The Struggle for Self-Government

Every man, and every body of men on earth, possesses the right of self-government." --Thomas Jefferson

And, what - pray tell - is self-government? Here's a definition from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary for you to chew on:

government under the control and direction of the inhabitants of a political unit rather than by an outside authority ; broadly : control of one's own affairs

In the Virgin Islands - despite the appearance of a local government - as an unincorporated territory, we are governed by an outside authority in Washington, D.C.

an unincorporated territory is an area under U.S. jurisdiction, to which Congress has determined that only select parts of the U.S. Constitution apply. Unincorporated territories are essentially colonies, under the supremacy clause, receiving only whatever powers are offered by the U.S. Congress.

Did you know that we are not fully protected by the Constitution? As "essentially" a colony, the Virgin Islands clearly lacks self-government. And, without self-go vernment we lack Liberty! Without full constitutional protections, the responsibility lies with us to order our own affairs.

Right now, I'm reading Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. And, tonight I read something of great importance to our present situation:

Plymouth, Providence, New Haven, Connecticut, and Rhode Island were founded without the help, and almost without the knowledge, of the mother country. The new settlers did not derive their powers from the head of the empire, although they did not deny its supremacy; they constituted themselves into a society, and it was not till thirty or forty years afterwards...that their existence was legally recognized by a royal charter.

Why do we continue to wait for the assistance of a government that has no intention of seeing our incorporation into the mother country? We do not derive our powers from the federal government. But, as Thomas Jefferson said:

Of critical importance is this:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Our rights are not given to us by the federal government, but by God. And, we do not derive our power from the federal government but from the consent of the governed. Have you given the federal government your consent to be governed? Have you given the Virgin Islands Government your consent? Have you even thought about it? Is it not tyranny to be governed without your consent?

Yet, who is speaking for our right to self-government? Has the Governor argued for it? Or better, has our "representative" argued for it?

Here's the example of former Alaska Delegate to Congress (before statehood) Anthony J. Dimond:

In Alaska we have often complained of the long-range government from Washington, which in many respects is the only kind of government possible under our territorial status. We have talked disparagingly about "bureaus" and "bureaucrats" and have denounced the ineptitude of both. Therefore, I suggest that the people of Alaska should, and do, ardently desire statehood unless economic or other considerations still prevent the accomplishment of that ambition. We all know that we can do a better job in taking care of our own affairs than can be done by some secretary of a department, or chief of an agency, or head of a bureau, whose o ffice is in Washington, D.C., and who necessarily is lacking intimate, first-hand knowledge of a country so far away from Washington as Alaska.

Could not the same be said for us? Should not the same be said? Are we not plagued by unaccountable third-party fiduciaries, and receiverships? (Please read those articles.) Yet, as I search the website of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs (Chaired by Delegate Christensen), I find no definitive stance on the prom otion of self-government. So who will stand for a government by our consent?
With no one standing for us, it is clear that the statement is true: "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..."

Is it not time for us to institute new Government, at last with the consent of the governed?

Answer the call: Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!

Am I the Only One Who Finds this stuff CRAZY?!

Question: Should the Virgin Islands Senators be sponsoring and the Legislature be passing bills to specifically (and solely) benefit a special interest? Did we not learn from the ordeal with Jeffery Prosser and Innovative Communications?

Here's a list of articles you should open in a browser and read through:

• http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212902277
• http://new.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212901356
• http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17627849
• http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17628590

Ok, now let's talk this through.

First, I've heard of earmarks. But, the process in the Virgin Islands is "earmarks on steroids!"

From Wikipedia, we see how the Congressional Research Service defines earmarks:

Provisions associated with legislation (appropriations or general legislation) that specify certain congressional spending priorities or in revenue bills that apply to a very limited number of individuals or entities. Earmarks may appear in either the legislative text or report language (committee reports accompanying reported bills and joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report).

This Wikipedia post goes on to say:

Earmarking differs from the broader appropriations process, defined in the Constitution, in which Congress grants a yearly lump sum of money to a Federal agency. These monies are allocated by the agency according to its legal authority and internal budgeting process. With an earmark, Congress has given itself the ability to direct a specified amount of money from an agency's budget to be spent on a particular project, without the Members of Congress having to identify themselves or the project.

Also, an earmark is not a bill. It is an attachment to a bill. Why are we passing $33.4 Million dollars in nonexistent funds specifically for a special interest?

And then, what is the point of the University of the Virgin Islands?

I thought communities had universities to educate the community and serve as scholars on community issues. But, here's what the Source quoted James Rakocy, professor of aquaculture at the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station as having to say:

With my 28 years in aquaculture, I have strong desire to see an aquaculture project on St. Croix. However, my 28 years in aquaculture leaves me to question the viability of this plan.

