Dear Editor,
 
Voters will never know what the new political candidates are offering until they get those candidates to sit down and talk to them.  But, many of the candidates are not prepared to talk, or have nothing to say unless that 'talk' takes a particular line.  The ability to communicate is very important and some of the fresh blood who want to talk are finding out stuff that they did not know about their political organizations, their opponents or themselves.
Communication that goes beyond the stupidity that you hear coming out of the mouths of the many foot soldiers is very necessary as prospective, would-be leaders attempt to sway the many constituents in the nation to their side and away from the other political suitors.  However, there is some misinformation going around or being put out for public consideration.  If you listen closely to what is being propagated, the upcoming election is set against the backdrop of the 1970s and we as a nation are just coming of age.
More than 40 years of social, economic and political advancement is being pushed to the side and it is being proposed that the present administration has done nothing for the Bahamian electorate, and this is a lie.  But, here is a truth: the greed, need and prejudices of the Bahamian are being politicized and the baser negatives of the human psyche are being played upon by those who are educated enough to know better - but in the name political expediency they push forward.
This may be a shocking year.  This could be the year when the Bahamian voter sends the message that our national identity will not be defined by any political ideology, no matter how much they lie to us about their opponents.  It must be noted that an unusual number of these persons that we see in public as adversaries are also partners in business, godparents for each others children, sit down to eat at the same table, attend the same parties and at times get drunk together.
I will not get into the part about how a significant percentage of the real estate and property that is being rented by the government is owned by politicians or former politicians on all sides of the political divide.  Have you observed that politics has more sides than you can count?
When the fellows show up on your porch this year, take some time to get your questions in order and make the questions relevant to what you perceive their motives to be; especially if their offerings point an accusing finger at the fellow they are up against.  You may be accused of being judgemental, but remind them that with few exceptions most politicians have sounded just like them - starting out.
If you are not prepared for them and you foresee difficulties, get some black pepper or a couple of wasp nests for your potcake.  With so much on the national table, the plea to "give someone else a chance" has a very hollow ring to it.  It is time to articulate in very clear terms what we want, what is needed and where we want to go; and those who want to lead must have some relevant answers.
 
- Edward Hutcheson

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian