Marianas Milk-Tuesday

This captures several different versions of the monument-as imagined by me.  We see so much finger-pointing by our so-called leaders, and a few even act like clowns, so the finger-pointing version just seemed a natural.  Mud-slinging happens-Governor Fitial is especially good at it, but so are others.  Those who are ambitious in politics seem to be willing to step on anyone--look at the disaster at CHC, the willingness to have utility rates sky-rocket (and have the poor live without power), the governor's opposition to federal increases in foodstamps.  The poor and sick take the biggest hits.  And then there is the money that seems to lure in even those who might start out with good intentions. 

I personally would have published this one before the final version (which the Variety published yesterday). But I'm not the paper's editor!

Monday Milk

Still raining here...we are in the monsoon season.

I have a whole series of kiosku cartoons, but this is the best, in my opinion.  The CNMI spent a lot of federal dollars in ARRA grant money for the leadership kiosku, which turned into a joke as the committee that decided what names to put on it insisted on adding all their family.  A number of people who were actually convicted of crimes were nominated, and a lot of small people who would hardly qualify as leaders have their names up there.  Meanwhile, the CNMI continues to sink further into economic, political and cultural chaos.  

Our "leaders" have their heads in the sand, at best.  Some are corrupt. Some are seemingly heartless (although it is difficult for even me to say they are in fact).  Some are blinded by loyalty to unworthy people.  Few if any think of principles, only personalities.

I borrowed some of this concept from political cartoons on the web, but added the kiosku arch (which in fact is quite pretty) and the head in the sand ostrich and man.  The little people comment on both the cost and the sorry example that such leaders give for our future generations.

Marianas Milk today

This cartoon intends to show the sacrifices of the most important in our community for the sake of restoring 80 hours of work to government employees.  Cuts in education, CHC, Medicaid, and the benefits contributions are hurting the young, the sick, and the aged.  Instead, we will pay our bloated government payroll.  Politicians make these choices because their priority is re-election, not the good of the community.

The scales are balanced, but the pool of bloody victims is not pretty.

Marianas Milk

I created this cartoon based after the competing rallies--this one from the support Fitial party.  How ironic that they had this big sign complaining of the "do nothing Legislature" when most of the House are completely devoted to doing whatever Governor Fitial wants.  They are his puppets, and of course they do nothing but what he wants. When I first made this cartoon, I labeled the puppets--T. Santos, Basa, and Fred DLG--all illustrious members of the House who seem to be among the Governor's puppets. 

 

This cartoon relates to the fact that the Commonwealth Health Center has been placed on "immediate jeopardy" not once, but in three separate notices. Each one seems focused on more serious and problematic issues than the one before.  At one point after they came out, the newspapers reported how some of the Board members were over at CHC trying to find the CEO, who was not there.  I "borrowed" the lobster content from other Administration figures (press secretary Angel Demapan, insider trading ex-official Mike Ada, the Governor).  The politics makes ordinary people lose their appetite. 

Marianas Milk

This cartoon was inspired by the protest rally photographs of Leila Staffler and the very real irony that many people didn't show up because of fear of retribution.  Even some of the strongest supporters at the protest suggested having a car rally next, because people could not be seen in cars with tinted windows, so would be more willing to participate. 

The little guys with hoods on are based on the protest rallies I witnessed in the 1970's on the campus of University of Kansas, held by Iranians protesting the Shah's policies (before his overthrow).  They always wore balaclavas, usually made from sheets or tee-shirts, because they feared the Shah had his henchmen taking photographs and would hurt their families back home.  In Saipan, in the MV comment section, there were actually Fitial supporters making similar threats--saying people would lose jobs, that there would be photographs taken.  I mean real intimidation is going on here.

Leila Staffler's point is very much one that needs to be supported.

Marianas Milk

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 

This editorial cartoon was inspired by comments in the Variety after the first "immediate jeopardy" notice was issued to CHC by CMS (the federal medicaid/medicare inspectors).  Juan Nekai Babauta, CEO of Commonwealth Health Center had plans to attend some conference off-island.  There was no subsequent report that he actually left island, but he has travelled so often during his public life, including as CEO of CHC while it was deteriorating to its present near-collapse, that his travel-love and callous disregard of CHC make this pictorial comment valid.