Professor Rakocy went on to describe other potential problems with this plan, even citing a string of large-scale operations that have gone bankrupt. Yet, the VI Legislature preferred to take the word of Addison Lawrence of Texas A&M University who "assured senators that this industry - based on the plan as well as the land and climate of St. Croix - would be successful."

Herein lies the problem: no standards, no RFPs, no guidelines, no studies., no accountability..only the whims of the Virgin Islands Legislature. What is the purpose of any other government agency (in this case - PFA)? Why not let the Legislature (with their track record of graft) decide it all?

With a proper appropriations process, funding would be allocated to the various agencies of the Virgin Islands Government. Those agencies would be responsible for allocating funds for various projects through (hopefully) appropriate and accountable policies and proceedures. And, despite its problems, at least an earmark must be sought during the budget and appropriation processes.

Sometimes, we will see industry bailouts. Or, as we see this morning - the bailout of AIG. Yet, knee-jerk reactions that place burdens on taxpayers, do not justify bonehead planning that places burdens on other taxpayers. That too is crazy, though...for the same reasons (see here). But, this situation isn't even a bailout. This is a gift!

So, here we are: outside of the budget & appropriations periods, legislating how money should be spent and with whom it should be spent. What chance do we have in the Virgin Islands when this is the standard? What should we do? Let me hear from you...

Answer the call: Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!

Does the Virgin Islands Flag Call for Revolution?!

I just posted my voki to the left.

And, as I look at my avatar standing in front of the Virgin Islands flag I couldn't help but remember the meaning - symbolism - of the flag.

In the VI flag, we find a copy of the United States Seal.

If you read from Wikipedia, you will find the following:

The main figure on the obverse (or front) of the seal is the coat of arms of the United States, a bald eagle with its wings outstretched (or "displayed," in heraldic terms). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon, (referring to the 13 original states), and an olive branch, in its right talon, together symbolizing that the United States of America has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war."

If you look at the Virgin Islands Flag, you will find three (3) arrows in the left talon. Obviously, that refers to the 3 islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix).
And, here's how some have described the symbolism of the eagle:

The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond...

Thus the eagle, full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, has become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and thought and an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future.

So, what does this mean for us as Virgin Islanders?

Well, one assessment is that the Virgin Islands is to have "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war." And, what war is that? Well, the eagle tells us - "an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future." Are you ready?

Have we reached the finish line? Do we - as Virgin Islanders - have the freedom to fully expand into the future? Or, are there things that limit us? What do you think?

I'm looking for a Virgin Islanders who are passionate for the Virgin Islands! Are you one of them? If so, subscribe to this blog! Leave us your thoughts!

Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!

The Role of a Constitution

It has come to my attention that some may not know the role of a constitution and why it is important. And, that's not our fault...but we live in a culture that has detached itself from the American Constitution. So, how can we expect to understand the importance of such a document?

Here's an article that can help you understand the role of a constitution much better than I ever could: http://www.fff.org/freedom/0801a.asp

Now, as he said: "a constitution has a dual purpose: to call into existence a government but, at the same time, to limit the powers of that government." Therefore, without a constitution we could say that a people do not have a government. Or, we could say that, that people do not have any way to limit the powers of government.

We have seen the excesses of our Virgin Islands Government, right? It would be great to have a way to hold the government accountable, right? So, would you not agree that we need a means by which to hold it accountable and limit its power?

Right now, we have no way to hold the Virgin Islands Government accountable. A constitution will give us the tools to ensure that we can control the Government and thus the direction of the Virgin Islands. Do you like the way things are going in the Virgin Islands?

If not...


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Do Virgin Islanders Deserve a Constitution?

Ok...I was frustrated before, and those frustrations keep mounting.

I just read an article in the St. Thomas Source about the Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention and their deliberations over public education. You can read the article.

In this article, the Source describes a plenary session of delegates to discuss constitutional provisions to construct the Board of Education in the Virgin Islands. What?! Yes, they are drafting text to outline what the Board of Education should look like - in a constitutional document.

When I presented to the Delegates to Convention, I told them that many of the issues they are fighting over should not - and do not need to - be addressed in a constitution.

One of the delegates - Douglas Brady sets the tone for what has always been my argument with the delegates:

What you just read seems to me like a regulation from the Department of Labor. Which is exactly where a lot of this language should be. This is not constitutional stuff. We should be laying out the framework of the government and then the government in place puts in the fine details. (emphasis mine)

I couldn't agree more. A Constitution is the framework for laws and regulations...it is neither law nor regulation.

The Delegates to the US Constitutional Convention were not government officials. The Framers of the US Constitution were not (originally) legislators; they were Revolutionaries. The delegates to the various State Conventions were also revolutionaries. There were no governments at the times these conventions were being held. Even under Reconstruction, the governments that existed were viewed as Rebel Governments and thus invalid. So, those delegates were also Revolutionaries. These delegates weren't there to craft legislation. They were crafting revolution! They left the legislation to the Government they were founding.

