EDITORIAL – Are the People to Blame?

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Are the people to blame?

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I woke up with a slight hangover, about it grabbed my tet and a Pokka coffee, stumbled into my beat-up sedan and turned on the radio.  There it was, a Senator interviewing a fellow majority Senator like it was some kind of unbiased election interview.  What?  Is this for real?  Brush that one off.

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Then, a few days later, bam!  The same Senator interviewing the President, the cousin of the Senate President and majority Senator that was on the same show a few days earlier?   Hmmmm,  is this some kind of conspiracy?  The Senate Majority and the President colluding to control the election? Okay, shake that one off.

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Arrive at my underpaid job in an office that is to damn cold with the paint peeling off the green walls and Christmas decorations still hanging.  What? the budget passed, finally.  Wait, it says what?  The President used the budget as a tool to nullify two lawsuits against him with the Senate majority pushing it through and only 6 delegates voting yes?  How does this happen?

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Now I will admit I was one of those who went to school off-island so I have may a slightly different take on politics BUT… something stinks!  As just the average Joe, I don’t have access to all the inside information of how the government works, but I do have a little knowledge of how a democratic system is supposed to work.  The Legislative branch makes the laws, the Executive Branch enforces the law and the Judiciary interprets the law.  Some call the media the fourth branch of the government who’s job it is to inform the people by keeping an eye on all three branches.  This is called the balance of power.  So let’s take a look at what is happening here.

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The Executive Branch appears to be interpreting the laws by restricting who the Attorney General can investigate and what they can offer an opinion on; the legislature is rubber stamping the laws the President makes; the Judiciary refuses to penalize anyone for breaking the law; and the media is owned by a Legislator who is a mouth-piece for the Executive branch and the Legislature.  Folks, this is a broken system.  I know democracy is hard in any world especially a small community but we have lost all sight of a government that is supposed to better the people and society.

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So the question is how did we get here?  To this place in time where the Executive Branch, the majority of the Senate and media are all in one gang?  How did we get to a time when the highest officials act like Kings spending our money on lavish trips and salary increases while we wallow in beer and overpriced betel nut?  Sorry to tell you this folks, we did and continue to do it.  Bottom line is we don’t seem to care.  Sure some people complain, stand up and shout — but the government just laughs.  They have all the power and they are tightening their grip.  I am not going to go into all the details of how the officials are getting away with it but lets face it, Uaeb is watching the buffet table and with no SP and a muffled AG, the people have no way to control him.

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It is up to you folks.  You want increased minimum wage, responsible spending, politicians working for the people (yes they work for you, your taxes pay them), real justice for real crimes, safer streets, better education, more jobs, etc.  Then don’t sell your vote for 50 bucks and a case of beer.  Think about Palau not just your clan.  Think bout your kids and what future you want them to have.

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It is our fault people, now lets fix it.

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With a heavy heart,

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Concerned Citizen