According to a t-shirt I purchased: “A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers”.
It sounds very similar to what we are currently seeing not in Washington, D.C. but locally, as well.
As we continue our march toward the general election, it would do us good to remember one of Ernest Hemingway’s great quotes, “Never mistake motion for action.”
During elections, we always get a lot of verbal motions, or the promise of change, from those running for public office.
They want the voters to believe that all their promises and activities leading up to the election are true and realistic indicators of the types of actions they would take if elected or re-elected.
If the lack of real productivity were any indicator, then Hemingway’s quote is spot on. Of all the things promised, very few, if any, ever actually get turned into “action."
Let’s take a moment and look at the Guam Department of Education as an example.
A few weeks ago, it was announced that 17 to 18 public schools had not been inspected for safety and health clearance that would allow them to open on time for the upcoming school year. Meanwhile, all charter and private schools had passed inspections and were ready to open.
This motion was followed by a sheer stroke of idiocy when some folks at the legislature attempted to pass legislation that would have allowed the island's children to attend schools that had not passed public health and structural inspection.
Then the governor came out apparently from under a rock after six years of seeing similar issues, and in her infinite wisdom, asked to take over DOE.
Fortunately, wiser minds prevailed and rejected the governor's request, which would have created another problem similar to those facing Guam Memorial Hospital, the Department of Public Health and Social Services and other government of Guam agencies.
What needs to happen to the Department of Education is the Board of Education needs to stop doing nothing. It must establish policies that mandate the proper maintenance and timely repair of all public schools on island. The board must have the courage and ability to enforce them on DOE senior management, who in turn must do the same for their respective school administrators and staff.
In the meantime, remember all this as you head to the polls. Remember to vote for the candidates you believe will work seriously to resolve this neverending stream of perennial problems that have plagued our beautiful island home and shortchanged our children for far too long.
Remember those who have been in office and have not done anything to fix the problems they promised they would.
Vote only for those who have proven capability and willingness to make the tough decisions to mandate positive and productive change.
Elect only “public servants” who are truly capable of, and committed to, working to make Guam better for us all.
Remember, when you vote, you are all alone in that voting booth where no one is watching, so choose wisely.
Let’s make Guam great again!
Lee Webber is the former publisher of the Pacific Daily News, Honolulu Advertiser, president of Gannett Pacific and Asia area manager for USA Today international.
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