WHAT DO I THINK? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK.. 10/27/07Some predictions:
I think... the SCA is DOA... The Saipan Casino Act is dead on arrival. This will not even come close to passing. (check the poll below my picture.)
I think... the SCA is DOA... The Saipan Casino Act is dead on arrival. This will not even come close to passing. (check the poll below my picture.)
The numbers: 12,000 qualified voters, 2/3 is 8,000 yes votes needed. All non votes are counted as 'no' votes due to a tilted voting table, post#683 so there is no possible way there will be 8,000 yes votes, Will never happen!
I think... CUC IS IN DEEP TROUBLE...When and if the governor announces a plan for the control of CUC by the Executive branch, thru a state of emergency order, here's what I think...Now I can't imagine what he might say, but the essence of, or the bottom line will be this.. It will cost the consumers more money. I don't care what words he uses to explain or express his 'idea' we will pay! Out of one pocket or the other! We will pay!
I think ... TINA SABLAN IS A WINNER... Christina Sablan aka Tina is not only a winner as in all the things she's made of, the person she is, but will be a winner in the same large way in the elections! Yes Tina will win and win big, count her in. There will be no stopping this determined woman. She is on the path of her destiny and will always be a winner. She will win!
I think... It's your turn... To tell me what you think, do you think I am right, or do you think differently? Let me know....
.....GED.....
I think... CUC IS IN DEEP TROUBLE...When and if the governor announces a plan for the control of CUC by the Executive branch, thru a state of emergency order, here's what I think...Now I can't imagine what he might say, but the essence of, or the bottom line will be this.. It will cost the consumers more money. I don't care what words he uses to explain or express his 'idea' we will pay! Out of one pocket or the other! We will pay!
I think ... TINA SABLAN IS A WINNER... Christina Sablan aka Tina is not only a winner as in all the things she's made of, the person she is, but will be a winner in the same large way in the elections! Yes Tina will win and win big, count her in. There will be no stopping this determined woman. She is on the path of her destiny and will always be a winner. She will win!
I think... It's your turn... To tell me what you think, do you think I am right, or do you think differently? Let me know....
.....GED.....
20 comments:
I'm starting to come around to the idea that the casino as a savior is a non-starter, but I was clinging to the hope, as I don't see any other way out for Saipan.
You've said it often enough, that you can't legislate cheap fuel and a bankrupt gov't can't pay for it.
Well, what is next? Dengre, the notorious butthole from Sodom on the Potomac, is predicting economic contraction with a fall in population to a more manageble 15 thousand. Probably, and hopefully the last time, I tend to believe him. My wife was eight when mongolia went through an "economic contraction" after the Mongolia's major trading partner the Sov's collapsed. She remembers bodies in the street and she lived in an economically viable area.
Too late for Tina to change the gov't, too late for the PSS to train the next generation, only the bloodsuckers will have a life ring. How ironic that the guest workers will be allowed to stay. And inherit what? A lovely island, but with no power, beyond the electrical line closest to the last working power plant. They might as well stay in the Phillipeans or Thailand, or wherever, for what will be left for them in Saipan. I suppose the feds will step in, but how soon and how long can everyone hold out. Think of people drowning in their attics in New Orleans. That fairly well summs up my feelings on the subject. Jeez, I'm morbid tonight, must have been the bad goat for dinner. However, what the hell is going to pay for fuel?? Not the users with the legislature's decision and the gov't of Saipan can't borrow on a nothing GNP or print money.
The fact that we will pay for CUC is a no brainer. There is no one else to pay. So thats not really a prediction but a mere fact. If the rates stay the same and they probably will, the monies will just come out of another pocket, taken away from others, There is no new money but money only shifted from somewhere else. In the end we will pay!
I believe the casino act will not pass, but I think it will be closer than some folks think it might be. I don't think these blog polls are representative of the larger community. A small portion of the community gets online daily to myspace and do searches. An even smaller portion have a "presence" on the web and an even smaller group blogs. A conversation that took place on Jeff's site is indicative of this disconnect. He couldn't believe that there were folks in the community who hadn't heard of PAWS. The fact is, there are a great many people who have absolutely no idea what PAWS is. It is easy for us to get too caught up in the little world we know and let that affect our ideas about the entire community.
