by Rick Lowe
Over the last couple days (here… & here…), I've let a bit of steam off with the suggestion that the election is over therefore in the case of one boisterous politico in the new government (PLP), it's time to settle down and get on with the business of governing, rather than wasting time on combative hyperbole with the opposition (FNM).
The point is the country faces some major challenges and attempting to keep everyone at odds with each other, will only lead to fighting over the "spoils" rather than trying to implement policies that encourage entrepreneurs to create more wealth so everyone will be better off than we already are.
And quite honestly with any success at governing and improving those areas they have control over (government ministries, departments, agencies and services, government deficits and borrowing) they won't have anything to be so defensive about.
But alas, voters have very little control of this and in chapter 3 of Beyond Politics: Markets, Welfare, and the Failure of Bureaucracy, entitled the Unromatic Side of Democracy, the authors, William C. Mitchell and Randy T Simmons remind us of this fact when they say:
"Democratic politics are not really government by the people but rather an intense competition for power by means of votes among contending politicians. In that competition, politicians find it highly rational to engage in obfuscation, play acting, myth making, ritual, the suppression and distortion of information, stimulation of hatred and envy, and the promotion of excessive hopes. Voters find it highly rational to be rationally ignorant, to be governed by ideologies, and to abstain from individual political participation. Thus, in collective choice, everyone is exonerated from responsibility."
I also find it interesting how supporters of either political party defend, make allowances for, and sometimes encourage the hyperbole, "obfuscation, play acting, myth making, ritual, the suppression and distortion of information, stimulation of hatred and envy, and the promotion of excessive hopes."
Maybe one day we'll discuss the merits and demerits of public policy instead of making allowances for our side with this sort of stuff?
Rick,
My recurring thought is in 1967 ? There was white/ capital flight to the Cayman Islands.
The recurring theme seems to be no work permits, no outside competition, and making the Bahamian the business leader.
I benefitted from the lack of competition when we threw the expatriots out. I also went broke. Do believe a free market would benefit our nation. You can always tax the rich.
Our mistake, was in not firing ourselves, and hiring competant managers.
When only the few get rich is when the revolution starts.
I am totally out of touch with our leadership, but I like the new roads and hope we can put the prosperity of our Nation above the individual.