Where do we go from here?

Ok, the bell has been rung, the date has been set, all hands have coalesced to either side and the slander has begun in earnest.

What now? Where DO we go from here?

Well, if past historical trends are to be followed, nowhere really. Some have even taken to accepting that by saying "it's not change, it's exchange" and I still don't think i am sure what they mean.
Look, because of the two party system, the only thing democratic about governance in T&T is that once every five years (or less if Manning is PM) you get to choose who rapes you. Because believe it or not, EVERY single government we have had has put aside the will of the people once in power and went about their own business, which loosely translates to robbing the treasury to enrich their friends, some dubious make work schemes for their die hard supporters and corruption of the highest order, relying in no small part for the other side to still look worse so they get the trough for five years.

Well now, what a pickle. Are the people doomed to this lot, where the choice is join a bandwagon and benefit from the corruption or fly out? Well yes and no.

You can upset the apple cart.
How?
Get informed. Organize yourselves into neighborhood and community improvement groups. Discuss what matters to you, find out if it matters to the neighboring communities in your constituency as well.
Nurture representatives from among you to go to Parliament and seek your interest. He will be beholding only to you and he will seek your interest because A) It's his interest too and B) You're his boss and you can fire him.

Too simple? No. When this system was created it was created for people who could not even read or write. It's why voting still requires an 'X' by your choice of candidate.

Putting Independents in the Parliament gives you back control. There is no advantage to voting race in this country, and as a sideline, if it was the UNC that had built that wall in the Beetham to hide black people from Obama (the irony has never been lost on me) we would have had (more) bloodshed. NO party cares about you, none. They are a business and you are a pawn.

It's time to take the power back. Time to truly rise Trinidadians. Don't be spoken to, you do the talking. If the people were really running this thing, you think Manning or Warner would have been so brave? They would have been laughed away like Taylor and consigned to the political dustbin like Hunt.

Make a very strong statement this election. Vote independents and more will rise. When the people have control of the House the people's business will be done there.

It starts with you, it starts with me, and it starts now.

Don't see fear, see hope. Don't see the problems, see opportunities. The whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts, but it is made up OF those parts, and their opinion is valid.

This is the only way forward and we have to take responsibility. The future will ask many questions of us, one of them being 'Couldn't you have at least tried?'

Stand up Trinidadians, Rise as one people and take your power back.

On May 24th by your votes retake your Parliament that has been hijacked by the PNM and ALL the parties Panday was a part of.

Say no more. By your vote say 'Enough!' Fire them ALL.

We go forward from here.