The real ‘Macoy’
POLICE Officer Anthony Iglecias Macaranas, so the story goes, gave his own father (or mother), a ticket for a traffic violation. This tale has the ring of truth because in 1995 Officer Macaranas pulled over the then-governor for speeding on Middle Road where the speed limit was still 35 mph. In those days it wasn’t hard to spot the governor’s official vehicle because it was the only black Lincoln Town Car on island with a license plate that read GOVERNOR.
But the law is the law, and it applies to everyone, including, and especially, the top officials. In the CNMI, recently retired Assistant Chief of Police Macaranas upheld the law consistently in his 35 years of serving the public.
“The Mac,” as his admirers call him, is known for his unblemished professionalism and strict adherence to rules. He exemplified the ideal of a law enforcer in a democratic society: dependable, upright, fair. As a DPS officer, he served his community — and his nation — well. (He was deployed to Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom III.)
Thank you for your service Colonel Macaranas, and happy retirement!
Giving back
THE Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala allows members of the business community to honor its most outstanding members that include non-profits and young entrepreneurs.
Now and then you’ll hear politicians and government officials praise businesspersons and business enterprises — just before imposing yet another onerous (if not mindless) regulation and/or new or higher fee on the same businesspersons and business enterprises while lecturing them about “giving back to the community.” Which is a bit rich coming from an entity whose M.O. is to grab other people’s money and take credit for lavishing it on voters.
Memories are made of this
A LEGITIMATE business entity pays taxes, licenses, other fees as well as workers’ salaries, office rent, lease, bank loans, among other obligations — on top of non-stop donations to so many community events, projects, etc.
Moreover, a legitimate business entity’s continued existence is premised on its ability to perform a service or produce/sell items that people must want to purchase at a certain price. A business owner must put in long hours and assumes all the risks. And s/he will consider himself/herself extremely lucky to “break even” in the first three (or more) years of operation. If not, tough. His/her business will have to shut down.
In other words, if a business enterprise is not giving the community something it needs or wants then it will not last.
But some say businesses must also “give back.” Give back what? Businesses can only take if they have given something of value to consumers. They must create, produce and/or serve, and they must have willing customers who can always choose not to buy. If a business is successful then it means that people — consumers — want what it is selling or providing.
It is government that should give back. All it does is take other people’s money to supposedly fund “services,” almost all of which can be better provided by legitimate businesses.
Unlike failed businesses, however, government, despite its so many failures, will remain in business, thanks mainly to politicians with short memories and voters with even shorter memories.
