Vulgarity in Parliament, bribes, gender-based dismissive remarks...are these the lengths people will go for power? Whatever happened to wanting to run a country for the betterment of the nation and all its people? And let me guess, the response will be "Oh goood, nah." A few jokes will be made; a few conversations had at dinner tables, in bars; the perpetrators will leave the country for a few weeks; storm will blow over and everything will be forgotten; they will return to share in the jokes later.
What will it take T&T for you to get angry? To be so vexed by what is being done to you that you use that anger not for violent means but for purposeful, lawful and meaningful actions to effect change. Throughout all sects of our society, those that would do harm are far too purposeful (and resourceful) and those that mean well, far too passive.
As for the state of our politics and the abandonment of civility and good practice by our elected officials, we have no one but ourselves to blame. It takes a politician a lot less time to come up with a witty put-down of his opponent than it does to come up with a workable plan of action that could be presented to the people.
But if that's all it takes to have an effective campaign and we keep responding positively to the picong and divisiveness, why would they bother? Let the politicians know that we want to be taken seriously. Don't laugh at the jokes/jabs at others. Instead shout and ask:
�2 What is your plan for education, for health care?
�2 What are you going to do about the epidemic of so many young people turning to crime?
�2 How do we know that we can trust you and that you are not one of those benefiting from and allowing the criminal heads to operate?
�2 What is the plan for our overly-dependant-on-oil economy?
�2 How do you plan to ensure transparency and good governance under your watch?
�2 How do you plan to better the relations between govt and the unions and reduce the widening social and economic gaps amongst the people?
They can get their own kicks by talking about the alleged PM's drinking habits or Dr Rowley's Carnival antics, but shout and make it clear that we demand better. No plan, no vote.
Donald