@ David
Today’s BT editorial is a gem.It deserves to be a feature article IBHO….
…and to be posted to Mama Mia…
The above comment posted by Bush Tea.
Beg to exist and exist to beg
Brother, can you spare a dime? The daily sight of lone, forlorn individuals seeking alms from strangers often invites disgust, derision and denial of charity from harried, hurried passersby.
One wonders if perhaps the Caribbean itself isn’t likewise perceived in international circles: a collection of developing nations forever seeking handouts and aid from wealthier countries and individual benefactors. To them, we must surely seem to beg to exist and exist to beg.
The perception is largely unreasonable but not entirely unfair; it is the legacy of chattel slavery and colonialism that subjugated our island peoples for centuries and the neocolonialism that remains.
Despite the social revolution of the postwar and post-independence eras, disdain is reserved for the streetside beggar instead of for the pernicious culture of mendicancy haunting our political landscape.
Mendicancy, the act of begging or soliciting alms, has become an ugly norm in politics here and throughout the region. The ‘corn beef and rum’ politics of the universal suffrage era have been replaced with government jobs and paid utility bills and large appliances and cash handouts.
Some of our more conscientious elected representatives and candidates have tried to stem the flood of voter expectations to dole out personal benefits in exchange for their support. This quid pro quo arrangement undermines the very foundations of democracy, stifles mature political discourse and reduces the noble pursuit of public service to a transactional exercise that immediately disqualifies would-be servants of the people.
The implications of this practice are far-reaching and utterly corrosive. It erodes trust in institutions, entrenches a sense of entitlement among the electorate, and perpetuates a cycle of dependency that hinders true self-sufficiency. Moreover, it diverts resources away from the collective good, as funds – both public and private – are shifted from addressing community needs to satisfying individual wants.
We get it. Centuries of the systematic dehumanisation, abuse and exploitation of generations of Barbadians have ingrained a sense of dependency on a ‘Massa’ – a belief that one’s well-being is contingent upon the benevolence of others. We do not accept the conventional wisdom that this is solely a feature of post-independence politics – only the success of gaslighting by the historical opponents of social democracy. But while the mendicant mentality is understandable in the context of historical oppression, it has lingered long after the chains of bondage have been broken; indeed, long-term psychological and sociological damage lasts through generations.
This cycle of mendicancy may not be the current population’s fault but it is now our collective responsibility to break it if we are to forge a republic that refreshes ideals of democracy and self-determination.
It requires a concerted effort to reshape the political culture, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and accountability among both elected officials and the electorate.
There must be a concerted effort to educate the public on the poisonous effects of do-for-do thinking in civic life and the importance of holding the people’s representatives accountable for their actions, rather than seeking personal favours.
This can be achieved through robust, comprehensive civic education and support for a strong, independent media that holds elected officials to the highest standards of ethical conduct.
There must also be a commitment to strengthening the institutions of governance and the rule of law. This includes enforcing robust anti-corruption measures, introducing meaningful campaign finance legislation, ensuring transparency in public spending, and empowering independent oversight bodies to investigate and prosecute malfeasance. Graft is a corrosive substance on the body politic.
And far from dismantling the welfare state, we argue that it must be reinforced and expanded to provide a durable safety net for our most vulnerable folk. Ensuring that basic needs are met through legitimate, institutionalised channels diminishes the temptation to resort to mendicancy merely to survive.
Ultimately, eradicating mendicancy from public life requires a collective effort, a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, and a steadfast commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and good governance. It is a challenge that demands the concerted efforts of politicians, civil society, the press and the people to reclaim dignity and self-sufficiency.
Perhaps, then, the disease is really a symptom. Pervasive mendicancy may well be a stark indictment of endemic inequality, a glaring manifestation of the deep-rooted economic and social disparities that have persisted for generations. The fact that citizens feel compelled to beg their elected representatives for basic necessities and personal favours is indicative of the failure of successive governments to address these inequities adequately.
Instead of treating mendicancy as a currency – if not opiate – in gaining and maintaining political power, the political class should make the eradication of inequality its central focus for it ultimately undermines their very existence. It is by targeted public policies, a commitment beyond rhetoric to uplifting the most marginalised and frank conversations with citizens, that the people of a great nation on a small island can break free from the shackles of a mendicant past and continue down the road of social justice, equity and sustainable prosperity.
We the People must decide – will we continue to beg to exist and exist to beg?Source: Barbados Today
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