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It is unfortunate that I know many educated people, some with more degrees than a thermometer, but cannot rely on them to use common sense, rational thinking or even basic reasoning when matters of good governance arise. On both sides of the political fence and platform one can easily understand or excuse the need for tactics, strategy, warping the truth for tricks in the trade or merely being….political.
I have always said that governance and politics are brothers traveling together in one car who can co-exist comfortably or create chaos and crashes. The perfect line is finding that mix and medium to make them mingle and not create problems. Simply, sometimes good governance is bad politics, or good politics is bad governance. It cannot be a crime to accept one’s political preference, but also accept when things done are out of place by your own. Today, you can’t say something is wrong or right, without a willingness to be branded JLP/PNP for your opinion. It must align with what Tom or Harry believes or supports in their educated political minds.
In Jamaica, we used to be one of the most vile and violent when discussions or disclosure of political preference was revealed. I have lived long enough to see evident change with supporters of both parties dancing in the streets together, shouting their own slogans and promoting their candidates, dressed in their now traditional orange and green colours. If you question “now traditional”, you require a history class that I am not about to teach. Anyway.
I have long understood that the educated class has done more than enough to derail the diehards and grassroots for decades, by failing to truly open their eyes to balanced light. Many continue to believe it is best to spout academic and astute, downplay the dirt, uplift the negative and carpet cover the controversial. It is no wonder a significant amount of Jamaica’s political history is absolutely and amazingly questionable. The amount of educated people who state “facts” can’t tell you what they know as tried, tested and proven beyond doubt.
Their university is built on verandah versions, familial connections and political influence, indoctrination, brainwashing, and interestingly enough, their academic journeys. Somewhere in the mix of minds socially and politically they will tell you either the JLP or the PNP is heaven or the devil, and for emphasis, “I am telling you I was there” as the icing on the cake.
By luck, design, default, detriment or delight I saw decades of people, places and things that amaze me. The many occasions of seeing public political opponents sitting at one table with family and few friends, the stories told in frank and honest whispers in gardens and on patios, the confessions and concessions, revelations and deep disclosures….priceless.
I was always told “not everything seen is what happened, sometimes what happened is unseen”, and that has been a good test over time. The time spent looking through the lens of quality journalism, legal processes and politics has always taught the lesson that what you cannot prove might be the truth, but it cannot be called truth if you cannot prove it.
I look forward to the day when the bright bulbs and academically saturated minds who love politics decide to be honest. I’m not talking about the usual tit for tat deflections filled with excuses and blame games, and the usual “but what about…” to make it more palatable for them. Just basic and open honesty.
After all, what good can an educated mind do for society if it keeps being chained and shackled to a selective, non-objective politics? It makes sense in 2026 for those who truly do not know to seek information, but it makes better sense for those who claim to know to seek facts.
The very least the uneducated deserve is a chance at becoming far less ignorant than having their darkness increased by dimly lit coloured lights. Sadly these days, the grassroots man is becoming more enlightened, while the educated man is now more deeply entrenched in gutter politics.
I suspect today’s educated class believes they are doing a service for the grassroots by being more tribal and divided, but those days are no longer the fashion or style. I believe it would be worth a thought that the petty and polarising politics and partisanship no longer control the minds of the average man.
However, those who live surrounded by fabricated followers, rabid rabblerousers and fanatics might believe it still carries real weight in what is best for community and country. Do not forget, not every uneducated man is dunce, but many educated people are. So choose wisely who gets your ears.
