There are some of us who see being a politician as a good way of getting rich. We see many of them moving from humble existence to a life of luxury after establishing themselves in politics. However, there is one trait of politicians that people like me would find hard to adopt -- hypocrisy. Without doubt, there are some politicians who see hypocrisy as second nature.
Then there are those politicians who, despite their membership, actually manage to speak their minds. The recent National Housing Trust (NHT) 'scandal' saw one high-ranking party official talking quite contrary to their party. However, while I have a feeling that these represent the tip of the iceberg in respect of how a lot of the other members on the PNP feel about that issue, they are in fact members of that very small minority of politicians who are brave enough to talk openly.
I do believe, however, that far too many of our politicians are either too scared to say what is really on their minds, or they are just very good at being hypocrites.
Take the NHT/Outameni issue. I know that a lot of PNP politicians are upset. Many of them represent contributors who could have benefited from the NHT if it hadn't squandered that kind of money on Outameni. Indeed, I would believe that some PNP members, themselves, cannot qualify for a benefit, despite being devout contributors. Yet, despite all of this, they have to hide their true feelings and put on a broad smile.
We saw how the Dudus affair rocked the JLP sometime ago. It was pretty clear that a lot of JLP politicians and members were unhappy with what their party was doing. None of the JLP politicians said anything against the affair. Like the PNP politicians, they too had to show a brave face.
We are sure that many of our politicians have true opinions that they have to suppress. For instance, one former prime minister made a big speech on reparations recently. Another former transport minister is always talking about it too. Interestingly, when they were in power, we hardly heard anything from them in this issue. Could it be that the reality of their situations forced them to be mute, or were they just afraid to say anything at the time?
People think that politicians' bellies get big because they are getting rich. I sometimes feel, however, that as their true feelings cannot come out of their mouths, they get stored in their stomach! I still don't know how these politicians manage to be so untrue to themselves with such straight faces.
I must say that I cannot grudge them. Only very strong people can betray themselves for so often and for so long.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Being a politician must be difficult
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Then there are those politicians who, despite their membership, actually manage to speak their minds. The recent National Housing Trust (NHT) 'scandal' saw one high-ranking party official talking quite contrary to their party. However, while I have a feeling that these represent the tip of the iceberg in respect of how a lot of the other members on the PNP feel about that issue, they are in fact members of that very small minority of politicians who are brave enough to talk openly.
I do believe, however, that far too many of our politicians are either too scared to say what is really on their minds, or they are just very good at being hypocrites.
Take the NHT/Outameni issue. I know that a lot of PNP politicians are upset. Many of them represent contributors who could have benefited from the NHT if it hadn't squandered that kind of money on Outameni. Indeed, I would believe that some PNP members, themselves, cannot qualify for a benefit, despite being devout contributors. Yet, despite all of this, they have to hide their true feelings and put on a broad smile.
We saw how the Dudus affair rocked the JLP sometime ago. It was pretty clear that a lot of JLP politicians and members were unhappy with what their party was doing. None of the JLP politicians said anything against the affair. Like the PNP politicians, they too had to show a brave face.
We are sure that many of our politicians have true opinions that they have to suppress. For instance, one former prime minister made a big speech on reparations recently. Another former transport minister is always talking about it too. Interestingly, when they were in power, we hardly heard anything from them in this issue. Could it be that the reality of their situations forced them to be mute, or were they just afraid to say anything at the time?
People think that politicians' bellies get big because they are getting rich. I sometimes feel, however, that as their true feelings cannot come out of their mouths, they get stored in their stomach! I still don't know how these politicians manage to be so untrue to themselves with such straight faces.
I must say that I cannot grudge them. Only very strong people can betray themselves for so often and for so long.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Being a politician must be difficult
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