By: Paintgranny,
on 5/31/2008
By: Paintgranny,
on 4/3/2008
By: Jane Mack,
on 9/13/2007
The governor has called on Pete A. to retract his support for federalization of the CNMI immigration. I say--Pete A.--right on.
My very first blog post was about the minimum wage and federalization. I tackled both issues, which are related, like two sides of the same coin.
Since I wrote that blog post, we've gotten a small minimum wage increase of $.50 per hour, so our workers now earn $3.55. Next year, the U.S. law provides that there will be another $.50 increase here, unless forces against it manage to interrupt the law's application (always a possibility). Meanwhile the U.S. got a bigger minimum wage increase, so the gap between job pay here and in the U.S. continues to widen. I'm not happy with the minimum wage increase--I think it was too small and spread out over too much time. And it was designed to give ammunition to those who will say how raising the wages has caused businesses to fold, hurting the economy, without any appreciable increase in benefits. Well, consumer spending can hardly go up with such a small-scale increase. I think this wage increase was designed to fail, not succeed. As I said, I'm not happy.
Federalization of our immigration was on track, too, but seems to be getting derailed. I am very proud of Pete A. for sticking to his guns about what the people here really want. I WANT FEDERALIZATION NOW.
The CNMI has lost its ability to take care of immigration. We have a huge backlog of cases awaiting hearings or decisions. We're seeing human trafficking-foreign women tricked into accepting jobs where they are locked up except when they're dancing nude and serving ladies drinks. We have aliens murdered in the CNMI and a DPS that is over-taxed and unable to solve the murders.
We need help.
I'm tired of hearing U.S. citizen spouses threaten their alien spouse with divorce and automatic deportation as a means of family control and domination. Our laws don't call for any requirement of people getting married to provide for permanent residence for their spouses.
I'm disgusted that we have an alien here who applied for refugee protection and who is still waiting for a decision more than a year after having a hearing. You know--justice delayed is justice denied.
I find it frustrating that we have difficulty addressing human trafficking because of the problems with the fit between U.S. law and CNMI's immigration role.
We don't need control of immigration to be "self-governing." We elect our leaders. Our congressmen make our local laws. We can participate in a federal system, where the federal government handles issues of national concern like foreign relations and immigration and the local government handles issues of local concern like crime and public services. There's nothing demeaning about such a federal system.
The CNMI doesn't have enough money. Our CUC is in a sorry state. Our public schools are understaffed and under-funded. We don't have enough money for doctors and blood and all that we need for health care. Our police officers are underpaid and overworked. Our roads need fixing. We can't even take care of the stray dog population or copper wire thefts. Why do we want to keep pouring our CNMI dollars into an immigration system that only benefits a few businessmen and exploits other human beings? Why do we want to embrace a system that has forced our U.S. citizen population to head to the mainland in droves so they can get decent jobs rather than compete here against unlimited numbers of aliens willing to take the pittance offered as a salary?
We need federalization of our immigration. We need it now. Actually, we needed it yesterday, last month, last year, last century. But we still need it--NOW.
Has that 'aaaah' factor!
P.x
He makes me think a nap is in order. Very cute.
I'm running out of new words to describe your felty creations, so I think I shall have to be boring and say yet again: Fantastic!
The hot water bottle, the socks, the hat, his posture, all so sweet.
I totally agree with Catherine. There are no words for how fantastic I think Sam is. You are amazing!
I love Sam...the Water Bottle is Genius, pure genius! :)
He's fantabulous and superb and wonderful and I'm really intrigued as to how your watercolour characters come to life and leap off the page in this fashion!
He's adorable! I'm getting sleepy just looking at him.
Brilliant - just love those slippers!
Well, it's 7 AM and I'm wide awake... ok, I'm not awake, I'm so, sooo sleepy, I'm half asleep. Looking at Sam makes me want to grab a pair of socks, some warm bottle and my safety blanket and go back to sleeeeep... yawn...
He's stunning!
I totally hear you. And I'm supposed to be inbetween jobs right now... Things just don't ever quite work out the way you might hope, do they?
I really like the hot water bottle! he is a bit less.........scary then my goose!!
Toby.
This is so charming - yes, I agree with everyone - makes me want to go right back to bed.
Our daughter Claudia is in Oxford this weekend.
Makes me feel nostalgic for all those years ago........
We loved meeting Penny and her family in Marrakech a few weeks ago
All best wishes
Ahh he is so sweet..am loving the hot water bottle.
I love his various positions!
So well said and shown.
Rest well when you can, and enjoy all the claims on your creative juices! xo
Oh he's cute standing on his head. That's just so cute it made me giggle.
Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
Gorgeous, as usual, and I love the little hot water bottle!
Absolutely Wonderful!
Sandra Evertson
This guy's awesome Gretel! love the socks!
Sleepy Sam is another of your incredible creations. I like all the different colours you have used ... now when I'm watching the geese and their babies along the river, I'll have a lovely image of Sam tucked away.
This little dude is SO cute!