An Initiative Toward Trinidad and Tobago as a Developing Nation.

I got a message yesterday from The Initiative Against Crime. I got the usual pleasantries, and a request to blog on the site. I thought about it. I mulled it over seriously. I kicked it back and forth, side to side. There's a certain duty to society that each one of us has, and when the powers that be are impotent to help the population of the people who unwittingly placed them in power, well... someone has to write something, say something, and stand.

I decided not to write there because I'm already spread too thin, and also because of another thing: I've become jaded. It's not a pretty thing to admit, but as pointed out in the post, Hard Question, the politicians aren't really doing anything. The fact is that they never will do anything, because the fact that there is so much crime gives them more power. People strangely believe that politicians, who allowed the state of the country as it is today - be they opposition or the ruling party - can do something. Hypothetically, they could - but if they were interested in doing something, they most certainly would have done it already. Instead, they've been using the crime as an issue to mist other issues.

In truth, politicians generally are very sad people who have no reflection in the mirror. In this country, not only do they have no reflection - they are so transparent that they cast no shadows. Therefore, I do not trust politicians to do what they already should have done because... they didn't do it, despite people sending letters, criticizing in the public press, television, and radio - and even in person. So, why should we expect them to do something via email? Clearly, they need to be shamed.

But to blame the politicians is myopic. Politicians, in the grand scheme of things, only do what keeps them in politics. If they were to decide to do more, then it would be above and beyond what the general public expects. Perhaps the problem is that the general public has low expectations. This is the only explanation I have for both the United National Congress and People's National Movement. Low expectations. It's why Trinidad and Tobago has such a poor infrastructure - low expectations.

Whenever I criticize something here in Trinidad, I head 'Dis is Trinidad' as an explanation - from everyone. Low expectations. Poor service. Poor infrastructure. Poor government. Poor opposition. 'Dis is Trinidad'. 'Expect no better', they say, 'for to expect better is to be disappointed.'

Frankly, this country desperately needs to realize that it should be disappointed. This country could be so much more. There are no excuses for poor roads when we have educated people and the Pitch Lake. There are no excuses for small roads congested with traffic when there is money in the coffers of the government, when there is a Pitch Lake, when there are so many people living from day to day... but to expect more, they say, is to be disappointed.

The truth is that people in this country should be disappointed, but they prefer the entertainment of a governmental soap opera instead of progress. On the street, people will talk about how bad crime is, how they don't have water, or electricity, or even a decent level of phone and internet access - but then they'll look at whatever the circus of politicians is doing, and be entertained.

How odd that a country that has finally qualified for the World Cup... has a population which doesn't seem capable to keep it's eye on the ball shouldn't expect to become a developed nation any time soon. When the government simply hands things out - like housing and 'jobs' - that keep people at the same level that they are at instead of advancing them, it's time to realize that the person with the most antics doesn't have the ball.

So the question is... who has the ball? And the answer, of course, is that the people of Trinidad and Tobago have the ball. Someday, they may realize it. Someday, they may do something with it. But it's so much easier to look for others to blame, accept handouts, and not be disappointed by having low expectations.

And that's the way I see it. Until people actually start to care (instead of talking about caring), and start to act on what they care about (instead of talking about it), nothing will change. The old politicians will die. The new politicians will do the same as the old politicians. Nothing will change until the will of the people changes, until they can keep their eye on the ball instead of settling for entertainment.

And to see 'The Initiative Against Crime' is, perhaps, a step in the right direction. Crime is a societal problem.

So are politicians.

The initiative toward Trinidad and Tobago as it could be rests where it has always rested. With the people. Even the stupid politicians know that well enough to mist issues instead of address them. Democracy isn't just about voting. It's about the people having control. Is this a democracy?