JAMAICA Observer online readers yesterday blasted the Government and Opposition over their response to a Chicago Tribune editorial, which says Jamaica’s economy was in worse shape than Greece’s. In our Page 4 story yesterday, titled PNP, JLP rap US newspaper editorial, Government advisor Delano Franklyn and Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw labelled the editorial as inaccurate. Below are excerpts from the comments posted online:

Red Ants: Jamaicans, pay careful attention. At 39, the PNP has governed Jamaica for 26 years of my life and I am ashamed of its stewardship. The Tribune is just echoing what many of us know. I used to defend the PNP, but no more. Twenty-six years of corruption, ineptness and no vision.

DT: Red Ants, I have been saying this for some time now, if we forget about our political preference and look at Jamaica from a neutral standpoint, we would see how the JLPNP has destroyed this country. I would love if any of these politicians had an ounce of honesty in them and would tell us that the country is in trouble. Tell us we need to make some strong sacrifices and it will start with the govt. It is time we as a people lose our political affiliation and vote base on performance. We have the power, but we are too greedy and any politician who promises to make us eat a food will get our vote.

Erh: If anything, the article was very generous. Perhaps, to save column inches, the editor did not mention our civil service, which — just like Greece — is notoriously bloated and inefficient.

Southy: What Mr Shaw and Mr Franklyn are doing is called ‘majoring in the minor’… skipping the big details and focusing on the irrelevant stuff.

Brooklyn-man: You are correct. Delano is incorrect. Greece’s pain was forced by the EU, not a dictatorial move as he claim. Also, pain, whether enforced by dictate or consultation, is pain. I will not even comment about Shaw. He is only concerned about the reputation of the JLP.

Bobo: Typical of us when faced with the truth. We blame everyone, except ourselves.

Mwhip: How much lower can we go? In one year we have become a disgrace to the other Caribbean nations and, these barefaced, no-shame people in Cabinet look as if they are not even affected.

SistaB: They are selfish people and it’s obvious our politicians only care about themselves. Look at the way the PM said that they deserve high-end vehicles. It was so arrogant, disrespectful, greedy and selfish but she didn’t care at all how she came across.

Rastabenji: Did we really expect that they were going say otherwise?

Twotypes: There are two ‘basic’ types of Jamaicans. JLP Jamaicans and PNP Jamaicans. And their leaders are divorced from objective reality of the problems Jamaica faces. In the face of real-world reality, they will now come together and convince their supporters that Jamaica is a haven for economic propriety and prosperity. Hold on Haiti, we are coming to join you.

Strip Govament: These so-called politicians haven’t a clue what is taking place or maybe they know the end results if they tell the country.

Mcme1: Face it, Jamaica is a failed state!

ADright: When confronted with the truth, the standard response by either party is to engage in denial and obfuscation.

The Badda Bada: Mr Franklyn, the reason we don’t have a deal with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) is because our finance minister refuses to put in place the Greek-style measures that they are dictating.

Vmun12: Yes, Mr Franklyn and Mr Shaw; nothing is wrong. Everything is just fine here in Jamaica. No problem man.

NomDePloom: JLP and PNP folks can try to put a spin on how things are in Jamaica but what cannot be denied is that our economic house is in a state of gross disorder and that has been the case for the last 40 years, at least.