Comments on mustbethehumidity サイパン / Life in Guamtanamo: On waiving the CUC reconnection fee..

To: Marianas Pride Re: the Fitial Admin. suing the...

2008-08-08T05:44:00.000+10:00

To: Marianas Pride Re: the Fitial Admin. suing the federal government and then requesting addionationl $$$.

It's obvious to me that you don't have one clue as to how federal government actually works. Thank goodness we have Howard W. on staff.

The idea, concept and reality that a state government sues the federal government on one hand while requesting funds and getting funds on another IS A NORMAL PROCESS IN DC - you moron. This is normal.

Quit thinking from your small pea size brain to what is obvious in front of ou or what your limited knowledge contains that you seem to rely a lot on. Obviously you don't know how things work.

You assume way too much that the federal government's right hand knows what the left hand is doing.

Ed. for the sake of your reputation in the future -please be quiet. Your ignorance is SHOUTING to those of us who know government.

When Ronald Reagan was Governor of California, one...

2008-07-23T20:21:00.000+10:00

When Ronald Reagan was Governor of California, one of the first things he did was stop mailing out welfare checks. He asked the recipiants to come pick up the checks. Then the able-bodied were told that they would have to accomplish public works in order to qualify for the money.

He put brooms in their hands and lawnmowers as well. The truly disabled were exempt. The first benefit to the economy was that only 50% of the folks who were getting a check in the mail even bothered to show up and register for the new program.

It didn't last long. The ACLU filed a lawsuit and said that people could not be forced to work for their welfare money. End of program due to the ultra liberal judges in California, including the California Supreme Court.

I agree with you Lil. At the very least, let the recipiants accomplish some needed public works like scrubbing betel nut stains from the sidewalks, island beautification, helping out in the head start centers so other mothers can work, etc.

Especially when the retirement fund has no more mo...

2008-07-21T13:05:00.000+10:00

Especially when the retirement fund has no more money to pay for the extraordinarily generous benefits they've promised.

That's not such a far flung joke.. I don't think i...

2008-07-21T10:50:00.000+10:00

That's not such a far flung joke.. I don't think it's too hard to see a future here, where people are depending on money sent in from their relatives in the states.

My house keeper only gets 25 bux of food stamp for...

2008-07-21T09:06:00.000+10:00

My house keeper only gets 25 bux of food stamp for her one child. I think it is more we locals who are getting fat off of this assistance. the non residents NEED it because they get such measley wages. then again, if they didnt send so much of their wages home they would have more to throw around... on that note, maybe we should start making our family members who moved to the states start remitting to us. ya right. that is the difference i guess.

On one hand, we have the Fitial administration sui...

2008-07-21T01:12:00.000+10:00

On one hand, we have the Fitial administration suing the federal government. On the other hand, we have the Fitial administration begging the U.S. for more federal money for food stamps.

Clearly this administration is as confused as a baby momma appearing on the Jerry Springer Show. Who's your daddy?

If I were the federal government, I would want to help out a person suing me as much as I would want to help out Osama Bin Laden find nuclear warheads.

"Eagle Baby's entitlements".. Wow, you're one crud...

2008-07-20T20:26:00.000+10:00

"Eagle Baby's entitlements".. Wow, you're one crude rude individual. They're children.. who happen to be US Citizens, no less or more than any other US Citizen. More where your case is likely concerned. ;}

Did you ever notice that some people used the coin...

2008-07-20T19:55:00.000+10:00

Did you ever notice that some people used the coin changes from food stamp to buy the cigarete..while their kids ask for some snack but they spend the coin on cigaret instead and told the kids that to much potato chips is not good for you and most of these people using food stamps are so fat(sorry no offense)

The Nutritional Assistance Program (NAP) certifica...

2008-07-20T14:23:00.000+10:00

The Nutritional Assistance Program (NAP) certificates don't look like the mainland food stamps pictured above.

The NAP should be going to a debit card soon, if they've not already. I think Guam has already done that.

Guam's public assistance rates might be higher than ours, because Foreign National Workers here do not qualify on their own behalf -- though many are happy to eat most of their Eagle Babies' entitlements.

Food stamps are intended for disabled persons and ...

2008-07-20T07:11:00.000+10:00

Food stamps are intended for disabled persons and children without food. When healthy adults depend on public assistance to feed themselves our community has societal problems not related to finances or economics.

A person who would sit around on their ass for four years drawing food stamps is a disgrace to their family, themselves, and our community...and I am a Democrat. This is especially true if he (?) did not attempt to join the military or merchant marines, seek work in the mainland or abroad, and was not daily and actively seeking work here.

Depending on drawing food stamps, aid to dependent children, welfare, housing and utilities assistance, Medicare, school lunches, and other type aid makes the recipient dependant on the aid and unable to take care of or feed themselves without it.

The CNMI must already be the highest charity recipients on US soil. This is a sad reality.

Food stamp has demorilized our community. Those s...

2008-07-19T20:41:00.000+10:00

Food stamp has demorilized our community. Those should be reserve for the most needed and for disabilities. We must regain our pride and ethic.

