It is official, after almost a year in power, it is now crystal clear the election exercise was as I had feared, ‘the swapping of black dog for monkey’. All we have managed to do is to replace one giant incompetent fuck up in the form of The Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller for an equally large and incompetent fuck up in the form of The Honorable Bruce Golding.
I DID NOT VOTE
Before I go any further into this essay, let me state, “I have never voted” not because I do not think it is important, but simply because there has not been a candidate with enough, balls, values, or good sense to inspire me to.
What is wrong with Jamaica? Why is it our continuous misfortune to be saddled with political leaders who are too stupid to at least Google the word leadership, so that they would at least have some clue of what their job descriptions are?
Look, I know they do not have all the answers…nobody does. But how about AN answer? Just one about something that is a little bit more relevant to the Jamaican society, than probing FINSAC or removing Beka Lamb from the CXC syllabus because it has expletives in it. Let us face the real issues, our students are too busy making phone porn right now to be bothered with reading and for those who bothered to read it, I am sure they hear a lot worse on the streets going to school each day.
Why can’t our political leaders just cut the crap, get off their asses and lead? Not only did we elect them to office, we also pay them to do a job. It is not a favor, it is their job, their responsibility, they owe it to us! I have heard the debate about teachers being paid based on the performance of their students…how about ministers being paid based on the performance of their respective portfolios? Can anyone say ‘Dead fi ‘ungry’?
One definition of leadership states “Influencing a group of people to move towards its goal setting or goal achievement.” What is the goal, we as a country are trying to accomplish?
I have heard the speeches, but I also know that the words you preach from atop your soap boxes are not written or seemingly even endorsed by you. They are just empty words, which sound good but are devoid of conviction, resolve or heart.
IT IS OKAY TO NOT KNOW IT ALL
Yes really. It is okay, you do not have to, as long as you have the maturity to admit that and follow up with the good sense to seek out ideas where you have none, as well as to provide the inspiration to follow through on those ideas.
You guys are the captains of the team; you are NOT the only players. You CAN’T win the game by yourself. You have to LEAD the team. Neither of you seem to have ever led anyone to anything (excluding the other spineless buffoons who follow you blindly) and they are not honest enough with themselves to tell you to your faces you are both ASSHOLES!
Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Opposition Leader, you are both ASSHOLES!!
I have said it, now let us move on. If you guys are even remotely interested in being something other than I have just stated, this is the beginning of what you BOTH need to do.
1. We need a goal
And not some bullshit ten (10)page crap, but something concise and clear which can be easily understood and adopted by the masses. I know the election is not for another couple of years but use the media to rally the country behind this goal.
E.G. Work together for a better Jamaica
2. We need plans
A series of well thought out strategies, which we can execute to achieve the goal stated above. We can start from the little things and work our way up, so we can gradually get people used to the idea of change while giving them a feeling of empowerment.
3. Communicate
And I do not mean talking a lot without saying anything like you do now. Instead break down the plans into simple stages and explain it to the masses (yes the masses – they are important, you cannot get shit done without them, they are your TEAM). Outline the issue, explain the strategy we are going to employ, explain the role you will play in the execution of said strategy and IMPORTANTLY explain our role as citizens. Seriously Mr. G, after a year I still have no clue what your plans are, or the contributions you expect me to make as a citizen.
4. Acquire some RESOLVE
Guts, balls, gumption, the desire and strength to fight for this country of ours, against insurmountable odds if necessary. Ask yourself this, are you a Sam Sharpe or a Paul Bogle. Would you give your life if necessary to put Jamaica on the path to peace and prosperity? Well lucky for you, we are not asking you to sacrifice your life…you just need to sacrifice some of your indulgences.
5. Provide inspiration
You need to inspire the country (the TEAM) to want more, to seek change for the better, you need to GIVE US HOPE.
We have no hopes, no dreams to hold unto, nothing to look forward to or work towards, except our own selfish ends. Inspiration is free, it will not add to the budget, you need to rally the TEAM, unite us under one flag and motivate us to work towards that common end…the betterment of all. No matter how good the plan, if we do not play our part you cannot change anything.
