SOUTH FLORIDA – There a many people across the Jamaican community in South Florida and beyond who see a certain candidate running for a chance to contest the presidential election with whom they enamored because of a philosophy he espouses. The issue is about democratic socialism.
Some people are caught up with his position in part because it is reminiscent of the Manley years in Jamaica where democratic socialism was touted.
I am submitting that that is a wrong-headed position to take. First and foremost the election cycle is being conducted in an America that is probably the most reactionary it has been in decades.
The irony of the support this version of democratic socialism is attracting has so blinded supporters that they hardly realize that is exactly what is happening in the other party. Someone saying words that sound good but which have very little concrete applicability.
We should be reminded about a Jamaican anecdote that is older than even i. It goes something like this; a man goes to a political meeting and hears a great speech by a candidate. When the meeting is over, he says to a companion words to the effect that “i don’t understand a word, but it sound good”. Sounding good and being workable is not one and the same thing.
Voice your opinion on the “Open Line” with Winston Barnes daily on WAVS 1170AM or listen on-line http://wavs1170.com/
Host – “Open Line” WAVS 1170AM
Photo Credit: Leroy “Dreamy” Riley
ADVERTISEMENT