How do you wave at the fees...simple. when your b...

2008-07-19T18:28:00.000+10:00

How do you wave at the fees...simple. when your bill comes in place it in front of you and wave at it.

As far as lower fees for low income owners, the same goes for non profit associations.

Let the government pay it's share if they cant then disconnect.

No rule that says the government has to have aircons.

It is funny because it is better not to work and j...

2008-07-19T16:42:00.000+10:00

It is funny because it is better not to work and just get food stamp. I can buy lobster and shrimp and steak while you eat spam. I can even use it to buy the talaya but I don't fish. It is too hot.

Anyway I don't work for four years now. Thank goodness for Uncle Sam.

The CUC bailout once again rewards CUC management ...

2008-07-19T12:25:00.000+10:00

The CUC bailout once again rewards CUC management for its incompetence and corruption.

But who cares? We won't be up in arms until we see an additional fuel charge or other trumped up charge that will make us want to faint.

Whether it's MPLA, CUC, or CPA, anything our government touches turns to crap.

By the way, has CUC or the Fitial administration ever thought about the possibility of our indigenous people filing a lawsuit against MPLT? Last I checked, MPLT was meant for the indigenous people, not for bailing out CUC for its screw ups.

the gov don't want the feds here and don't want th...

2008-07-19T12:17:00.000+10:00

the gov don't want the feds here and don't want them to encroach his power and authority here

don't you guys get it, he wants to plunder the commonwealth if he can't keep his status quo loopholes and crooked arrangement

feds already offered millions 2 years ago but Gov don't want fed control here. He don't want law enforcement here. He don't want US immigration to send home his friends to China.

too late now. legislature already bailed out (ena...

2008-07-19T10:15:00.000+10:00

too late now. legislature already bailed out (enabled) the mismanaged quagmire we call CUC. watch your bill SOAR! and make you sore.

sigh

That is a great idea. I don't know how keen the N...

2008-07-19T05:23:00.000+10:00

That is a great idea. I don't know how keen the Navy or the Feds would be about it?

I'm not all that sold on the wind turbines for production of mass power. We don't have any large open areas, and typhoons (or supertyphoons) might pose a disastrous problem.

Hughes, You are not the first to suggest this and ...

2008-07-18T23:43:00.000+10:00

Hughes, You are not the first to suggest this and it is a damn good idea!

There is a relatively simple way to solve or allev...

2008-07-18T23:04:00.000+10:00

There is a relatively simple way to solve or alleviate the island's present power problems. Make arrangements to use one of the Navy's decommissioned nuclear submarines. Anchor it at Lower Base and attach the output from its generating capacity to the power grid. It would have the advantages of a nuclear power plant without the capital costs and environmental damage constructing one would impose.

This is not a new idea, It was proposed when I was editor of the Variety in the late 80s, but was never followed through on.

Such a plan could buy the island some time to fix its generators, install wind turbines or whatever. Perhaps T. Boone Pickens could be talked into donating some of the hundreds of wind turbines he has purchased for Texas to the CNMI.

David Hughes
Herndon, VA
dhughes@ncc1701.net

:} You can't "wave" at fees?

2008-07-18T20:48:00.000+10:00

:} You can't "wave" at fees?

Fees are “waived,” not “waved.”

2008-07-18T16:25:00.000+10:00

Fees are “waived,” not “waved.”

They get a break with power. I don't remember how...

2008-07-18T16:16:00.000+10:00

They get a break with power. I don't remember how much, but it's a ridiculously low flat rate. Do you know what CUC does when you miss your payment? They charge a reconnection fee, of course your unpaid bill, and then they take your two HIGHEST bills of that year and charge you the total. I did this once years ago, waited until the last possible day and then I couldn't make it because a family member was literally on her death bed at the hospital. My fault entirely, but I never forgot it. Back to the point. I agree, everyone should pay the fee. Glen, some folks on welfare are riddled with self inflicted gun wounds. Not everyone, I'd be ignorant to stereotype but I know a few who enjoy the angus beef barbecues, get paid under the table for work and collect housing benefits too.

Bandaids on a body riddled by a machine gun.. To l...

2008-07-18T15:54:00.000+10:00

Bandaids on a body riddled by a machine gun.. To little to late!

I agree there Goose. There is also assistance ava...

2008-07-18T15:16:00.000+10:00

I agree there Goose. There is also assistance available for no-income power users I think. Liheep (don't ask me what it stands for) Low income home energy something. This is fine for special needs, the very old, and anyone not able to hold a job who lives on their own.. but not for anyone else. At least not for an extended period of time. A couple of months.. no problem. My opinions the same with food stamps.. couple of months between jobs.. no problem. Longer than that, nope. It should be a temporary support system.. not a long-term sustenance program.

The reconnection fee is $75. I paid it once and ne...

2008-07-18T15:07:00.000+10:00

The reconnection fee is $75. I paid it once and never let it go again. Late fees are something like $0.35 so I think the reconnection fee is more than a "relatively minor fee" and that it works.

BTW, if you have no income, should you have power? How will you be able to pay for it? Handouts?