The Delegates to the Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention have yet to realize that they are, in fact, Revolutionaries. Our delegates are caught treating the Constitution as a piece of legislation - worrying about issues that should be dealt with in a legislative body. They are to be founding a new Government - not reforming an old one. Yet, they are at the whim of the VI Legislature that is fundamentally opposed to the success of a Convention. The Legislature may say they are for a VI Constitution, however most of them are surely against it as order and accountability that come from structure (a Constitution) will - possibly - mean less graft and corruption.

One official in Governor de Jongh's cabinet actually told me that he prefers the Virgin Islands to adopt the Revised Organic Act of 1954 as our fundamental document! Yes, one of the people entrusted to lead Virgin Islanders advocates that the Virgin Islands be governed by a document written by Congress - and people with no vested interest in the Virgin Islands. With the Organic Act, it will take an act of Congress to change anything - on the ground - in the Virgin Islands...and we know how quickly that will happen.

Do Virgin Islanders deserve a Constitution? Did Britain write the US Constitution? Did the Federal Government write the Constitution of Delaware, Virginia, Florida, Georgia or any of the fifty states? So, why should the Federal Government write our founding document? As a matter of fact, can we even say that the Virgin Islands have truly been established until we craft our own document?

How can Delegate to Convention expect the Government of the Virgin Islands to support the creation of a document that will curtail their power? I'm not so sure that will happen. Could that be the reason we are now in our Fifth Constitutional Convention? Could that be why this convention is struggling? Just a thought...

Freedom and Liberty are things we must fight for, and they are things that the Government will not give to the people. Freedom comes when people seize the moment and take control of their own destiny. Are you willing to do the work to the freedom of Virgin Islanders?

What do you think about a Constitution for the Virgin Islands? Do we need one? Should we simply adopt the Organic Act, written by Congress? Do you think a Constitution will be of benefit to the Virgin Islands?

Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!

RNC Convention Recap

Alright, the Convention is over. It was a great experience for numerous reasons. And, I need to be sure I report what you don't hear.

I saw the posting of Meagan Poinski - who was embedded with the Delegation. She did a good job procuring comments from the Delegation. And, I think Virgin Islanders would have also benefited from reading more about how the efforts of the Delegation applied to the Virgin Islands...or not.

There were some of us who were so busy flag-waving and screaming that we didn't make any headway for the Virgin Islands. For some of us, it was simply the benefit of hobnobbing for hobnobbing's sake.

Yet, there were some of us who were there fighting tooth and nail for the Virgin Islands, and have been rubbing elbows with power brokers with the sole purpose of cashing in political capital for the benefit of Virgin Islanders.

In the end, what we as Virgin Islander must understand is that we're getting screwed from both sides. To date, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have granted us a vote in Congress. To date, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have enacted a policy agenda to address the myriad problems faced by the Virgin Islands.

We must understand that the situation in the Virgin Islands - our political status - demands that we have Virgin Islanders on both sides. But, those Virgin Islanders must be committed to the prosperity of the Virgin Islands and Virgin Islanders (and that's whether they are Democrat or Republican).

It's time to get serious about this, y'all...our people have waited for Liberty for too long!

Virgin Islands for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!

Give Us Our Space - Respect Our Place

Tonight from the RNC, I experienced a metaphor of the quintessential Virgin Islands experience. And, all I can say to the powers that be is:

As we stood in the designated spot for the US Virgin Islands on the Convention Floor, our aream became inundated by the press. Our location was directly in front of the "VIP Section," and the press was hoping to garner great shots of Sarah Palin's family.

So much press crowded around the small area for the Virgin Islands, that we were being pushed out of our space. In addition, the area was so crowded that no one could move in either direction. Security came by to clear the confusion. However instead of moving the press, they decided we needed to make room.

We ended up sharing space designated for the Virgin Islands. Soon, our space was overrun...the press had taken control. There was nothing our small delegation could do about it. There was nothing that anyone else would do to assist our predicament.

Here's the metaphor:

We are a small colony - I mean territory - of the United States. And, just as we were disrespected on the Floor of the RNC, we are disrespected in this Country. Yet - even more strangely - we continue to wait for those who disrespect us to act in our favor!

Well, let me tell you: we will not have the pleasure of their respect until we take it.

It behooves us as Virgin Islanders to "join or die."

We must join together and stand up for our beloved homeland. Because of our apathy, our land is ripe with corruption. Due to that corruption, we are subject to greater and greater encroachments upon our liberty. Because of these offenses, we are forced to seek an existence in a community other than our own.

ENOUGH!

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Virgin Islanders for the Virgin Islanders...those at home and those abroad!