IN terms of global politics, over the past few decades, the US Presidential elections have always garnered the attention of the world, especially among Western nations.
By Alicia Chamely
Besides the entertainment factor, the reason for such interest is that no matter what your opinion may be on the US, the outcome of their elections have far reaching implications on the global economy and international relations.
Mowing my way through copious amounts of birthday cake on Tuesday, I joined the millions of global citizens anxiously waiting to see if the Red Wave will rise to victory or if the Blue Wall will maintain its hold.
For those living under a rock, in a hole, at the back of an underground cave, filled with cement… the Red Wave came in with the force of an angry tsunami and toppled the Blue Wall.
The US, like T&T, runs primarily on a two-party system. They have the Republicans and Democrats. Red and Blue.
We have the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC). Red and Yellow.
The Republican Party’s policies are rooted in social conservativism. Their primary focus is on economic growth and the preservation of capitalism.
The Democratic Party takes a more liberal stance in their policies. Their focus is on social development and the even distribution of wealth and resources.
We have the PNM and the UNC.
As I am writing this, I am digging deep into the depths of my cranium looking for any comparisons between our two parties and those of the US.
Upon examining the PNM and UNC, it is easy to see that neither has solid identities outside of tribal politics. Their policies are similar, swaying to whatever concern they believe voters are mostly consumed with. Making promises to solve the problem, then once elected finding convenient ways to dodge the issue that got them into power.
In 2010, the People’s Partnership party homed in on the then-proposed property tax. “Axe The Tax” was born and everyone was doing the “Do So” arm cross. It won them the votes they needed to propel the PP into power and once there they changed their stance on property tax. Rather than strike down the legislation they simply delayed it, saying it wasn’t the right time, which was pretty much like saying “yeah we lied, we agreed with the tax, but we really wanted to be in power, so we are just going to put it on the back burner, do a whole other bunch of stuff to distract you, while we figure out how to bring it back without pissing you off.”
In the 2015 elections, the PNM promised to go after corrupt members of the previous administration, which had been plagued with scandal during its five-year run. It’s been nine years, no one make a jail yet, and a large chunk of our national budget has gone to paying legal fees.
With our general elections fast approaching, we all know both parties will make the same promise… tackle crime and increase FOREX… after all these are the issues of the day. Both will come similar ideas and make ridiculous promises.
Essentially, both parties are the same. Neither has a firm stance on specific policies or ways of running the country to alleviate the issues at hand.
As such we are left playing election ping-pong, back and forth, same old, same old. Two steps forward in one area and ten steps back in another, which then becomes a problem they can cook up election ideas to solve.
What I would like to see is for both parties adopt a solid identity. One could argue the UNC has been more liberal-minded and the PNM more conservative minded. But other than how they are going to deal with crime and the economy, I would like to hear their stances on other issues as well. I want to know their position on making healthcare more accessible, on abortion, on LGBTQ rights, on immigration, on educational reform, and on environmental protections.
I want a televised debate that’s orderly and not a crass re-enactment of the foolishness we see in parliament.
I want to know the WHOLE PLAN, not just one or two issues. And I want proper plans, I want to know where funding is coming from, what economic expansion plans are being made, how long certain legislation will take to be drafted and what hurdles may appear in the execution of their policies, and how they plan to overcome them.
The voters of T&T deserve more than one-off promises. For us to go anywhere our parties need to develop concrete identities and build their policies around their core beliefs and systems. The era of tribal voting is in its twilight and our political parties need to evolve and focus their plans on a concrete system of governance.
PNM,UNC Not Like Republicans, Democrats
AZP News Commentary
IN terms of global politics, over the past few decades, the US Presidential elections have always garnered the attention of the world, especially among Western nations.
Besides the entertainment factor, the reason for such interest is that no matter what your opinion may be on the US, the outcome of their elections have far reaching implications on the global economy and international relations.
Mowing my way through copious amounts of birthday cake on Tuesday, I joined the millions of global citizens anxiously waiting to see if the Red Wave will rise to victory or if the Blue Wall will maintain its hold.
For those living under a rock, in a hole, at the back of an underground cave, filled with cement… the Red Wave came in with the force of an angry tsunami and toppled the Blue Wall.
The US, like T&T, runs primarily on a two-party system. They have the Republicans and Democrats. Red and Blue.
We have the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC). Red and Yellow.
The Republican Party’s policies are rooted in social conservativism. Their primary focus is on economic growth and the preservation of capitalism.
The Democratic Party takes a more liberal stance in their policies. Their focus is on social development and the even distribution of wealth and resources.
We have the PNM and the UNC.
As I am writing this, I am digging deep into the depths of my cranium looking for any comparisons between our two parties and those of the US.
Upon examining the PNM and UNC, it is easy to see that neither has solid identities outside of tribal politics. Their policies are similar, swaying to whatever concern they believe voters are mostly consumed with. Making promises to solve the problem, then once elected finding convenient ways to dodge the issue that got them into power.
In 2010, the People’s Partnership party homed in on the then-proposed property tax. “Axe The Tax” was born and everyone was doing the “Do So” arm cross. It won them the votes they needed to propel the PP into power and once there they changed their stance on property tax. Rather than strike down the legislation they simply delayed it, saying it wasn’t the right time, which was pretty much like saying “yeah we lied, we agreed with the tax, but we really wanted to be in power, so we are just going to put it on the back burner, do a whole other bunch of stuff to distract you, while we figure out how to bring it back without pissing you off.”
In the 2015 elections, the PNM promised to go after corrupt members of the previous administration, which had been plagued with scandal during its five-year run. It’s been nine years, no one make a jail yet, and a large chunk of our national budget has gone to paying legal fees.
With our general elections fast approaching, we all know both parties will make the same promise… tackle crime and increase FOREX… after all these are the issues of the day. Both will come similar ideas and make ridiculous promises.
Essentially, both parties are the same. Neither has a firm stance on specific policies or ways of running the country to alleviate the issues at hand.
As such we are left playing election ping-pong, back and forth, same old, same old. Two steps forward in one area and ten steps back in another, which then becomes a problem they can cook up election ideas to solve.
What I would like to see is for both parties adopt a solid identity. One could argue the UNC has been more liberal-minded and the PNM more conservative minded. But other than how they are going to deal with crime and the economy, I would like to hear their stances on other issues as well. I want to know their position on making healthcare more accessible, on abortion, on LGBTQ rights, on immigration, on educational reform, and on environmental protections.
I want a televised debate that’s orderly and not a crass re-enactment of the foolishness we see in parliament.
I want to know the WHOLE PLAN, not just one or two issues. And I want proper plans, I want to know where funding is coming from, what economic expansion plans are being made, how long certain legislation will take to be drafted and what hurdles may appear in the execution of their policies, and how they plan to overcome them.
The voters of T&T deserve more than one-off promises. For us to go anywhere our parties need to develop concrete identities and build their policies around their core beliefs and systems. The era of tribal voting is in its twilight and our political parties need to evolve and focus their plans on a concrete system of governance.