Give Me Something To Discuss (Much Less Vote For)

Today, someone asked me why I had not written anything about the upcoming General Election here in Trinidad and Tobago. My response was that there was not much worthwhile to write. The image to the right, detritus after the last General Election, remains the only image I thought worthy of sharing in this post.

To date, I haven't read through the media much more than political strategies. Alliances. Candidates. The key platform for anyone not PNM seems to be, simply, "We're not the PNM". And the platform for the PNM seems to remain, "We're the PNM".

Some people laugh when I say it is the same khaki panties but the statement isn't made in the spirit of fun. This election doesn't seem to be as much about issues as it is about betting on horses. In fairness, some people who bet on horses seem better informed than the average voter in Trinidad and Tobago.

Someone, please, show me a platform and make the platform for a political party the center of discussion. Let us discuss issues. Let us discuss the future.

And that is the message that politicians should be getting from voters. Tell us about what will be done about water issues - a very hot (and dry) topic at this time. Tell us about a real vision of Trinidad and Tobago in the future.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to ignore all the rest of the political detritus in the media and on the street. There's enough to trip over on the road; I don't need more political banners. Democracy starts with informed discussion. Maybe it would be a good time for someone to start.