Dear Editor,
The present situation St. Maarten is in is because we elect people who we do not know.
A political party only can have harmony when the members have the same ideology and agree on the same values and principles. Vetting means to make a careful and critical examination of something or some person. It is to know all relevant information about people. The law can vet you for criminality, but that does not mean the electorate know you.
The law vetting implies that under our judicial system he or she is ok to be a minister or a parliamentarian. But that vetting does not let us know those politicians’ hearts and how and what they think. A political ideology lets you know to a certain extent the individual’s values based on the ideology if he or she is a conservative or liberal. The sad fact most politicians even do not know their ideology, that is why it is difficult to reach a consensus.
Your values, morality and economic policies define who you really are. The point is not for people to agree with you, but for them to know who you really are and understand you. For example, do you know where your politician's stance is on abortion, homosexuality, bestiality, and paedophilia?
Do you know if your politicians believe in the right to defend self and to have a firearm? Do you know if your politicians believe in massive government control or in minimal government control, implying if he or she is a socialist or capitalist? Do you know if your politicians believe healthcare is a privilege or a right, and if they think it’s a right, how much more are they willing to tax people to pay for it? Do you know if your politicians see prostitution as a moral or immoral act? Did you ever ask your politicians how much of your earned money is the government’s fair share to take from you?
The purpose of a government is to provide the best opportunities for people to have a good quality of life and their happiness and to protect them. Do you know the character of your politicians? Did you ever ask them if they believe in freedom of religion? Do you ask them if they believe in Jesus Christ or God? Do you know anything about their personal lifestyle? Knowing that your politicians have an education is good, but that alone does not qualify them to be a leader. Being a good speaker and having a good education is an asset, but that does not mean he or she is the right person.
Many of the politicians throughout the world, many have a graduate degree but look how messed-up the world is. To vote for a person, you have to know their character, their values and the intent of their present lifestyle. There are many educated thieves and educated paedophiles, you want people with ethics and good values with good intent and with education.
The conclusion is to make it your business to know who you are voting for by examining that individual’s character. That is why it is up to you to extremely vet the individual you are going to vote for, and if you do not have enough information do not vote. Because choices have consequences, vet your politicians wisely.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
