Copyright thevoiceslu
I listen to both sets of the local political hopefuls and wonder what is truth and what is deceitful. As per usual with our brand of “poli-tricks”, it’s like a raging battle of wits, laced with flare, trickery and drama. Every party member is asking for your trust, promises of all types are spouted from the platforms and figures that are far from the truth are used to excite or cast dark shadows on existing government projects or policy. Supporters are sometimes gullible and without proof or verification will swallow the information expressed as gospel truth. Everything is in the cards and it is one side’s words against the other, hoping that the followers drink without even watching or caring about the contents. Like all other competitive businesses, one side advertises their product and their plans as always being better than the other. Little background checks are done; little verification and clarification is ever sought and in fact there is a lot of blind loyalty. Much is condemned, a different tomorrow is promised, and no case study is carried out that will at-least offer some consolation that what was said came from a credible source. They know that five years in the driving seat will help them amass their anticipated wealth (or be in a position to negotiate life-long deals) and enjoy the perks that go with the jobs. In addition, two terms guarantee a pension and the salary per year is better than most jobs on the market. One party is trying to outdo the other, giving hope to all believers and even adding God to the equation, to give the impression that they are ‘The Chosen One’. Plenty of giveaways in food and drink, transportation to-and-fro, with hugs and smiles embracing you as their friend. But the reality is there will always be promises for those who are always in need and want something for their vote, be it cash, a contract down the line or something else. Not every government will deliver, not all ministers are able to live to our expectations, and some are as dumber than the so-called ‘common man’ and some are good at simply wasting resources. Politicians and their parties can also act like great con artistes, using IT and the online media and the new technology to assist their quest. Sadly, most of us take the bait, but when hooked, we look for others to blame and not our own misjudgement. The problem is: most people do not look before they leap and most drown if they are thrown into a pool at the deep end if they can’t swim. So, let’s all play it safe during this political cycle, because most of what you see and hear is just drama — and very far from reality.