Jamaica is in a hole, socially, morally, financially and any other ally’s you care to throw in. Unless TEAM Jamaica pulls together, we are going down. Our elected officials need to stop being arrogant and engage us the people, set us goals, explain the plans, give us our roles, lead with courage and conviction and we will follow.
If you do not have a plan, do not despair, just set the goal, engage us and we will help you find the strategies. What is most important, is that you get real and be prepared to do what needs to be done.
Some things to start with if you are still clueless
- Let us form a resolution to do everything we can do, to improve life in Jamaica. Not just for some but for all who are willing to work for it.
- Let us start with the little things, and cut out the stupid things that distracts us from the real purpose, let us use our power for good.
- Let us have zero tolerance for men pissing in public on our streets.
- Let us stop putting half assed measures in place, if we are going to arrest Bounty Killer for expletives at an adult event, let us also arrest minibus drivers who play the same expletive laden songs on public transportation meant for all.
- Let us live within our means. If the TEAM is facing deprivation, then the captains have no right to be living grandiosely at our expense.
- Let us make the little resources we have count.
- Let us see crime for what it really is; a Jamaican problem rather than a problem for the police. Face it, until we as a nation see the need and the benefits of policing ourselves, the police are powerless. However let us also give the police the tools they need to fight crime. They need intelligence, and the ability to access that intelligence in the field. The big books are obsolete; technology can do a lot more than just talking.
- Let us accept and forgive ourselves of past failures and shoulder our responsibilities for the future. After all if everyone was working together to make Jamaica a better place, there would be no need for me to write this anymore.
August 28th, 200912:41 pm
You are forgeting that the the people in leadership comes from among us , a nation of people, that on a whole are apathetic.
Case and point, look at the countries where the law abiding people put themselves behing bars and the criminals roaming the streets freely.
March 23rd, 20105:03 am
Lovely article, makes great read…..for a second there i almost forgot that the “TEAM” you mentioned above are the citizens who voted in this government, which leads me to wonder, does that make the team a set of assholes as well?…..i mean, correct me if i’m wrong, but you did state that BOTH Portia Simpson (leader of the opposition party/former prime minister of Jamaica) AND Bruce Golding (leader of ruling party) are assholes……which brings me to wonder what exactly were your views about PJ Patterson….but that’s for another time.
As for the whole voting thing, in my honest opinion, you don’t vote, you don’t have much of a say…..but then again when you think the persons who are being voted in are ASSHOLES……that should be a good enough reason to not vote. As for you wanting us to work as a team….great Barack Obama speech, but this is Jamaica, what in Heavens name were you trying so desperately to accomplish???……unity???….if our forefathers couldn’t do it, why do you think in this day and age it will be any easier??…..mind you we are much worse now than we were then.
You know this would have been such a great movement towards unity, too bad its closer to a dream rather than reality…..com on lets face it, this society is filled with too many lackadaisical individuals for us to even try and get up off our lazy ass and stop writing shit down on paper, wasting words and actually start DOING something about it, this society is far too corrupt for change aneyways….oh and before i forget, WE LIVE IN JAMAICA FOR CRYING OUT LOUD (and as much as it kills me to say this) IT WONT BE CHANGING ANYTIME SOON!
March 23rd, 20108:34 am
The team are sheep, potential assholes waiting to happen if the circumstances (say being elected to political office) are right.
Look voting doesn’t shouldn’t give one a say, if you want a say work pay your taxes then talk.
There is no such as far too corrupt to change! We have been through slavery where one individual owned another. And that changed. Yes it required sacrifice, yes it required suffering, but change did come.
It’s because of the state the country is in which makes this moment ideal for change. We want change we just don’t, know where to look for it, and that is why I say they, the PM and OPP are assholes as they have taken a job, taken the pay and ignore the work.
The mere fact that you took the time to read and respond, means that you are feeling something. You are jus frustrated because you do not know where to look or what you need. The generation of ideas is the first part of any plan. Share with us and in time I am sure you will find something even you can do.