Here's a little about me and where I'm at:
I'm here to work in the only hospital in the CNMI, which regularly is "broke" both financially and in regards to equipment/supplies. We have a 1986 model CT scanner that's usually broken. The hospital regularly runs out of reagent to perform basic labs like CBC, chemistry panel, cardiac enzymes, etc. We haven't paid the radiology bill for so long that the radiologists we work with will have done us all the favors they're willing to do. We have a brand new state of the art wing for hemodialysis that can't be opened because whoever got the huge gov't grant to build it didn't build it to gov't code so now the gov't won't allow it to be opened. Cheaper materials, cut corners, pocket money...the usual story. All the nurses are Filipinos and making about $10/hr if I remember correctly (they pay them ~$6/hr in private clinics here). The government is actually broke and we go paycheck by paycheck to see if we'll get paid on time. Usually the checks come on time, but sometimes the gov't has to wait until it has funds to back up the checks before we receive them. Everything is government owned and operated, which answers a lot of questions one might be prompted to ask. One physician I worked with recently left the island because of rumors that he made some derogatory public statement about the governor. The governor's office confronted him, he denied, he was terminated. This is government run healthcare.
It's as close to 3rd world USA as I've seen: can't drink the tapwater, plywood/cardboard with corrugated steel roof living quarters in many parts. The very rich and the masses of very poor. Unabashed gov't corruption wherever you care to look...just don't say much about it -- so many are related or in on it. Every store accepts food stamps. You can only own a .22, .401, or a .223 (why a .223 and not other types is beyond me). No pistols. Law enforcement carries "illegally" by carrying .45 glock semi auto pistols as standard issue. This is gun control: those who obey the law are never as well armed as the police force or the criminal force. My Saipan legal firearms are still with customs waiting for paperwork. The rest I had to leave in the US. Since the garment factories closed down the economy relies nearly completely on tourism from Japan, China, Russia, and Korea. I'm not sure if the body scanners we now have in the airport will strengthen that industry. US federal gov't took over immigration recently and it's a huge headache for everyone. A large portion of the island population may be forced to relocate back to home country depending on gov't's decision this fall. Most are here remaining from garment industry, many more come as result of companies in Asia that deceive people by charging large sums in order to coordinate travel and arrange a job in Saipan that will allow them to 'apply for green card'. Of course there are no jobs once they arrive, and now they have no money and are stuck on Saipan.
There are really very few liberty minded individuals I've found here, which feels quite lonely. Not even in our branch are there many who share views in the same ballpark. Often I wonder what's to come and how I should best prepare myself and my family for it. It seems this idea that we should be supported by our government / taxes / grants is ingrained into modern psyche so deeply that most people find it completely absurd to see otherwise. I hope to be an active participant on this forum and look forward to getting to e-know you
Come visit Saipan! We have warm clear blue water and beautiful white sand beaches!
