Garth Rattray | The categorisation of voters

I am no political analyst, I’m not even an aficionado of politics, but I’ve been observing the political carryings-on for quite some time now. There are diehard (staunch) voters who will vote for ‘their party’ no matter what.

They really don’t care who is being put forward to represent their constituency, they will vote for their party even if the individual is corrupt and a known non-performer. They will vote for ‘their party’ even if it is mired in ethical problems; they are the party base/bedrock – the ones that are always counted on to come out and vote, in good times and bad, for better or worse, in sickness and in health – ’til death.

These are the people who are kept happy with any promises, no matter how outlandish. They are the ones for whom motorcades are made; they line the streets to catch a fleeting glimpse of their candidate and wave and shout approvingly to encourage their party representative to strive on towards victory. They are the ones whose family always voted for a certain party. Some of these are grateful for the occasional cash, T-shirt, cap, flag and perhaps a bit of liquor, especially near election time. Jingles, songs, noise and flair are meant for this crowd. They cheer at every punctuation during political speeches even when they understand absolutely nothing.

POLITICS LIKE RELIGION

Political parties also have their stalwarts slaving in the trenches. These are the ones that treat politics like a religion. They are ‘missionaries’ who don the party colours and images and go door to door and street to street to spread the word. They are on a crusade for their party, they are the bulwarks that help to keep the party cohesive at the grassroots level. They see it as their life’s work to serve their party and are sometimes rewarded with kind words and approving smiles from the hierarchy.

Others, on the dark side of the party, will deface billboards and walls and public property for their party. They are the ones who are willing to go to war, to fight for their party. So consumed are they by politics that they are dangerous because, to them, politics is the source of their daily bread. These are the people who are dependent on handouts and other support from politicians and their representatives within the community.

I know councillors who must play the role of surrogate parents for their helpless and needy ‘children’. Lines form outside their homes on a daily basis. They supply money for everything from food to school fees and medicine. They also lobby for jobs when work contracts become available. These are the backbone of the political party, the people on whom the lowest operatives must depend for survival.

On the other end of the spectrum are the ‘topanaris’ party affiliates who donate heavily to one or both parties in order to ‘hedge their bets’. These people vote according to which party will benefit them the most at that juncture. They are not so committed that they will suffer financially if a certain party loses in the general election; you won’t see them on any political platform because that could spell economic suicide for them.

Then there is the rest of us, the ones who made a conscious decision to put the welfare of our country first and politics second. This group will vote for the party that appears to be better for the country during that period of time. Such people vote for the more committed, ethical and better-performing local representative but keep in mind the bigger picture for the good of all. Rhetoric, hype, jingles and empty speeches do not sway this group. We need more voters from this category.

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