With regard to CUC.. I don't see any of the individuals who have the ability to begin correcting the problems doing so. For some reason there is this fear by these individuals of privatization. I understand the real fear by citizens, which is that a business will need to charge high rates to profit. I don't believe this necessarily has to be the case and this won't matter if we don't have power. If power is off two or three days a week.. folks would be willing to pay out the teeth for power.
I envision that there will be a contraction as bigsox stated. People are already bailing out. There will be a period of adjustment for everyone who remains. We'll need to get used to regular power outages and living on a whole lot less. Businesses will consolidate or close down. Instead of 20 bars, there will be two or three. Families won't have two or three vehicles, they might have one. Crime will rise for a number of years. General upkeep of roads, roadsides, parks and other public lawncare and beautification will fall to the wayside. etc. etc.
Sorry.. forgot about Tina.
I agree with you there Glen. Tina will win big.
PAWS has a massive media presence print, radio, tv and online. I'm not shocked that some people don't know about it, but I am shocked that a literate, involved adult like James Yangetmai would claim not to know. I don't even believe that statement. That a lot of people are ignorant and clueless is not a huge surprise.
Now the waiting...
Thanks Lil
Jeff.. just because some folks are not apprised of PAWS, might not read the paper daily and if they do just pick out stories they're interested in, or they don't, like us, keep up with the blogs and online chatter related to the CNMI.. doesn't make them ignorant and clueless.
The daily concerns of many folks are taking care of the kids,the home and work.
I don't think Mr. James Yangetmai ever professed he knew nothing about PAWS. He did state that his neice had not heard of PAWS. And like I said, I could go to many of my own relatives and ask them if they know of PAWS.. they wouldn't have a clue. They are good people, they work, they take care of their kids, they farm, they take care of their homes.. that doesn't make them ignorant nor clueless.
I've lived here for 46 years, I have family in government, family in business and a whole lot of family who are simply working to make ends meet.. Im pretty confident arguing on what the general community may or may not know about certain things.
The point I was making was, our polls and little group "discussions" are likely not reflective of the community as a whole. The larger portion of the community here has never read a blog.
Lack of blogging may be a good thing for the community as a whole. Look at how much this little group fights. Still, the interchange of ideas in a somewhat impersonal group setting is valuable. Differing viewpoints, dissemination of little known facts, occurances, rumors. The diversity of veiwpoints makes a good blogger exchange, more worthwile than family conversations at the bbque or random conversations at the bar, except Porky's candidate nights. Until, the one child one laptop idea happens, along with island-wide wireless, blogging will be limited. The last few Saipan administrations have a lot to answer for, in terms of lost of opportunities. Last I heard, shortsightedness wasn’t crime, however.
Does anyone disagree that the people perpuate the government, with all the associated waste, fraud, mis-management, in exchange for family jobs or perhaps the hope of a job personally? Voters in the US are a slack bunch also and politicians by their very nature pander to the electorate's delusions of personal gain.
I'm not casting a stone here, so much as trying to find the reasons behind what has happened. In the end, the people will pay, but maybe they will discover the commonwealth consitution is not a suicide pact and can be changed through public referendum.
I did a little research Jeff.. you were right when you stated that Mr. Yangetmai said he didn't know what PAWS was. Maybe he didn't, I can't speak on that.
But to refresh your memory.. your statements weren't directed at just Mr. Yangetmai. This is your comment taken directly from your blog..
"I guess it's a world where people read the newspaper, hear the radio and watch the tv news at least periodically, and in that world, it's impossible not to know about PAWS, but as I said, the not caring part is totally believable."
This comment was made in response to mine, which was, there are a whole lot of people here, including my own relatives who know nothing of PAWS.
I would agree that the bloggers are a little more up on things than most people.
I guess I don't relate to people who don't read a newspaper and don't care what is going on. You don't have to be rich to be aware, and PAWS isn't just on the internet, they are on radio, tv and in the newspaper, and the dog issue is everywhere you go on this island. If you've never heard of PAWS through all that media, not just internet, you're pretty clueless and I find that sad.
I've got to be honest and say other than Cinta Kaipat, I've never met anyone who lived in these parts most of theirlife who really gives a damn about the dog situation, so indifference to the issue might go along with ignorance of the organization. I like sports, but I tune out golf and hockey news. I do happen to be aware that they exist, though. PAWS is overwhelmingly haole, and I suppose that is a culture difference that is not going to change quickly.
