They don't call this the silly season for nothing.
Social media has added another dimension to our politics.
With so many people now getting their information from Facebook and through WhatsApp, the spinners have moved into high gear, churning out memes at lightening speed, attacking people maliciously and antonymously in a most cowardly fashion, and dumbing down the national discourse ahead of the May 10 election.
While social media and the tools of modern technology are helping politicians to quickly target a certain segment of voters, a dangerous element has also been introduced in a more forceful fashion this election season.
Facts are being distorted.
Lies are being told.
Reputations are being harmed.
Some are actively engaged in the smear; others are salivating as they watch these attacks. The most recent round circulated on social media yesterday, targeting several outstanding Bahamian citizens for their affiliation with the governing party.
We speak specifically about the "PLP wheel of fortune" memes posted on the Facebook page 'We Care Bahamas'.
It appears to be a popular page, but it is unclear who is behind it.
We Care Bahamas asks: "Why are these same people always on the PLP money wheel of fortune?"
One of the memes targets Lady Sharon Wilson.
She is the wife of prominent Bahamian businessman Sir Franklyn Wilson, as noted in the meme.
It also points out that she served as Senate president and headed the 'Yes Bahamas' campaign ahead of the failed gender equality referendum last year.
It said she headed the PLP's platform committee, and was chairwoman of the transition group from College of The Bahamas to University of The Bahamas.
"What does she know that no one else does that she seems to get all of these top appointments?" the meme asks.
It adds: "Imagine what Christie has lined up for these favorites if he should get another term. Don't you think they have had enough?"
Another meme points to Baha Mar executive Robert Sands, who has had a distinguished career in the tourism industry in The Bahamas.
The meme says, "No matter what happens he gets what he wants from [Prime Minister Perry] Christie. Still the Christie gopher at Baha Mar."
While one person commenting on the post claimed the PLP was engaged in a "wheel of mischief and devious machinations", another said, "Sorry, I have to disagree. Sandy is a good man. and I know that personally."
Another added, "Sandy Sands is an experienced, well seasoned hotelier and if I had a choice he would have also been my top pick to be one of the persons at the helm at Baha Mar."
It is unfortunate that so many these days are using social media to launch smear campaigns on upstanding Bahamian citizens.
People have been targeted from all sides of the political divide.
Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday that leaders of political parties should send a clear message that such a "race to the bottom" will not be tolerated.
Sadly we know, however, that some are prepared to win at any cost.
Cash said he saw the meme attacking the Senate president, who is not a candidate for office and whose credibility at the bar has not been questioned.
He found it incredible that she is being attacked for her service in the Senate, her role in the gender equality campaign and her reported role in The College of The Bahamas' transition to university status.
"...When we permit our politics to get to the level where that level of personal sacrifice is vilified and demonized, you have to call into question the integrity of the people who are supporting these kinds of things because that's not what a good (candidate for) prime minister ought to be condoning," Cash said.
"And I'm not suggesting that anyone who is in opposition to the PLP who is a leader is condoning it, but I'm saying these are the kinds of things that me as a Killarney voter expects of the person who wants to lead me and be prime minister.
"And it is that level of campaigning that I believe leaders of political organizations have a duty to disassociate themselves from and not only to disassociate themselves from, but to repudiate because that in my opinion is a race to the bottom.
"It's not going to make us great as a country. It's not going to certainly help us to come together after the general election is over.
"And so, in making the case for the kind of leader he wants to be [FNM Leader Dr. Hubert] Minnis has a duty to make sure that his voice is heard on these and other issues."
With three weeks remaining before the general election, it would be helpful if leaders of political parties take strong positions against personal attacks, like the ones we mentioned.
The prime minister set the right tone when he announced the general election date last week.
"Let us contest the forthcoming elections with all the vigor at our command. Let us do so, however, with respect for the human dignity of our opponents, and with respect for the traditions we all hold dear," Christie said.
This should be a constant call from our leaders as the campaign season could get messier in the coming days.
At the end of the day, after the ballots are counted, the new government sworn in and the new Parliament convenes, we will still live in The Bahamas, among each other.
It is our shared country.
We are all Bahamians.
We should be seeing greater maturity in our politics.
The smear is not only wrong; it could have unintended consequences for those engaged in it.

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