BY: DONALD SEVILLA
A STATE OF CONFUSION?
Politics is messy business and nowhere can it be more felt than in the local setting. Party and principled politics appear to be a thing of the past as allegiances and loyalties crisscross party lines like a tangled spider’s web.
Loyalty to a party ends where one’s personal interest is threatened. Because of this, navigating politics’ treacherous waters is made even more difficult and challenging.
In the local setting almost all politicians gravitate towards the administration in an apparent attempt to gain favor with the ruling party. As this happens, erstwhile enemies now become allies and vice versa.
Such is the reality where principle and integrity are not primordial but survival is.
At the end of the day who eventually suffers?
We cannot expect a system like this to breed excellent leaders with impeccable character and integrity. Honor becomes a thing of the past as self- preservation is key.
Public service suffers as it is replaced by service to one’s self. Thus, we see politicians having no qualms to enriching themselves at our expense. Corruption and entitlement become the norm and perpetuating oneself in power is the end game.
Except for a few, most of the eggs in the basket are rotten. Yet this is our greatest challenge, to break free from a system that has enslaved us. It may not happen in our lifetime but a journey starts with small steps.
It is important that we are made aware and acknowledge that something must be done. We cannot solve all our problens outright but we must try.
As our politics is chaotic we must learn to read between the lines and be discerning. Our local politicians have aligned themselves under the administration party yet they are running against one another.
Are they running for office with our welfare in mind? Confusing? Naye, we all know where we stand !