Just because something is not illegal does not mean that it is ethical (and vice versa I suppose…).

My humble suggestion, as soon as the date for elections is announced, all advertising (not already committed / officially booked) by state concerns should cease, with the exception of those promoting essential services.

Use the party’s campaign funds to promote the party, not taxpayers’ money.

Steups!!!

Mango

However, I am not so far gone in my dislike for the party that I am unable to acknowledge that in its many years (in total) at the helm of Trinidad and Tobago’s Government that some good has been done – laudable initiatives, legislation, policies, projects and programmes.

I am not so far gone in my dislike for the party that I am unable to acknowledge that in its many years (in total) at the helm of Trinidad and Tobago’s Government, that there were several noteworthy PNM-ites (Ministers and the like) who were genuinely individuals of integrity, who did good by our country and our people.

I am not so far gone in my dislike for the party that I am unable to acknowledge that in its many years in existence, the party has a certain (admirable?) level of organisation and efficiency.

As I come from a long line (paternal) of anti-PNM voters, I am glad that I have not lost all perspective, that I can still be fairly critical-thinking.

Notwithstanding, there are two (2) major things that I dislike about the party:

i) The blind loyalty and faith that it has engendered in its members and followers.

The “moderate rebel” in me worries about the “PNM ’til ah dead” mentality, the “I born an’ will dead a PNM” attitude. It seems almost like a religion, “opium for the masses.” It does not matter what ills or transgressions this party and its leaders have (or may have / proposed to have) committed against Trinidad and Tobago and its peoples, PNM members and followers (especially of a particular socio-economic grouping) just will not budge, not even an inch. I am more than a little concerned when elected members of Parliament ignore their responsibilities to their constituents and countrymen to support the “party line” (initiatives, legislation, policies, projects and programmes that are clearly not for the greater good but are in the party leadership’s interest).

I just cannot see myself surrendering my identity to form part of such a group, even an organised one like that.

ii) The personal leadership qualities of Patrick Manning.

I do not like him, “my blood cyah take him.” It has reached the stage where I cannot  even listen to him / hear him speak (and I could listen to / hear most members of his recent Cabinet…).

I just cannot see myself voting for any party candidate that has Manning (or a Manning-type) as a leader.

So the questions I ask myself are:

i) After the many years (in total) of a PNM-led Trinidad and Tobago Government, am I satisfied with where our country is at and where we are going (initiatives, legislation, policies, projects and programmes)?

ii) Is there any political party that is as organised as / can become as organised as the PNM?

iii) Is there any political party leader out there that I like / could like?

iv) If I am not satisfied with where our country is at and where we are going (i), but I do not have affirmative answers for (ii) and (iii), come May 24th, would I be willing to take a chance?

I am thinking yes.

Mango

P.S. I am trying to get my hands on this article:

• Primary Group Influence on Party Loyalty, by Herbert McClosky and Harold E. Dahlgren, in The American Political Science Review, Vol. 53, No. 3 (Sep., 1959), pp. 757-776

Although dated, it looks like a good read.

Filed under: elections, trinidad & tobago, Trinidad and Tobago, voting ]]> http://mangoandmosquitoblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/rescue-me/feed/ 0 M&M http://mangoandmosquitoblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/double-take/ http://mangoandmosquitoblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/double-take/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:50:06 +0000 mangoandmosquitoblog http://mangoandmosquitoblog.wordpress.com/?p=176 ]]> Mosquito and I started this blog during the last elections because we felt that we had something to say.

In the intervening years (mere months really), professional, academic and personal commitments have prevented us from posting as often as we would like, but here we are again…

What has changed from then to now?

On our way home, we still see the same graffiti that was put up last time around: “Remove PNM Blight” (and next to it “Vote UNC A”)…

Mango