Radix malorum est cupiditas: Greed is the root of all evil.Many of us from the "old school" would probably remember this poignant message from Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale illustrated through the dramatic story of the Three Rioters, who in searching for Death, abandoned the latter, having found a heap of golden florins in their search.Unknown to themselves, they had in fact found Death, for golden florins drove them to murdering one another–such was their greed for gold.
Most men, if not all, succumb to the "love of money," according to this story, of which this current pensions issue is a glaring example, for many who should object to the quantum and the manner of its issuance were quite happy to endorse the bill.
Mind you, no one objects to increases for those who serve the State in important capacities, once they are fair and just, have been arrived at through due process, and presume that others who also serve should benefit from such a precedent. But the many endorsing it were quite prepared to ignore the above criteria just to relieve their claimed "penurious" circumstances.
It was so distasteful having to observe members from both the Government and the Opposition, and even from one whom we have come to respect for her fair and objective comments, trying to rationalise this bill on the grounds of its constitutionality and the irresponsibility of the SRC, inter alia, without once touching on the key issues of the excessive nature of the increases, their method of computation and the issue of the separation of powers.
Where is the character in those who lead, to stand up for a principle, even though it may be self-sacrificial? But there is one to lose more than most in this "love for money" at the expense of all principle, and that is the perceived "alternative government," which, of late, has been thumping the incumbent with its numerous election victories.
This group opposes the Government at virtually every turn–but chose, in this one instance, leader and all, to support it, and to go further, in the case of one member, to describe those opposed to the bill, among them some eminent citizens, as "rats," and to use the SRC as a red herring, describing it as irresponsible, when it would have been the height of irresponsibility for such a body to grant the obscene increases that parliamentarians were seeking to implement.
Whatever elusive approbation this group would have been achieving of late over the incumbent would have certainly been squandered, for in supporting this bill they have clearly demonstrated what politicians truly are: greedy and self-serving, no matter which side of the fence they are on. The electorate, from this inescapable truth, is caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea for this upcoming election.
Dr Errol Benjamin
via e-mail