The farcical constitutional convention continues and has proven to be nothing but a bore fest. I have tried to stay awake during the radio coverage, I have tried not to let my mind drift when reading the updates on here and in Samoa News and while I am hiding my yawns, I ask myself, is anything getting accomplished? It seems to me that these fossils are just enjoying a forum where they can impress one another. I feel like I am watching a 2 week long fono hearing on KVZK.
Again, Is there progress? I defy anyone reading this to show me real progress in revising our constitution? Also, interesting how Mauga supressed any dialogue about the most pertinent issue in the territory... that being our future status with the United States. This is at the forefront of every delegates mind (well, the one's that haven't succumbed to memory loss given the median age there is about 70 years old)
These delegates that we see at Con-Con are nothing but senior matai's that Togiola bought off during elections. e.g. Mauga stifling any discussion about political status. In fact, let's look at the folks running this circus: before the '08 elections, Satele's land was plastered with Togiola banners - same with Mauga and Afoa... well we all know how he sold out when he got trumped by Abe with the hopes of getting the LT gig when Faoa was supposed to go to jail.
When Togiola was confronted by the Rick Petri and Jim McGuire letters about the archaic representation at Con Con, he once again hides behind the Fa'a Samoa. Anyone with half a brain knows that these long term Palagi residents in the private sector have done more for the territory economically than the majority of the delegates.
This feels like another long winded fono hearing where you have a bunch of old farts pontificating, but nothing is really getting done. I'll leave you with one final example - all controversial disccussions today surrounding the constitution (or those that put our leaders on the hot seat) have been tabled until Friday, the second to the last day of the convention, where they'll be undoubtedly dismissed or raised in a "future forum". I wonder how many of these delegates will still be around when that happens? In closing, watching KVZK's coverage of con-con is like watching a cross between a bingo match at a retirement village and payday at the TAOA offices.
