by Rick Lowe
Wikipedia describes silly season as the period lasting for a few months (starting in mid- to late summer) in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media.
Judging from the comments attributed to Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the PLP incumbent for the Fox Hill Constituency, at a rally last night (January 29, 2007) it should be used to describe election season here in The Bahamas.
Mind you, some members of the FNM are no less objectionable, but the blowhards among the ranks of the official opposition do seem out numbered by the many 'spin masters' in the PLP. And we should not forget that Bahamas Uncensored, a web site that could be written by Mr. Mitchell, recently proclaimed him a public relations expert.
Let me explain what I mean.
The Bahama Journal's headline story on their web site of January 30, 2007 screamed "Public Servants Told To Vote PLP."
The sub headline for the article by Quincy Parker states that "Public servants who want to be assured that the promotions, pay raises and increases in the pipeline are done ought to vote PLP in the next election, according to Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell."
Surely this is intimidation by a Cabinet Minister? And Bahamian voters should not forget the near strike by the civil service union when raises they were promised were denied for almost two years, by the same Cabinet Minister?
This is also the same Cabinet Minister that chastised the FNM for lowering the level of debate even after being told by the head of the Bahamas Christian Council yet he attempts to elevate his stature by discussing matters of a personal nature in relation to a family member of his political opponent. He also talked about how he "helped" his opponents husband.
This is also the same Minister who cautioned the press about its freedom.
Granted his opponent did say he did nothing for the people of Fox Hill so maybe this was his rebuttal or defence. But it certainly is shallow.
It's a wonder he did not call them racists. His usual comment when he can't defend his argument or public statements!
In this blogger's not so humble opinion, he could have scored more political mileage by outlining his accomplishments for Fox Hill over the past five years. He could have also listed his accomplishments as Minister of Foreign Affairs (if there are any) instead of helping to lower the level of the debate.
Although your faithful blogger has been told that Mr. Mitchell fancies himself as intellectually superior to most Bahamians, Professor Donald Boudreaux says it quite aptly in this recent blog titled On the nature of politics over at Cafe Hayek.
Here's a little snippet that seems appropriate in the circumstances:
I suspect that people self-select into politics because they have an unusually large lust for being in the limelight and an unusually small concern for the ethics of the actions they must take to get there. And because enough voters stand ready to blame their own (real and imaginary) misfortunes on the evil doings of "the rich" or "the corporate elite," unprincipled power-seekers are eager to ride this ignorance into office.
Is there any wonder it has come to be known as silly season?
