Powerlessness, not being able to influence decisions, is generally uncomfortable and an undesirable state for most persons. The feeling of powerless makes one feel helpless and inferior. While generally it is considered desirable to seek power, it is generally undesirable to be identified as power hungry.
A direct grab for power will make one vulnerable to being labeled and discredited as being power hungry. In the game of life power hungry is a dangerous load to carry.
Nevertheless, political power was the game at play in our recent federal election.
Based on the outcome of the elections, it would appear some parties assumed they were more powerful than their real influence.
Analysis of the data (total votes by party) demonstrates:
1. The Peoples Action Movement (PAM) did not have an accurate measure of their support/ strength at the polls. They are whose failure is more costly. Their failure started with the original Hamilton for Constituency No.8 the seat kept bleeding votes every year he sat on it and the perception of his work ethic was poor. This was proven by his sleeping in parliament and the increasing complaints from the constituents. The final blow was when he didn’t leave with PAM.
2. PAM counted their 4 seats but not their strength of them. Some of their candidates were plug and play without real connections to the communities they were serving. Hence, when the wind of change blew, they were easily discarded because they had no roots.
3. The People’s Labour Party got more votes than a 50years old party. Hence, PAM needs to go back to their base of supporters and be honest about the Unity construct being a strength to their party. – They would be honest if they offer an apology for their Ill-informed judgment.
4. Maybe the party needs to move away from being familia. The party needs a transformative overhaul. The process of becoming a candidate is no longer sustainable as it is. Move away from seats being inherited by family relations and the monied persons make rooms for measured merit.
5. PLP got the second majority of votes. While all the parties collectively rallied against that single young party being less than 6 months old. It was like Herod and his men trying to kill Christ as a Child because they know what he would grow into.
6. Allyship contains its own strength. If the original Unity government had struck through it for better or worst, they would have been a stronger force to challenge. Collectively they just needed one more seat.
7. Everything must appear civilized, decent, democratic, and fair. (Perception is equal in strength to truth).
8. I don’t believe Dr. Harris is finished with his political maneuvering. I think PLP is young and full of potential. With better candidates, they have an opportunity to be a potent opposition. Every country needs opposition for growth and transparency.
9. Sometimes HUSH- is the lesson I learned from PAM. Strategy is better than strength. Have a definite way to win before you start shouting about your right to win. Win even before you start to talk about winning.
10. The most important skill to amass political power is emotional control. An emotional response to a situation is the greatest barrier to power. The Honourable Shawn Richards appeared emotional every day in public. Sometimes I would turn off the sound and read the movement in his body to validate his sound and word choice are not informing me. When you respond emotionally you give away control.
When you know yourself and your opponents, you will never be defeated, no matter the outcome of the battle. When you do not know yourself, you are defeated before the start of the battle. Sun Tsu
*** The use of the term LOOSE is a linguistic play on the Unity construct.. like maybe if the Political Parties were not so Power hungry they would not have become loose so quickly and PAM wouldn’t have lost so badly.
