Dear Editor,
Expressing himself in a somewhat crude manner is one of Mr Everald Warmington's traits, and his recent suggestion that non-voters should not receive public assistance must be rejected.
Some may argue that individuals who do not participate in national affairs have no right to complain about the failures of the State because they refuse to effect change by voting. But non-voters also pay taxes. And since Jamaica is a democracy, all opinions will be tolerated.
Unlike America, where the average voter is more educated than a non-voter and politics is dominated by the middle class, Jamaica's political arena is controlled by tribalists and government dependents. This situation has resulted in deep corruption, and by refusing to exercise their rights, conscious Jamaicans have allowed undesirables to contaminate the system, transforming it into a feeding trough.
So, Mr Warmington is somewhat correct: by ignoring politics sensible Jamaicans have ceded authority to undesirables who are only interested in government largesse. Furthermore, when the voices of reason exit the political realm, it provides lawmakers with an incentive to be lazy, because their supporters who vote have no interest in lobbying for serious issues.
Unfortunately, too many persons are interested in condemning Warmington, thus avoiding the bigger picture, but then again Jamaicans enjoy majoring in the minor. The problem is not what was said, but the speaker. When Roger Clarke told a large audience of housing recipients that they should remember to elect his party in the upcoming general election since homes were granted to them during the tenure of a PNP administration, public backlash was not extensive. Roger Clarke may be a more jovial personality than Warmington, but that does not give citizens an excuse not to condemn him for an asinine comment.
When too much energy is directed at Warmington, and his fellow politicians are not equally criticised, his critics lose credibility. Instead of providing Warmington with attention for being his usually crude self, we should focus on what Mr Anthony Hylton is not saying. Last year the minister declared that his ministry had identified investors for an economic zone and the provision of jobs was inevitable. But notwithstanding a few pronouncements from the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, we have heard nothing of substance from the minister. Warmington's latest spectacle was just a distraction and too many people are eating the bait. It should, therefore, not surprise us when nothing gets done in Jamaica, because most citizens only care about political episodes not tangible issues that can actually make a difference in their lives.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Distraction politics -- pay Warmington no mind
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Expressing himself in a somewhat crude manner is one of Mr Everald Warmington's traits, and his recent suggestion that non-voters should not receive public assistance must be rejected.
Some may argue that individuals who do not participate in national affairs have no right to complain about the failures of the State because they refuse to effect change by voting. But non-voters also pay taxes. And since Jamaica is a democracy, all opinions will be tolerated.
Unlike America, where the average voter is more educated than a non-voter and politics is dominated by the middle class, Jamaica's political arena is controlled by tribalists and government dependents. This situation has resulted in deep corruption, and by refusing to exercise their rights, conscious Jamaicans have allowed undesirables to contaminate the system, transforming it into a feeding trough.
So, Mr Warmington is somewhat correct: by ignoring politics sensible Jamaicans have ceded authority to undesirables who are only interested in government largesse. Furthermore, when the voices of reason exit the political realm, it provides lawmakers with an incentive to be lazy, because their supporters who vote have no interest in lobbying for serious issues.
Unfortunately, too many persons are interested in condemning Warmington, thus avoiding the bigger picture, but then again Jamaicans enjoy majoring in the minor. The problem is not what was said, but the speaker. When Roger Clarke told a large audience of housing recipients that they should remember to elect his party in the upcoming general election since homes were granted to them during the tenure of a PNP administration, public backlash was not extensive. Roger Clarke may be a more jovial personality than Warmington, but that does not give citizens an excuse not to condemn him for an asinine comment.
When too much energy is directed at Warmington, and his fellow politicians are not equally criticised, his critics lose credibility. Instead of providing Warmington with attention for being his usually crude self, we should focus on what Mr Anthony Hylton is not saying. Last year the minister declared that his ministry had identified investors for an economic zone and the provision of jobs was inevitable. But notwithstanding a few pronouncements from the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, we have heard nothing of substance from the minister. Warmington's latest spectacle was just a distraction and too many people are eating the bait. It should, therefore, not surprise us when nothing gets done in Jamaica, because most citizens only care about political episodes not tangible issues that can actually make a difference in their lives.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Distraction politics -- pay Warmington no mind
-->