is IMMORTAL and has No Boundaries! In fact, in 2026 it may take a REAL Independent Governor with Liberal Plans to fix the CNMI given the CNMI Dems are faltering. WE are hurting in virtually all aspects of our economy & life, and WE are clearly an-unorganized People, which is WHY the suffering continues in a war between Liberalism & Conservatism that WE the People must Champion!
Where are the Chamorro/Carolinian Activists that WE need who can really organize the People. How can WE want a quality of life like we see on the mainland but refuse to ACT like our counterparts to Champion Economic & Social Issues. Being a Dem myself since 1968, I must THANK Nola Hix for her work to re-establish the Dems and Congratulations on her new appointment. However, OUR Dems need to take notes from Mr. Mamdani who “Furiously Advocated Reforms FOR the People” positioning himself to be a Champion FOR the People. Mamdani was the small politician taking on two political giants and yet he WON, as his message of Liberal Reforms prevailed in a campaign about “being a man OF, FOR & BY the People.” But our Dems appear to be UNORGANIZED & WE are a People with no local activists. So, WHAT are Dems & the People waiting on & what to do about Ambrose who is “DEMANDING Activism & an Economic Recovery Plans” of LIBERALISM, as Conservatism Can Not REFORM nor Reinvent the CNMI – Taya Championed in over a decade, pathetic!
A primary Republican tactic has been to “Weaponized Culture” for a “Hook,” yet they haven’t CHAMPIONED Cultural Preservation, which IS NOT the business of Government in OUR Federal System anyway! You don’t even hear the word culture even being used in the U.S. Congress, as cultural preservation is an “individual or interest group responsibility.” I totally agree with “cultural preservation” but not “cultural-governing,” just think how crazy it would be if every culture in America wanted their way in laws like We see in the CNMI. In fact, operating as if the two Local Cultures in the CNMI are all that matters is one of the BIGGEST Defects in the CNMI’s Governing Approach that has eroded EQUALITY! Example: There are even laws on the books that VIOLATE “the Equality Clauses in the U.S. Constitution” that were allowed for ONLY 25 yrs. that matured a decade ago. WE are still dealing with “inequality & segregation” as the exclusion of Fellow-American citizens in aspects of life, while using THEIR Tax Dollars to “Bail-Out the CNMI” has PROVEN discrimination & a parasitic behavior exists that deterrers the CNMI’s evolutionary growth (politically, economically & socially).” The CNMI is now REAPING the adverse effects it Illegally Sowed. No Housing Market, which is one of the 4-Cornerstones of a Stable & Prosperous Economy. OUR attitude DOES indeed determine OUR altitude, and it shows!
Sen. Edith tried but it took decades and a neophyte Republican Senator to author proper legislation FOR NMDs to use THEIR money. Readers know Ambrose has been BEGGING the People’s Party to do it for a decade and now a Republican will get ALL the Credit for this Reform. I’m not hating just stating the facts and showing how the Dems are LOSERS on a very issue they were supposed to have CHAMPIONED FOR their People – refuse to listen! FYI, it was NEVER about Ambrose getting the credit but about the NMDs getting what they DESERVE. I don’t need anyone to admit Ambrose was Right, as readers know I will always toot my own horn like one of my mentors, “Ali.” In the CNMI “no one will do it for me” like my MaDear predicted when I started writing in the newspaper, but I know God, the Truth & Time are on My Side!
Oh & FYI readers, the Legislature gave me, Ambrose, Joint Resolutions from the House & Senate for Championing work in Education but once I jumped into the Political Arena to offer “Ideas & to try and CHAMPION issues” they turned-on-me doing everything possible to sabotage & prevent Ambrose from “being successful with ideas & holding OUR workers (elected officials) accountable FOR & TOO their Bosses — the People.” WE teach “elected officials are employees OF the People” so don’t let that “honorable tag” that some don’t deserve fool you, as they must EARN that honor DAILY being real Champions FOR the People! WE need real Champions FOR the People, not Election Season Politicians “who finally come to church during election season, who pretend to be so darn humble for your vote, who pretend to respect and be so concerned about you & your concerns – just so they can SIT & that IT – for True! You can bet Republicans will try to “divide & conquer” again in 2026, like in the past, however, WE the People must do our best to elect Real Liberal Champions FOR a BETTER CNMI come 2026 – it’s just that simple.
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
