Our political ideologies? models? frame of reference?

[AB.Trini]

 It the ever pervasive world of TnT politics have we ever stop to question what models? what frameworks? what style of governance has showered upon our political landscape? do we still cling to the petticoats of a colonial master? or to some chic western style of Americana? or have we transformed or morph into some quasi presidential style imitative republic trying to surge through democratic  party principles? or are we simply recycling one party domination of the past?

I was  especially intrigued by this passage from the article from the  NY times proclaiming the transformation which is taking place in Mexico.  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-mexico-got-back-in-the-game.html


"Mexico still has huge governance problems to fix, but what’s interesting is that, after 15 years of political paralysis, Mexico’s three major political parties have just signed “a grand bargain,” a k a “Pact for Mexico,” under the new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, to work together to fight the big energy, telecom and teacher monopolies that have held Mexico back. If they succeed, maybe Mexico will teach us something about democracy. Mexicans have started to wonder about America lately, said Bichara from the Center for Citizen Integration. “We always thought we should have our parties behave like the United States’ — no longer. We always thought we should have the government work like the United States’ — no longer.”[/b]


Imagine  three parties coming together to combat some of the challenges thay are facing for the common good of all- how intriguing and novel an idea. Putting aside selfish desires for power for governance and doing whats right for the people - dare I say that it is time our political parties come together to combat the escalating crime instead of  modelling a gang like rivaling turf war ethnocentrism mentality against each other ? Could they come together for the common good of all Trinidad and Tobago?

We need to grow up and rid ourselves of the shackles of American 'gun culture' and gang like mentality that has invaded our shores. It eh today we copycatting the states nah; our idolizing of American culture has become our downfall and these elements which have debased our society will keep us in an impoverish state of social denigration. When will we follow the lead of Mexico and come together for teh common good?

[Bakes]

It's a very Canadian thing to try to pin some of the violence we seeing in TnT on "American gun culture" (something which if challenged, few could artfully define) and "copycatting"... as though the examples being set in Colombia and Jamaica, among other places, aren't influential factors as well, if not greater.

[AB.Trini]

Bakes with due respect, the intent was not to lay blame the USA but merely to imply that given our proclivity for imitating things American, there maybe an element of influence  that have infiltrated to our societal and cultural lifestyle. Undoubtedly the  complexity and the nature of escalating crime in TnT is multifaceted to say the least. There may be so many other elements at play. However, in my humble opinion if the political landscape do not make a collective effort  ( as the original article about Mexico government) we may be in for a repeat of teh ills that plague us under each new regime.