Yes. Those are the words that clung to me when I listened during the recent US Senate Hearing last week. "I don't need to exist" or "There's no need for me to exist." Words coming from the mouth of the CNMI's dear governor.
He said if the federal government wants to take over his job, then there' no reason for him to exist?
Hold on. Does this mean that Guam's Governor Felix Camacho shouldn't exist as well? I don't understand. Please enlighten me with this one.
The Reveler
13 comments:
He has a point actually... if the federal government is going to take away these most important tasks of the government (being labor and immigration), who knows what kind of a precedent this will set. If they don't like something in the future, will they take that away? Shouldn't these determinations be left to the voters of the CNMI?
There really won't be a reason for his existence if too many responsibilities are removed.
And with regards to Guam... you are on the path to a good point. Why does the Guam Governor exist? Have you asked yourself why they even celebrate "liberation day"? They have never been allowed a plebescite (a vote to determine their political status). They are a simple colony of the United States and for all practical purposes the Governor is a puppet, who is bound to the edicts of the US. Do you think that they would be relocating one of the largest military bases in the Asia/Pacific and indeed the world, if this were not the case, if the US didn't have absolute control of a simple territory?
He means he has been taking money from the Tans for so long to exploit Filipinos that if the feds control immigration, his personal gravy train is over.
Fitial exploiting Filipinos? Garments are primarily Chinese operations. Fitial has used influence to improve his business conditions, but remember, he's only been Governor for a year and a half. Exploitation of some Filipinos and other guest workers has happened of course... happens everywhere. But to suggest that Filipinos in general are being exploited is nonsense. Filipinos don't want to leave... is this the behavior of an "exploited" person... I don't think so. My dad went off to work in a foreign country. They paid him about double what he was making in the US. He found out when he was there that it was far lower than alot of the population and the conditions were not what you'd call "attractive". He stayed and worked for a few years to help out the family and returned to the US eventually. Was he exploited? He chose to go work in a place where he made more than he did in the US and he stayed there and collected until he was tired of it. If he was "exploited", then he chose to be exploited.
Fitial has been with the government for a long time, long before you were born. Remember, your dad might have chosen to work outside for a higher paying job, but ask you dad how was the cost of living there. Filipinos chose to work here for a higher paying job, but the cost of living here is high, then they remit money back home and struggle to survive here through high cost of utilities and commodities. Filipinos are not exploited by some, but are not appreciated, I guess.
I am not saying that Filipinos are making even close to what I believe they should. Many of our local and guest workers aren't. The point is, they choose to remain.
And with regards to my dad's situation... life where he worked was HORRIBLE. Still, he chose to live and work there in order to send money to us.
They choose to eat and feed their kids. They are exploited worse in the Philippines, but still exploited here. Join the real world. The need to eat is not a choice.
I also agree with anonymous #1 when they say Fitial has a point about "there's no need for me to exist".
Today I was listening to Harry B. and heard him say the U.S. has the "RIGHT" to federalize here....I have to say I disagree.
The U.S. has the PRIVELEGE or OPPORTUNITY to federalize...
They have as much RIGHT as they did when they took the land away from the Native American Indians and then dished out measly pieces of poopykaka land back to them and called it their 'reservations'
I am anonymous no.1. In our case, however, we did have the opportunity to vote for our political status and did vote on our compact with the US. I don't agree that the US should be taking over labor and immigration, but unfortunately we agreed that they could come in at any time and do that.
As an American, whose ancestors came on the Mayflower, I am sad that the US proves time after time to be totally self-serving when it comes to the treatment of all of its indigenous people. They almost always have done this under the guise of "what's best". The fact is, they only truly care about what is best to the interest of the federal government.
Cohen said it himself at the recent hearing... to paraphrase him, he basically said that homeland security was the first priority of the US, the economy of the CNMI is second.
Think of the situation Guam is in right now... do you think the federal government will ever allow them to vote on their political status now that the Okinawan base is being relocated - No Way.
I am proud of the ideals of America, I am however very ashamed of the practices of the US Government. On the other hand, I am also ashamed that our own local government has not raised the minimum wage in 10 years.
gaymen to that.
My daughter is 2 y/o. When I want her to do something I give her two choices. One choice is the thing I want her to do and the other choice is something I know she will not want. This alleviates much fussing and rebelling on her part and life goes on happy. This is called GUIDANCE.
I agree the CNMI had a much greater opportunity to agree on the relationship with the US compared to say the Hawaiians. However, how much guidance and bargaining went into it?
I see it as the bigger bully wins. It is a part of human nature, the survival of the fittest. However, the human does have the capability to become a more highly evolved individual who can make choices that are kind, loving, and fair for all of humanity.
I also agree with you that I am proud of American ideals and yet ashamed of government practices. I think some of our forefathers are turning in their graves in disgust.
I also am ashamed of the local CNMI government for the way they handle many issues.
I do agree with you that the plebescite was somewhat of a setup in a way. For over 30 years of trusteeship, the US did absolutely nothing development-wise in any area in the Marianas (or Micronesia for that matter). They sat back and fed us free USDA cheese (and the yummy powdered eggs). We saw all of the nice cars and things that the white guys up at Capitol Hill had (TT Headquarters) and we wanted those things. So we voted for the political status that we did and may have not been as strong at the bargaining table as we should have.
...but... a big but here... in the end we could have took the risk that Palau, or the Marshalls or the FSM did. That is to be independent. We didn't.
Bully or not, good contract or not... it was a signed contract.
You are sadly right...the contract is signed
your points about Palau, the Marshalls or the FSM...ask did those islands have a long hard bloody battle on them? do you think the battle here had any influence on the way the people here decided to vote? do you think the people here unanimously voted to sign the contract or perhaps the more affluent individuals spear-headed it? think if indigenous individuals at Japanese rule time could only get a six grade education, then how equipped where they to make these choices?
it is sad to see the poverty on this island...the separation of the have's and the large have not's and I am only talking about indigenous people....the other races are another story (Sad)
Actually, our vote came before theres. I was very involved with the Palau process. The only thing that drug on in the case of Palau was the negotiation about the use of Palau ports for nuclear submarines, should this be needed for emergency purposes. The entire campaign and voting process only took a couple of years.
So really, they would have looked upon our experience for guidance.
Have and have nots are found in every city, state and country. What I've always been bothered about is, considering this i such a small place, why as a wealthy businessperson, would you not want to do everything in your power to educate and enrich those working for you? At every business I've managed and one I've owned, I've wanted to ensure that deserving employees are happy and have an honest and meaningful path to development and to satisfactory pay. It beguiles me how the management of DFS, Joeten, Sablan Construction, etc. etc. work like a meat market...
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