Who is popular today?

THE EDITOR: Are gangs the primary cause of criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago? To answer that we must first define what the term "gang" means. The dictionary defines "gang" as: 1. a group or a band, 2. a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behaviour, and 3. a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons.
Street gangs are of particular interest to the authorities. Youngsters seek gang participation for variegated reasons: the lure of easy money, peer pressure, threats, protection, excitement, turf protection, et al. Even though there have been programmes to reduce gang membership with schemes to take the fascination away, thereby removing the attraction of membership and its effects on society, gang proliferation continues.
However, let us look more closely at the third definition of gangs: "A group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons." Using that as a basis, can political parties be considered gangs? Jesse Ventura, the independent ex-governor of the US state of Minnesota, said, "When you vote, you're essentially choosing gang members – do you want the Crips to lead or the Bloods?”
Ventura noted that the Bloods' colour is red, like the Republicans, and the Crips' colour is blue, like the Democrats. The thing is that, and Americans are starting to realise this now, while street gangs are violent, the Democrats and Republicans are worse. They are worse because their decisions affect people’s lives. “The LA street gangs don't affect my life, but what the Democrats and Republicans do sure in hell do," he says (forbes.com).
Based on Ventura's apocalyptic statement, can TT’s two major parties be considered gangs? Our corruption perception stands at 60, a below-average rating. Is that because of a penchant for bribery in politics? Or is it that political parties hire family, friends, financial donors and cronies in jobs and positions they are not qualified to hold?
Moreover, our politicians spend taxpayers' money without any regard for accountability; they often make decisions that help influential members of society – those that contribute to their party. Furthermore, once they become leaders, they are a law unto themselves. Indeed, just like a street gang or, as National Security Minister Stuart Young so adroitly stated about criminal gangs, gang leaders with master's degrees. A variation of Young's words: political gangs with PhDs, MDs, and JDs.
Nonetheless, while the evil political parties may not be overtly violent like that of street gangs, the damage they wrought is insidious and can reverberate across generations.

REX CHOOKOLINGO

Diego Martin
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