by Rick Lowe
Mr. Alfred Sears, a very likeable guy, is attempting to wrest the leadership of the PLP away from Mr. Perry Christie, the current Prime Minister.
Mr. Christie, in his second non-successive term as Prime Minister, although a pleasant chap as well, has been less than inspiring in moving the government away from destructive public policies.
But I digress.
With the general elections a few short months away, Mr. Sears has released his vision for a revolution. Download it below.
As “manifestos” go around here, it’s quite a good read and I do believe filled with the best of intentions. But that’s where it ends.
Like other declarations from political parties, it tweaks existing public policy and adds some promises of free things, which will continue to move us in the direction of a bloated, expensive behemoth that will weigh the economy down even further.
Sure, there are promises to be fiscally responsible and pass a real freedom of information act etc, but there is no departure from making voters more dependent.
Of all the ideas presented for change, and “gifts”, or to use modern language “investments” to be bestowed on the electorate, there is nary a sentence to be found on the cost to deliver these things and where these funds will come from, like more debt or higher taxation.
This is not to single Mr. Sears out because all political parties write lovely sounding "visions" or manifestos" etc, but none of them quantify the cost of their promises.
Platitudes come a dime a dozen. Implementing them and at what cost and how it will be paid for is the crucial piece of the puzzle that is far too often ignored.
