The source of political loyalty

Jun 24, 2019 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

If Guyanese can be loyal to their families and they work the way they are faithful to their political parties, this country would be prosperous. Unfortunately, their political loyalties are far superior to the fidelity which is shown to family.
Too many persons are more loyal to their political parties than they are to their own families. Many people devote more time to being outside of the house, engaged in political work, rather than use those hours to spend quality time with their families. Too many men neglect their families, have extramarital affairs and squander their earnings on booze.
Too many workers shortchange their employers. They turn up at their place of employment late. They work at a leisurely pace, have extended lunch breaks and leave promptly at closing time. They do just sufficient to keep their jobs. Some even help themselves at the cookie jar.
Right now there are persons protesting for house-to-house registration. Do you think that the majority of them really believe that credible elections cannot be held with the existing voters’ list? The last local government elections were credible and they were held with the same flawed list which we are now told can contain as many as 200,000 wrong entries.
The protests which are taking place are not about credible elections. They are delaying tactics. And most of those protesting know that fact.
But what difference will delaying elections by a few months make? Will it alter the outcome of the results? It will not. The APNU +AFC coalition cannot win any future elections. They cannot because they have committed too many egregious errors.
The only persons who will benefit from any delay in the elections is that small cabal who want to have a few more months enjoying the nectar which flows from having political power. And this small cabal will manipulate their supporters to protest for an extra lease in office. They will whip them up into a frenzy.
The cabal knows that it can rely on the unswerving loyalty of its supporters. It matters not – it has never mattered – that most of these supporters will end up no better off after elections than before – their support will not retreat. They are loyal to the causes of their parties, regardless of the credibility of those parties.
That is something to be admired. That so many persons are prepared to sacrifice their own self-interest just for the sake of loyalty to their parties. What allegiance?
I have written about a certain unkempt individual, who always seems to be wearing clothes that are soiled. He used to be riding around on a bicycle shouting obscenities at the former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPPC. He made himself quite a spectacle.
His party won power in May 2015 and he is still riding around on his bicycle which is now worse for the wear. He still wears soiled clothes. He still looks hungry. But only now he is silent. His party has won and he is happy, never mind that party has done nothing for him.
Is this sort of allegiance not admirable? Imagine those whom you support are ungrateful to you; have done nothing for you, while they have done a great deal for their family and their friends. And still you are loyal to them! Is this not something to be admired? Imagine all you are receiving are promises and excuses, and still you are loyal.
There must be something else which is the source of such allegiance? And most people know what that something else is.

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