The power of politics (with a Big P), to make seemingly rational persons appear to be devoid of reasoning, is not easily explained, if at all possible. What is clear is that the potential for politics to transform human engagement and relations is real. Regrettably, such transformation often appears to bring to the forefront our shortcomings as human beings.
It often seems that far too many persons ‘pick’ a political party or candidate to support by default, and having done so proceed to seek to vindicate every statement made or action taken by that party or candidate. Our default choice of a party or candidate arises when we support a party because our family has always supported that party; or if that party no longer exists we support the new party, since it is running against the party our family never supported. Then there are those who, having fallen out with their party, join forces with another major party to ensure that the party they previously supported does not succeed at the polls. None of these scenarios reflect any real and meaningful analysis on the part of persons – in determining how they will cast their vote on polling day. Too often, it appears that, in determining where our political allegiance should lie, we give little thought to what really is best for Anguilla and the many persons who call Anguilla home.
I expect that some persons will not accept that any of the above scenarios forms the basis for determining how they will cast their vote. Social media is replete with the views, opinions, criticisms and suggestions of members of the voting public on political issues. An honest examination of those views tends to suggest that many persons, in deciding that they will not support a particular person, are often not reacting to the person but to the fact that the person is associated with a particular political party. This is evident when persons, who were once vilified because they were associated with a particular party, are now held in the highest esteem by the persons who previously vilified them, when they join their political party. In the case of independent candidates, some persons opt to vote for them solely on the basis that they have chosen not to be affiliated with one or any of the political parties.
Statements made by political pundits in support of their parties or candidates also lend credibility to the proposition set out above that many persons choose the parties and candidates they support by default. The pronouncements of many political pundits make it clear that having failed to gain the recognition they thought they deserved for their support for a particular party, they have now thrown their support behind the other party or an alternative candidate, with the primary motive of unseating the party or candidate that failed to adequately recognise them.
Having picked a default party or candidate, persons appear to lose all their reasoning and comprehension skills in their bid to justify anything said or done by their party or candidate, or to denounce anything promoted or delivered by an opposing party or candidate. That warped sense of reasoning is clearly on display when persons vociferously denounce a party for its apparent failings while the party they support suffers from the same failings. How often have we heard cries of ‘foul’ because a candidate commented, with perceived negative undertones, on the youthfulness of a candidate? Often the persons crying foul are themselves commenting in a seemingly negative manner on the more advanced years of other candidates.
Often, reasoning is so affected by this animal called politics that persons highlight the most insignificant flaws in any plans of an opposing party to the total exclusion of any gains delivered by those plans. This is usually apparent when political pundits consider the policies of a party or candidate in office. There is no clearer example of this than the efforts of some political pundits to find fault with the current administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irrespective of our political affiliations we ought to highly commend the AUF Government for having taken steps that have so far held the COVID-19 pandemic at bay.
The failure of persons to show an awareness of the implications of their aversion to paying taxes, while demanding that an incumbent political party provides improved social services, calls into question their comprehension and reasoning skills. Alternatively, it may be that in a bid to serve their own ends, political pundits are deliberately ignoring this vital issue that any party must face if it assumes office.
Many persons tend to speak negatively of those vying for office and ascribe the murkiness of politics to their conduct. We, as members of the electorate and pundits for the various parties and candidates, are slow to examine ourselves and to credit ourselves for the murkiness of politics as practised. There is a greater need for the voting public to bring their reasoning, comprehension and communication skills to bear. When engaging with the animal called politics, persons should strive not to be driven by wounded feelings, or a desire for personal gain, but rather to be motivated by what is best for Anguilla.
This animal called politics is of our making and we can tame it if we so desire.
