Dear Editor,

It is often said that once the Jamaican public becomes educated they will make better voting decisions, hence the eradication of the diehard or “diehearted” voting practice that currently obtains. I have always wondered what evidence there was in Jamaica to support this nonsensical position.

I listened to a clip from a newscast on one of our major radio stations on Friday, December 5, 2014 and heard Government senator K D Knight speaking. He articulated more than a few excellent points as to why he was not enamoured with the idea of State (aka overburdened taxpayer) funding of political parties. My impression from what I heard on the clip is that he would still be voting in support of putting the law in place, though.

Now, after getting up and explaining quite clearly why any rational person would be opposed to such a motion, he and the rest of them apparently did exactly the opposite. How in God’s name could their actions be blamed on education, or rather the lack thereof? Is there anyone out there who could in all honesty say that K D Knight is not educated? Well, perhaps not in astrophysics.

I posit that the primary reason the “diehearted” voting culture currently obtains in Jamaica is that the voter perceives there is a benefit to be had by voting one way or another. As it relates to the general population, at the time of our general election, this benefit could take the form of a ‘nanny’ ($500), a dozen chickens, or Christmas work. Another reason is simply loyalty to a cause, political party, or person. Education does not even make the foot of the list.

Are we to understand that when the Arawaks, American Indians, and Maroons of times gone by voted for a chief or for whatever reason their choices were flawed because they were uneducated? Is it that difficult for us to think things through and cease merely regurgitating what we hear supposedly “bright” people say?

Robert Mitchell

Christiana, Manchester

mitcib@yahoo.ca