But the entire system is structured to steal from Pedro to pay Jose. Take, for example, CUC’s arguments for increasing power and water rates, again. CUC states that a reduction in the customer base necessitates a raise in fees. There is no mention of CUC’s efforts to reduce its operation expenses or collect power bills from government agencies. And so because many government agencies aren’t paying their bills in a timely fashion, the utility rates must go up. This is just another version of the arrangement that the autonomous agencies argued against in the Retirement Fund hearing before Judge Govendo this week.
With thousands of smart meters installed, why does CUC still charge some customers flat rates for water? An overwhelming number of water users pay the flat rate, sticking higher water rates to the rest of the meter-based customers. That’s unfair.
Proposing a pension bond to satisfy the obligations of the central government is also unfair. Why should the people pay for the bond when they have already paid for these benefits in the form of taxes all along? Government leaders padded their benefit packages in the form of generous legislative amendments and failed to provide for payment of this largesse along the way. Most glaringly, they failed to remit their employer’s contribution, putting the Fund in jeopardy. Now, lawmakers want a public rescue without disclosing what the rescue package looks like and the burden that “everyone” must share. That, too, is unfair.
Likewise, deporting thousands of people who have lived and worked here legally for years and years is not fair and will further shrink the consumer base of a gasping economy, but some CNMI officials say they want to see that happen.
Young children in this community should not be exposed to domestic violence and yet they are.
Rising utility costs have plunged many families into darkness. Poor economic conditions have resulted in job losses and inability to meet financial obligations resulting in wide-ranging social distress.
The islands’ problems are entrenched and solutions appear outside the grasp of their leaders. But if they cannot come up with corrective measures, then the citizens must.
Already non-profits have stepped up their effort to fill in the gaps left by incoherent and inane public policies. The Salvation Army, Karidat, the American Red Cross, among other groups, are providing kids with school supplies and families with food as well as other necessities in these trying times. Hard-pressed businesses and individuals continue to support these efforts. We can all chip in to be of help, which is in the spirit of the season.
