Rick Lowe
Every few years political buzz words and phrases start making the rounds again in the political lexicon.
Words like accountability, and empowerment reappear, along with phrases like The Bahamas for Bahamians and encouragement for Bahamian's to own more of the economy, are all trotted out to audiences that swallow them up without much thought.
Government and or opposition members of parliament can draft simple legislation on accountability or freedom of information and present them as a private members bill for debate without much fuss.
As far as empowerment and encouragement for Bahamians to own more of the economy (which may both mean the same thing), the politicos simply need to articulate how they propose doing them. Again, it seems a pretty straight forward thing to me, unless they're not really sure what they mean either?
Oh and while they're at it, why not tell us how they will reduce the public debt and deficits and make public education work as well.
Until they show me what it is they intend to do – so one can determine if their approach – it's all rhetoric and I'm too old to get all giddy about stock political words and phrases any more.
Buzz words and phrases don't cut it.
I believe a good question to ask is whether or not empowerment should be based on internal or external factors. The Chairman of the PLP recently mentioned that the majority owner of C&W, Temasek, is ran by the Singaporean government. One can argue that the Singaporean government did not set-up Temasek to empower its people, but it was the result of its people being self-empowered. Empowerment is not based on what one has, but the conflictions and determination one has. However, the 80-20 principle can also be applied to this concept.
Ah yes, the time of year where I start to feel like a sanitation engineer standing under a very large grey (or worse) water pipe that has burst!!
It is getting tougher and tougher for them to avoid the truth however, even within their own core support groups.
I find that I cannot buy into the garbage the Bahamian public is being fed and seem willing as always to buy.
Thanks gents:
You are correct Bay Street, that determination plays a significant role, but people are simply different.
What you might be driven to do, or take a risk at, I might be completely averse to it.
That’s one reason the sub title to this blog is Human Action, not Political Design.
And yes Chris, we can rest assured it will be flowing from all and sundry :o)