Nothing good has happened since the governor promised Better Times in 2005. Four years later, he urged voters to Let It Be. It still didn’t happen. Things didn’t even remain the same. They just got worse.
But the administration’s failures, not to mention the scandals and controversies it’s involved in, have not roused the people into action. They seem to be more resigned and more cynical than ever before.
I don’t think its indifference. It’s just that this is a small community. Everyone is related to someone somehow and it is, after all, impolite if not disrespectful to publicly denounce someone who is a neighbor, a fellow PTA member, a co-parishioner, etc., whose sons and daughters are classmates or even friends of your kids.
Moreover, most voters either work for the government or are related to those who do. Most local companies do business with the government. The governor knows he holds all the cards and he also knows when to turn on his charm. If that fails, he can also be, as everyone should now realize, vindictive. He revels in the exercise of power.
So what can voters do? Should they risk their only source of livelihood by loudly complaining about the incompetence and corruption they see in their government? Besides, a lot of them now believe that most politicians are the same. I agree. But some are worse than others. And there are always better choices out there.
What do most voters expect from their elected officials anyway? Government jobs or contracts. Those who have them, and there are still a lot who have them, have a lot to lose if they openly displease the governor. A lot of government vendors are owed tens of thousands if not millions of dollars. You don’t hear them complaining either. They prefer to remain in the good graces of the governor and hope that they will get paid, at least partially, soon.
But everyone talks about how bad things are. A lot of them are posting angry, anonymous online comments on the MV website. And as the administration and the Legislature lurch into the next crisis of their own creation, voters are taking mental notes and are, just like anybody else, trying to cope while waiting for Election Day.
Most voters are hoping for new leaders with new ideas. But as I’ve said before, voters should also clarify what they expect from their officials and ask themselves if it’s still realistic. They know that the economy is bad and that their government is broke even though some administration officials can still afford to enjoy steak and lobster dinners at pricey restaurants in the states.
Voters should realize that the solutions to the current problems require hard choices and will result in discomfort. Extravagance must end. There is no one-shot deal that will magically fix everything. Hard work, industry, entrepreneurship — these are what the CNMI needs.
Those who want to be the next governor, for their part, should admit that the old ways of promising anything and everything to voters will only result in more problems. It is far better to educate the public about the magnitude of the government’s financial crisis. Candidates should study the government budget, its history and all its gory details. They must, once and for all, offer a plan for CUC and the Retirement Fund. They must decide what new investments are needed and how to bring them in. They must find ways to improve tourism. Motherhood statements just won’t cut it. A leader must have detailed analyses and plans.
Is there a realistic and doable way of reducing the size or at least the expenses of this government? The candidates for governor must find an answer. They must also deal with the growing costs of providing scholarships, medical referrals and homesteads to voters.
For reformists, the challenge is how to persuade voters that the best way to protect their jobs is to elect new officials.
I still believe that if elected officials are transparent and will lead by example, they can do a lot of good.
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