Dear Editor,

Have our politicians become our new "gods"? I ask the question because it seems that many Jamaicans no longer look to God, or to themselves with God's help, to solve their problems or meet their personal needs. Rather, they now look to politicians.

This was especially evident during hurricane Sandy. So many people were shown on TV calling for their political representatives and complaining that they have failed to show up to solve their problems. At shelters we saw people complaining bitterly that there was no food provided for them. One woman was especially expressive of the fact that there was no rice, tinned products or other food to cook with the pots that were provided. She was even chosen as TVJ's "bite of the week".

How have we come to this position of dependency? Have we caused people to expect the government to be their fairy godmother, and be there to meet all their needs? Have politicians made their people dependent on them to be all things to all people, to the point where every problem they encounter must be solved by the government? It would seem that as our country's resources have declined, governments has taken on more than they can chew.

Where is the old and fabled self-reliance of our people? We seem to have produced a generation of mendicants. It would seem that Governor Romney's observation that a large section of the American population has become dependent on government handouts and entitlement programmes could apply equally to Jamaicans. Is not JEEP a case in point? We seem to have produced a generation of mendicants who prefer to depend on the state rather than try to help themselves. Truth be told, many no longer want to find work, even if it is available.

Though it is not good biblical theology, yet there is a great deal of truth in the statement that "God helps those who help themselves".

Lloyd A Cooke

Mandeville, Manchester

lcookemia@gmail.com