And no matter what you say next, I'm not turning this into another 70 comment debate on this issue like the Adam Hardwicke thing.
Very clearly you feel one way about PAWS and animals, and I feel another, and I don't think the twain shall meet.
I don't even know the reference, but I believe I was discussing the world I live in and hope others are living in. If you're point is that I'm not a huge fan of the blissfully unaware, you'd be right.
"I guess it's a world where people read the newspaper, hear the radio and watch the tv news at least periodically, and in that world, it's impossible not to know about PAWS, but as I said, the not caring part is totally believable."
Jeff, I have four dogs. I've taken care of animals my whole life. PAWS, as I've said numerous times, does good work. So, "very clearly" you're wrong.
You continue consider people that aren't able to keep up with or simply don't read the paper or may not read or understand it as thoroughly as you do, as people who don't care about what's going on.
I wish I could respond to that in a way that would make you understand how wrong this line of thinking is, and at the same time not be insulting. So I won't respond to it. I'll just say that it is sad.
I'm sure a great many folks here would love the luxury of being able to spend some time with the daily paper or sit around like we do reading blogs.. the reality is they don't. This doesn't mean they don't care, and frankly, this is a fairly demeaning comment and holier than thou and myopic point of view.
"I've got to be honest and say other than Cinta Kaipat, I've never met anyone who lived in these parts most of theirlife who really gives a damn about the dog situation"
Now who do you think is truly the clueless one?
You are Jeff. There are many people that give a damn about the dog situation on Saipan. We don't do photo ops to ensure that the island SEES that we care.
I personally have taken in 6 animals 3 stray kittens and 3 stray dogs and nurtured them back to health. I have personally spent thousands of dollars on caring for these animals (more than $600 this month alone on a new stray I picked up) and making them part of my family. That is a much larger burden to endure than just talking about it.
I have many "local" (meaning they spent many years on the island) individuals who have done the same. They adopt strays when they find them. Some nurse them back to health and give them to families that want to continue caring for them. They don't rely on a group to do this and rather than spending time reading stuff at Fiesta they are home taking care of their animals. If PAWs holds a meeting for the community maybe next time they should hold it in a ANIMAL Friendly environment.
By the way I did show up at the PAWs event at the Fiesta. I did get information and speak to them. I just didn't have the luxury of being able to stay the whole evening.
So Jeff, nice to meet you. Now you have TWO people you know who have grown up in Saipan and care about the dog situation. Hell, make it THREE Lil is doing her share too. If you get out more often and meet up with people and drop that holier than thou attitude maybe YOU wouldn’t be so CLUELESS and IGNORANT.
Hey Jeff, how much do you pay in vet bills a month?
Just curious.
PP
Also, in regards to Cinta and her commitment to aid PAWs, I have done a bit of research and was unable to come up with any legislation that she drafted up or passed in her two years on the hill that address animal concerns.
Can you enlighten me?
I do recall Stanley Torres introducing an animal crulety law. I also remember the Senate introducing legislation in regards to spotted eagle rays.
PP
So PP, I'd like to hear your comments on the subject of the origional post. Your thoughts.
original Post? I thought you were trolling for comments? I adopted a kitten once, raised it to cat hood, and gave it to animal trainer at the Hyatt. Turned up at the stripper barracks near Godfather's after a few weeks of unhappy rodent control, Russian girls love it and I'm happy. Paws is great, but proper animal control is on a small scale. Spay and neuter or have a kid.
Sox aren't you to busy with a certain baseball series to bother with nutered cats? Kidding...
multi tasking, Glenn. One of my neighbors on Kannat Tabla is an officer of paws, plus I sorta like animals. If you could have seen that little kitten scooting in front of traffic, one early morning. I don't think anyone could have ignored the wretched little thing. I'm glad I could make a difference and Paws deserves credit for a bigger effort. Still, I'm in favor of euthansia for the greater populance. SP?
Ahh, address the original post. Sometimes the comment tangents get so interested I never get a chance to do that.
As for the SCA I am fearful that it may be a close one. I can see someone with the mindset that jonas has(he just commented on your SCA post today) going into the polls on Saturday and saying "why not give casinos a shot". I hope I am so wrong.
As for people running for office I cringe at the overall lack of great choices. I do hope that come 2009 that changes and we can get a bunch of crazy people running. That is people that are crazy about seeing change in the way government is run on this little island.
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