Common ideology among cheaters

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The more I listen to conversations relating to the recent political snags with the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme, the US spy plane and other political practices of the present and successive government, the more I'm detecting a systemic, pervasive and defective ideology at work in our political thinking, speech and, possibly, choices.

As more and more people lash out at the Government's lack of professionalism with the intensity and frequency of malpractices, I am identifying an ideology that reinforces the breakdown of political integrity in this country. I see it on Facebook; hear it in Mile End, 'Ochi' and Montego Bay, all in one week. The idea seems omnipresent. The ideology goes something like this: 'If you are going to steal or lie to the people, don't get caught. Plan and execute the lies and fraudulence with undetected proficiency.'

This same philosophy, expressed in Chris Martin's song, The Cheater's Prayer, "But Lord, if you can't stop me from cheating, just don't let me get caught," seems to be a prevailing world view in our culture. In his song, Martin admits that his moral weakness, lustful eyes and physical requirements will eventually put him in a sticky situation, and if it comes to it, he pleads for God's help to carry out the act without being caught.

Dishonourable

The cheater in Chris Martin's song is flirting with, or perhaps contemplating, the idea of cheating; he just doesn't want to get caught. This song is dishonourable and misleading because it is lascivious in motive!

In a similar way, the idea that if our politicians are going to cheat on the people, they should be professional and efficient while doing so is seriously and morally defective.

Professional deception is as wrong as inexpert trickery. There is no difference in being bitten by a dog with a smile or a dog with a growl. You are still being bitten. Politicians must not bite the people they serve with either a smile or a growl. Lying to or stealing from the people is always wrong, no matter who does it or how efficient or inefficiently it is done.

Cheating on, stealing from and lying to people is never morally justifiable, especially in the Government and in the face of virtues such as truth and honesty!

AJILON FERDINAND

ajaferdi@yahoo.com

Ocho Rios, St Ann