I have been listening to some of the political analysts and pundits give their opinions on a third/fourth party and political reform and why it can or cannot work. And I gave it some thought and concluded some things. From my involvement in the last elections I learned a great deal. One lesson is that nothing is as it seems: Always dig deeper for what is not seen or said.
In a relay race there is a transition zone where the baton is passed on to the next team member to continue the race. In every area of life, this analogy can be applied, and I see it applying to our political landscape, where succession is a part of life. It happens by will or by force.
Ideally, for there to be a smooth transition there needs to be one person willing to hand off and another in position to receive. We talk about being at a crossroads in our territory’s progression, and this handoff is one of the things I see lining up on the horizon.
Other options
Having been part of a third political movement in the last election, I’m amused at the reasons given as to why other viable options can’t exist. Based on our current situation, a different political philosophy is not a want but a necessity in this season if we as a territory are going to rise to the challenges on the skyline. To compare us with systems that have been in existence four or five times longer is not a fair contrast (50 versus 200-plus years?).
In my opinion, our politics are still in their formative years, when strongholds can be established, but I don’t think they are as grounded as people presume. Politics can be a fickle game, and supporters and voters are two different categories of people — not leaving out the subset of special interests groups. Apart from having a war chest of money, understanding these details informs the strategy that will lead to success or defeat. At the end of the day, if we want another viable option, the decision rests with us who are called to do it. This applies to existing as well as new political groups, but it takes more than rebranding something as “new.”
Standing up
Saying we don’t have enough prospective political leaders is a condemnation, and not something we should brag about. If we can’t find 40 people competent, capable and committed to lead this territory forward, we have bigger problems than we want to admit.
Some things shouldn’t be recycled. I know it takes courage to stand up against the status quo, but stand we must. The way we view and talk about politics needs to change. If we are convinced in our minds we can’t do better, then we have already lost. I find it interesting that some people seem to be gung-ho over the idea of a two-party system while if you do the research there are articles that question such a system’s value and consider it to have failed to meet the needs of the people elsewhere in the world.
We can’t afford to be caught up in rhetoric and commentary. The political reform I’d like to see starts with us as a people thinking about what kind of legacy we are leaving behind for the third and fourth generations. They will be blessed or cursed by our choices now. As Virgin Islanders (however you became one) we have rights and privileges of which we are only stewards for a time, and we are responsible for leaving things better than how we met them.
Calling for unity
I strongly believe we need a different type of political leadership, not just more parties. Not all politicians are the same. There are those who leave a mark for good. We need men and women with a different political philosophy that holds up a vision of unity in the midst of diversity. There is strength in unity, and this territory is too small for us to segregate and enslave ourselves with stigmas. Unity calls for us to mature in our thinking and have intelligent debate about issues and topics instead of engaging in personal attacks. How does the saying go? “Small minds talk about people, great minds think about ideas.”
‘A partnership’
We need a different approach that demonstrates governance is a partnership between the people, political leaders and the public service and not a welfare state where government takes care of everything and everybody. Everyone must do their share. Some people won’t like having to pull their own weight, but the system needs rebalancing. Instead of chasing fads or dwelling in the past, we need to be like the sons of Issachar, with a spirit of wisdom that knows what the nation ought to do.
The transition is happening already, and the next generation of leaders is arising. You know who you are. Get in position not only in politics, but in every area of our society. Don’t talk about the difference: Become the catalyst for it. Don’t be caught out of position in this season. This is an alliance roll call. Choose to be the difference-maker. The time is now.
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