Thursday, March 28, 2024

NO LAUGHING MATTER: We reaped what we sowed

Date:

Share post:

Should you vote for who you want to rule you or for who wants to rule you?
There are those who already have a job yet want the job of being your political representative. What is their motivation? Is it to help the country grow? Is it to see what they can get out of it for themselves? Or is it just for the power?
Why must politics be run the way it is? Must it always be riddled with suspicion of dishonesty, lies, corruption and bribery?
Since the politician is elected and re-elected by the votes of the people, can’t the people vote for a person who is above the above-mentioned suspicions? Is it that an honest politician does not “fit the bill”?
If it is that the people expect and accept that the person who is squeaky clean will not make a good politician, then it must be a reflection of the society we live in.
We blame the politician but in fact it is the people who are guilty. They hold the power by way of numbers to demand how the politician behaves and how he or she works.
When you accept money for your vote, you have prostituted yourself and have taken part in bribery – “the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of something of value for the purpose of influencing the action of an official in the discharge of his or her public or legal duties”.
The law explains that “the expectation of a particular voluntary action in return is what makes the difference between a bribe and a private demonstration of goodwill. To offer or provide payment in order to persuade someone with a responsibility to betray that responsibility is known as seeking undue influence over that person’s actions”.
“When someone with power seeks payment in exchange for certain actions, that person is said to be peddling influence. Regardless of who initiates the deal, either party to an act of bribery can be found guilty of the crime independently of the other.”
Therefore, you are just as guilty as the politician when you accept money or gifts for your vote.
You are just as guilty when you take a job as a favour for the vote that you have given or intend to give. And even more so when you are paid for doing nothing.
When I think of what our forefathers went through so that we could vote – and then for us to sell it! What whorism!
When a politician buys your vote, does he owe you anything? He is not obligated to you. You have been paid – even bought.
People are not born having a profession. They are first human beings with genetic and then environmental influences. My feeling is that most people who are attracted to politics are in possession of tendencies which when manifested are seen to be in line with what is expected of politicians. In essence, a politician is a product of the society.
Do we check the background of these people and choose those whose records suggest they can be trusted not to take “kick-backs”; not to buy votes; not to send people to work in jobs where there is nothing to do, thereby putting a strain on the economy by paying them for non-production?
The Prime Minister said: “I will not be corrupted.”
I noticed that he spoke only for himself. Are the others willing to make such promises?
It is felt that a large number of the 3 000 workers who are to be laid off were political appointees in the first place – just placed there to get money with hardly any work to do, which would guarantee the election of the politician in the following election.
This is deemed to be a practice by both parties, but now it has sucked the economy dry.
The talk was “get a Government job and cool out”.
Why can’t Government jobs be handled like those in the private sector, with employees coming to work on time and giving a full day’s work of production? Is there no pride in that?
When you practise doing good, you become good at doing good; when you practise doing bad, you become good at doing bad; when you practise being lazy, you become good at being lazy; when you practise non-production, you become good at non-production.
Now the country has collapsed and some people don’t seem to know what to do. There is a saying: Necessity is the mother of invention. Don’t panic! Stop and think! Think of survival. Think of your talents. Everyone has a talent. Be creative. Believe in yourself. Be confident. Help yourself. Use your talent.
If you sow differently, you will reap differently.
• Mac Fingall is an entertainer and retired secondary schoolteacher. Email scouds@yahoo.com.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

Guilty of having sex with minor

The St Michael man who was earlier this month on trial in the No. 4A Supreme Court, accused...

Disgraced ‘Crypto King’ to be sentenced

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former billionaire crypto boss who was convicted of fraud and money laundering last year, will...

Lester Vaughan update coming

One month after the closure of Lester Vaughan School, teachers and concerned parents will have a chance to...

Gayle and T20 trophy ‘on top of the world’!

Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle lit up the iconic Empire State Building in New York recently as...