Of, By & For the People...

Regardless of how deep into the belly of the beast we go, Trinidadians for the most part still seem content on being oblivious to our responsibility in the shaping of the nation and the type of governance we all enjoy. Content to numb ourselves into drug and alcohol soaked submission, many of us live for the end of the day when the drinking and silly talk could begin in this 'brukk out' culture we are creating. 





Ask anyone and they'll tell you that we live in a democracy, but press them further and they will not be able to define what exactly that means outside of the five minutes they spend to vote. When Abraham Lincoln coined the term government 'of the people, by the people and for the people' in the Gettysburg Address, he was laying down the rules of participatory government that was as much about the led as the leaders. The system that he was espousing required governments to be formed from the rank and file of the people and not from any descending line of Kings. It also required the government to work on behalf of the people in service of the people and the agenda had to always be in direct consultation with the people. It further intended that this representation be as transparent and as open as possible, requiring and encouraging the formation of independent media and overseer groups to literally guard the guards.


In Trinidad & Tobago we treat our democracy with scant courtesy almost like spoilt children uninvolved in the process of gathering or preparation of the meal, but eager to show up when it's time to feast. While on the surface this may sound like the ideal situation, it comes at a heavy price. When governments are left to their own devices cancers like corruption and dictatorships set in, as we cannot abdicate our responsibility to the game and still expect our opinion to matter. The statement power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely means exactly what it says, but absolute power could never be taken; it requires culpability on our part to a great degree as it could only be offered or surrendered. 
 

Martin Luther King said "A riot is the language of the unheard" and he is correct in that sometimes a people may have to challenge those in power to hear them, but what is the language of the apathetic?




It is not enough to bad talk politicians if you yourself are not also serving in some national capacity, and it is disingenuous to a fault if you are unwilling to step up and contribute. Those who join nothing and try nothing but prefer to stand on the sidelines and throw potshots at those who serve deserve a warm wet spot in a place of eternal damnation. Too lazy or afraid to try, they would rather keep others from the noble pursuit for fear they themselves may be exposed for the political sloths that they are. 

 

Gandhi instructed us to "Be the change we want in this world.” Join something that is already dedicated to the improvement of life and country or form one where none exists. Give of your time and treasure to a bigger vision than what currently obtains and do it for character not glory. Give of yourself with no expectation of gain and lay the groundwork for others to follow and build on.


We have been blessed with so much wealth, natural resources and human capital that many are usually surprised at the small size of the place that it all comes from, yet for all this largess we so easily abdicate our responsibility and choose instead to focus on frivolity, trusting that someone else will make our beds and clean our messes.



The mantra of the conscious citizen must be get informed, get active and get involved:

Get informed - Every level of government and service be it private or public responds to customer criteria and adjusts accordingly.

Get active - If we want excellence we need to insist on it. Write letters, start blogs, start lobby groups, start protest organization all dedicated to the same thing, the upliftment and improvement of the overall quality of life in T&T.
Get involved - The day enough of us are actualized and activated to excellence is the day that all of the changes we want will begin.

Said another way, until we know what we want and insist on it, others will decide what we get, and we'll have to settle for it.