Politicking vs social conscience

People often mistakenly or wilfully confuse a social conscience with politicking. These are usually polar opposites that bear absolutely no resemblance to each other. Politicking is often ideologically and/or materialistically self-serving, while a social conscience possesses ethical and selfless characteristics.

The recently published complaints regarding opinionated utterances by Simon Crosskill, one of the hosts of TVJ's 'Smile Jamaica' morning programme, caught my interest. One particular writer unleashed a barrage of dangerously inflammatory and unsubstantiated statements to describe what she assumes are Crosskill's motives. She used words like "constant attacks on not only the prime minister, but every member of his Cabinet and, in fact, the governing party", "... not triggered by anything Mr Golding or his Government may have done recently, but by a dislike for him, his Government and his party", "making his political views known on the air", "it is unfair ... to score political points", "politicking and the tribalism".

To be absolutely fair to his detractors, there might be some argument for suggesting a different forum for Crosskill's solo chastisement of certain high-profile political leaders. A debate as to whether or not a morning family show is appropriate for personal opinions on the behaviour and performance of some government officials could end up in a stalemate; after all, it is also an interview programme, with many people giving opinions on both sides of arguments on a wide assortment of matters from governance to recreation.

Forum aside, it has always been of great concern to me whenever people pounce on others for daring to criticise members of their political party. Any criticism is interpreted as being politically motivated and/or extremely disrespectful (of several supposed stellar and untouchable individuals). Biased and staunch admirers of some people in high offices would do well to remember that their heroes almost always have feet of clay.

Echoing the public

It seems to me that Crosskill's paroxysms of negative commentary are indicative (and representative) of the general feeling of most Jamaicans on both sides of the political divide. I know that many Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters do not agree with recent happenings within the party. One letter writer to The Gleaner made this comment: "I am a diehard Jamaica Labour Party supporter, and I find nothing wrong with the (Crosskill) comments that were made.

"As such a big supporter of the party, I was ashamed of the way the PM and his ministers behaved. The report by the commissioners was a complete disgrace and a mockery of the justice we had hoped to get from all the money that was wasted on the travesty of an enquiry."

I sincerely hope that the Government knows that Crosskill's comments echo our nation's deep disappointment, disgust, frustration and weariness. I believe that the vast majority of us feel that our collective intelligence is being repeatedly insulted. We are being used as pawns in a power struggle. Corruption thrives, accountability is dead, and party politics is still being put before the welfare of the country. The prime minister would not fight Washington, jeopardise his political career and allow matters to deteriorate to the brink of anarchy for you or me.

Given the circumstances of its formation, the enquiry itself and our politically charged environment, the findings of the (time- and money-consuming) Manatt-Coke commission of enquiry came as no surprise to anybody.

The JLP was not vindicated, the status quo was preserved, and the opposition People's National Party has put nothing substantive forward. After all the subterfuge, lost income, lost lives, lost time and drama ... we are back to square one.

Garth A. Rattray is a physician with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.