MONEY AND POWER CORRUPT THE MIND

If a random poll is to be conducted in Guyana to determine whether politicians are honest, the answer would be a resounding “NO”? Such a finding would not be surprising, given the fact that the desire of most politicians is to have power and get rich quickly.
The current forensic audit reports which revealed that billions of dollars were either embezzled or cannot be accounted for, is proof of this.
Many have portrayed politicians as a self-serving bunch who seeks public office, driven not by any strong motivation to contribute first and foremost to bettering the lives of their fellow citizens, but more by a desire to use their privileged position as a passport to wealth and power for themselves.
This perception is widespread today. It was entrenched in the last administration but it also exists in the new administration. Today, when the average citizen thinks of the present crop of politicians; “good” is not an adjective that would ever come to their mind. Instead, incompetent, arrogant, aloof, selfish and untruthful are among the most commonly used adjectives to describe them.
Most politicians are enticed by an overly generous parliamentary and ministerial pension and perks after serving for about two terms. This remains a vexing problem for the people who have to work for over 30 years to qualify for a full Government pension.
Beginning in the 1960s, the public perception of politicians in the country has gradually changed from generally positive to overwhelmingly negative due largely to their obsession for power and wealth. Up to the early 1990s, most politicians were generally respected, and were seen as making a personal sacrifice for the national good of the people. This, however, has changed in the last 20 years when those in power became greedy, selfish and corrupt and began to use the state resources to acquire wealth for themselves.
The public has lamented that politicians are more concerned about holding on to political power rather than tackling the task of improving education, housing, health care and the well-being of the masses.
There are political leaders who undermine their relationship with the general public, especially their supporters and party workers whose interests they are supposed to serve. Indeed, they are viewed as people who used their supporters to get elected and then abandoned them.
Some of these politicians became so corrupt with power and wealth that they failed to appreciate the sacrifices made by their supporters. This explains why the PPP was defeated and is now quietly working to win back its supporters whom it had abandoned while in office.
However, many in the government are oblivious to the fact that nothing ever comes for free; there is an obvious expectation of rewards of one kind or another from their supporters; a case of you scratch my back and I will scratch yours in return.
The rewards are often in the form of government jobs or contracts that are awarded in some cases through the subtle exercise of political patriotism. Failing to reward supporters have resulted in the growing number of persons, especially youths not voting because they believe it will not make a difference in their lives.
The public is cynical about politicians. This is why their New Year resolution should be the demand of competent politicians with integrity and a moral compass who would put the public interest before self-interest, people who would work hard to improve the lives of the masses. However, attracting those types of politicians is difficult because they are afraid that they could end up being perceived as the same typical, reviled politician.
If those in power are serious they must make a conscious effort to change the current dog-eat-dog culture of politics.