Stop the Presses

I almost fell out of my chair today. Bruce Bateman expressed genuine sympathy for the poor in his column. Olive, was Bruce typing after a few mojitos? Am I and Bree and others having some small influence on the big softy? It really didn't even merge into some anti-government statement, though he did segue into something that I think is sensible as a solution: a casino on Saipan. Good job Bruce. This is your first column I 100 percent agree with. Watch out for lightning.

"In a discussion with a candidate for public office recently, an amazing fact was revealed to me. The candidate has been canvassing door-to-door for some time and has entered and talked with more than 500 households representing more than 3000 CNMI residents. What he has found is astounding. He estimates that on average, one household in three in his election district is without electric power and by default, also without water because they cannot afford to pay. He said in some poorer neighborhoods the number is much higher, up to 90 percent without utilitiesPlease bear in mind this is not a controlled, scientific survey, but a dedicated house by house straw poll. Even though we can't deduce from these findings that all of Saipan or all of the CNMI is in such dire straights, we can and should be aghast that such deprivation exists anywhere in our Commonwealth."