Dear Editor,

Jamaica and other nations worldwide are seething with problems – crime, violence, poverty, starvation, unemployment, social and ethical decay and injustice, so the citizens naturally look to governments to correct these ills.

Since Independence in 1962, we have had successive administrations of government – JLP and PNP. Now with the JLP in power, already there is a “not so loud” clamour for change. Every government promises but delivers too little. Show me a country where the majority of the people are truly satisfied and are fully behind their government.

The overarching result of collective governance is a situation that brings the world to war and annihilation, presides over famine and devastation, possibly the biggest economic decline in history, unsustainable economic pursuits that degrade the environment.

Some governments have murdered, imprisoned and victimised millions of their citizens and accomplished all manner of evil against the people they swore to protect and make their lives gradually better.

Why are governments helpless in the face of mountains of problems that critics believe are due to ineffectual policies? Corruption plagues governments worldwide, and conflicts between nations have made the world a most dangerous place.

What’s the problem with government? Why can they not accomplish what they proposed when seeking office? Out of office they flay the inabilities and ineffectiveness of incumbents, but when in office, they are met with similar criticism. They promise near utopia but deliver despair to their citizens.

We desperately need a government that delivers on its promises, one whose actions bring hope. Yet history holds no hope of such a government in this life and as one great man opined, such “is but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained”. Conclusion: man is incapable of good government, incapable of ruling himself.

We have had alternate governance in Jamaica (1962 – 2010), two major political parties all headed by admirable leaders with good intentions. We have elected mostly professional men and women and have at our disposal premium human and abundant natural resources, but our quality of life can be graded. Oh, for a government of excellence, for Jamaicans desire a much better quality of life.

Claude Wilson

jaclaudew@yahoo.com