We, the people of the CNMI, are to blame for this failed and corrupt government.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

I already know I'm going to get some backlash for this, but oh well, I have been silent for far too long, and with the recent turn of events that took place on Capital Hill, I simply cannot be silent any longer. The blame MUST fall on the voters this time around. WHY, you ask? Here's why:

1. For YEARS, generations, even, the voters of the CNMI have played their part in the growth of this cancerous government and its corrupt politicians. We saw what was happening, but we turned a blind eye to it all because we were living the island life, and that's just the way the cookie crumbles, right?

2. We continue to place our trust and our faith in this disastrous government, hoping that it will do the right thing, and obviously, it's getting us nowhere. Why must we insist that the government do everything for us? Why can't we rise up as a People and demand and end to this corrupt government? Why can't we take a page from Iceland's book and replace the entire corrupt government with a government that is TRULY of the People, by the People, and FOR the People?

3. We, as the people of the CNMI, need to realize our true strength and our true potential. We NEED to realize that a government, ESPECIALLY a corrupt one, only has the authority to rule based on the CONSENT of the governed. The blame must fall on the voters because we have put up with and accepted this corrupt government for YEARS and generations, simply submitting ourselves to all of its absurdities, when we SHOULD'VE been saying, "This is a corrupt government, and I no longer give it consent to govern me." (which would have been followed up with the complete overthrow of this corrupt government).

TO ALL CNMI VOTERS, I highly suggest you go read some stuff by Thomas Paine, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, and even Thomas Hobbes, before this upcoming election. Actually read, in its entirety, and understand, the Declaration of Independence. See if you can still bring yourself to participate in this System by casting your vote, after you have read some of these works and fully understand them. The Founding Fathers of America fought so hard to free themselves from the Tyranny of the King and to establish the United States of America, a nation which we CHOSE to be a part of, a nation which we based our own laws and ideals on, and for what? So we can just spit in their faces and say, "To hell with revolution, that's just the way things are here in the CNMI!"? If we CHOSE to be a part of the American family, shoudln't we strive to follow the example of the Founding Fathers and revolt against corruption in our own Commonwealth? Shouldn't we, as the Founding Fathers did, free ourselves from the rule of the "King" who is unfit to rule over us? Who is unfit to be a ruler AT ALL?

As much as I supported the whole impeachment thing, I knew from the start that it was all just another exercise in futility. Another big waste of our time. How could we honestly expect that this corrupt government would suddenly turn on itself and impeach its head? Did we really believe that the snake would just suddenly bite off its own head? If we REALLY wanted the Governor out of office, we SHOULD HAVE done it by means of a recall, not by impeachment. How much longer will we let ourselves be fooled by all of this bread and circus?

WE THE PEOPLE must take these islands back!

WE THE PEOPLE must put an end to this tyranny!

WE THE PEOPLE must completely do away with this corrupt government!

ANOTHER CNMI IS POSSIBLE, my brothers and sisters. We only need to want it badly enough. I would really like for you all to read Gene Sharp's booklet "From Dictatorship to Democracy," because it could REALLY help us. In closing, I leave you with the words of Frederick Douglass:

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

Re: Saipan Delegation passes Casino Bill

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F. Kennedy

My friends, do not give up hope. This was only the beginning. Those few who stood against this bill on Capital Hill yesterday have begun the long process of rehabilitating the minds of the people of the Commonwealth. They have shown that it is OK to stand up and protest against our government. Yes, the legislature still passed the Casino bill, but do not for one second think that the protest was a failure.

The protest was a success, if for one reason only: we have planted a seed in the minds of everyone on Saipan...we need only to continuously water that seed and give it enough sunlight to grow, and soon, very soon, we shall HAVE our REVOLUTION that we so desperately need. Keep the hope alive. We WILL succeed.

Mark my words, WE WILL OVERCOME THE CORRUPTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE WILL RID THE CNMI OF THE PLAGUE THAT IS OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND OUR CURRENT LEGISLATORS AND WE WILL BRING FORTH A NEW EPOCH OF SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR ISLANDS.


BIBA CNMI.

The Time for Action is NOW!

FOR decades, we have put up with the greed, selfishness, and overall corruption of our CNMI government. Our so-called "leaders" have been the main cause of the rapid decline of the CNMI, enacting laws that served themselves and reflected only their personal goals and desires. And yet we have voted these people into office over and over again countless times. So many times, in fact, that these people think that they can get away with anything. The time has come to give them a reality check and remind them who they really work for.

We are the people who elect them, and we demand that they listen to us!

The House of Representatives is intent on passing the fiscal year 2012 budget bill this Friday. Included in the bill are:

• a pay raise for the lawmakers while they cut down on discretionary funds

• a $4 million cut in PSS funding, a $400,000 cut in NMC funding

• an $11,000 raise in BOE funding

They are also intent on passing House Local Bill 17-44, the Saipan casino bill, even after voters voted against a casino twice in our history. "Representative" Froilan C. Tenorio said he knows there are people who are against casino on Saipan, but “this is not the time to be protesting against something that will generate revenue for the government.”

He knows that people are against it, yet he is intent on pushing forward with it? This is outrageous! We can clearly see that our legislators seem to have forgotten or otherwise do not care about the will of their constituents. There has been great discussion about all of this on online forums and social media outlets, but nothing has been done. It’s time to stop talking, and start doing something about it.

We must come together and protest against these lawmakers and their intent to pass these bills. It’s time, CNMI. We must show them who’s boss! Together, with a united voice, we will remind them that they work for us, and we are not happy employers. They most certainly do not deserve a pay raise, and we do not want a casino on Saipan. On Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, we will make sure that they fully understand this. Meet us in front of the Legislature at 1pm, and bring your signs and your voices. On this day, CNMI, we will make history. Join us.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164979866912694 to let others know you'll be there and to invite others to the event.