Commentary

'It' looks really bad for any leader of any country to risk everything (his/her integrity, political career, the security of its citizens and international sanctions) for the sake of any one individual. 'It' makes us wonder if politicians have allegiance to the people and country or to powerful individuals.

The most recent revelation in the ongoing saga of 'it' (emails suggesting governmental and not just party involvement in efforts to mount a stout defence of that single individual) had the spin doctors out in full force. Like the first wave of an attack, they came out loudly doing what they do best ... spinning yarns and trying to persuade the masses to accept their version of 'it'. They remind me of the best known spin doctor of all ... Squealer from George Orwell's classic allegorical 1945 novel, Animal Farm.

I hope that a group of honest, dispassionate, unbiased and accurate individuals is writing 'it' all down somewhere. I hope that, no matter how this little nation of ours turns out, history will get 'it' right. I won't comment on who said or did what because of whom; my concern is that 'it' speaks to what we expect from our politicians and what they expect from us.

In any other modern democracy, the mere whiff of a scandal that could negatively impact on a public servant's ability to lead or perform a job that requires moral fortitude and public trust would precipitate resignations from everyone concerned. On a personal level, I am not calling for resignations - the point here is that no one should get the opportunity to say that they should resign because in any other society where honour is held in high esteem, the politicians involved would resign - whether or not anyone asked for them to do so.

Personal gain

Unfortunately, at this time in our history, politics does not appear to decide who or what is best for the country - it decides who or what is best for individuals and groups of individuals. It decides whether or not individuals prosper, suffer, starve, live or die based on their affiliation. At one end of this seamless spectrum sits the politician - resplendent in his/her seat of power and influence. At the other end of the spectrum is the average supporter - prostrate in his/her dependency and mendicancy ... a status created and maintained by politics. Scattered in-between are some belonging to the 'one of us' posse who tenaciously hang on to the coat-tails of politicians for personal gain only.

The real tragedy of 'it' is that our citizenry believes that most (thankfully not all) politicians are crooked and in it for the status, power and money that their career can get them. We believe that this is so no matter which of the two major political parties the politician belongs to. Consequently, whenever major scandals are revealed, politicians and their respective parties have a way of surviving only because we do not expect the other side to do any different. In other words, Jamaicans truly believe that the opposition is no more moral or trustworthy than the ruling party.

Selfish thinking

This is a serious indictment on our people and on our politics. Years of selfish thinking has got us selfish politicians. As far back as the 19th century, Joseph de Maistre, French moralist, diplomat and author, was quoted as saying that "every nation has the government it deserves".

In the midst of all of 'it', we need some introspection before lashing out at our politicians. We need to remember that we created the atmosphere for their behaviour, so 'it' serves us right.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com