Rick Lowe
General elections are no further than two months away and the debate centres on how bad everyone is.
The Prime Minister is a "dictator" and the leader of the Opposition is a "ditherer".
Well we already know what the FNM have accomplished in the last five years and what the modern incarnation of the PLP did in their last five years, but what we don't know is what either party plans to do should they win the next government.
Frankly it's a bit discouraging that at this late date we are only getting a lot of rhetoric, symbolism over substance if you will.
Oh sure, the hype at a rally that if elected they will help us or they will put us first might be necessary from an entertainment perspective, but that tells us nothing about the policies they will pursue nor how they will be paid for.
Meanwhile, we have well over 150 government departments, agencies and ministries that are struggling to do their jobs that would be done better if they were privatised, but, as Thomas Sowell reminded us; "Mystical references to society and its programs to help may warm the hearts of the gullible but what it really means is putting more power in the hands of bureaucrats."
For thinking Bahamians anyway, symbolism, nor government bureaucracies will solve our problems. If we don't set about demanding that government does the job it was mandated to in the Constitution how long before it fails like Greece and other countries have done and are doing? Crushed by the civil services own inefficiency and indifference.
It's time for us to take personal responsibility for ourselves and expect less of the political class. When they come with their promises ask them who will eventually have to pay for it by taxes, inflation or both.
In case you don't know, it's you and me my fellow Bahamians.
Let's start by demanding some reasonable discussion about public policy and how they might improve what we have before thinking about adding to it.
Better still, let's start talking about how we can reduce the size of the government we already have, not make it larger.
Rick,
I could not agree with you more. A downsized Government would make for a happy citizenry. Privatization of certain segments of Government, sounds like an excellent idea. Also, more autonomy should be given to the more advanced local councils, thus shrinking Central Government even more.
Very true Rick.Divide the Island into three,west,central & east.All we need are three,maybe four at the most reps for each area.Why do we need more than that ? They don’t want to change it because their opportunities to “cash in” become a bit smaller in my opinion.We need local government right here.I for one am sick & tired of them all.Their priorities do not seem to be in the right place to me.