Dear Editor,
This article is for people to identify themselves for who they really are when it comes to politics.
The electorate in St. Maarten really needs a crash course on this subject because it can avoid the confusion that we have presently in our government.
Lesson number 1: You do not have to agree but to understand. To understand is for you to know if an opinion or a value or an ideology is of good or bad purpose.
In politics whenever a person postulates themselves make it your business to find out about their character. Do not be deceived by an image because they look good or dress well and speak well and because they have a good education. Find out what they stand for and their moral values.
Politics is all about ideology. A politician can be well educated, but if he or she believes in (wealth redistribution) to take money from people who work and give it to other people who do not want to work, would you vote for that person? Would you vote for a politician that has five Master’s degrees but he or she think pedophilia is a human right? If the candidate is a very nice person but they do not believe in God would you vote for that person?
If a candidate has a Master’s in economics but he or she believes abortion is a woman’s right and he or she believes in bestiality would you vote for that person? If a candidate has a Master’s in business management and is fluent in 5 languages, but he or she believes in promoting homosexuality and that there are 10 genders would you vote for him or her?
Would you vote for a politician if he or she believes illegal immigrants have just as many rights or even more right here in St. Maarten than the Dutch citizens of St. Maarten, would you vote for him or her?
When it comes to politics, character and ideology is the key, because your values are how you see the world, and how the individual would like the world to be defines that person’s character.
If you vote for an educated person, but they believe in corruption and in conning people would you vote for that person? The politics in St. Maarten is at a very low standard. We must raise the level or else it will continue to get worse.
The main two ideologies are Conservatism and Liberalism. Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Liberals believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.
Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional moral values, and a strong national defense. Conservatives believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Liberal values are abortion is a woman right and agree with same-sex marriage and in wealth redistribution and taxing a challenge if the law cannot stop it. Liberals believe in the separation of the church from state.
Conservatives are usually against abortion, disagree with same-sex marriage, believe in low taxes and push individual empowerment. Conservatives believe in the separation of the church from the state, but not from God.
When you swear to perform your task of the country it is done with your hand on the Bible, which means you are telling the people of the country as God is your witness you will do your task and duty honestly.
Whenever you vote for a party ask them what is their ideology, ask the candidate what is his or her ideology. You cannot be of conservative value in a liberal party, it will never work because your approach to financial issues and social issues is exactly contrary.
Remember the number 1 lesson in political ideology, you do not have to agree, but to understand. Your understanding of the issues defines who you are. You cannot put Satan in Government and expect to get a Godly society it is just not possible.
Choices have consequences. Choose wisely. As for me, I am conservative.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
