Column: Dr Christina Storey On Politics & More
[Opinion column written by independent candidate Dr. Christina Storey]
I strive to be on time. Sometimes I’m late. Sometimes, however, I am early. In 2017 the RG published a piece [June 26th] that I wrote on the need for Independent MPs. I quote:
“Could the return of independent MPs signal a perhaps long-overdue move away from the zero-sum structure of a two-party Westminster model, where there is always a rancorous losing side [alongside an often gloating victorious one?]. Could, in fact, a cluster of Independent MPs guarantee that the country and her various fractured communities graduate … to a system that requires dynamic coalitions and consensus to be built within the House and thus with civic society at large? … An Independent can offer loyalty to the constituents … all the constituents—not simply the ones who voted in favour of the MP. … The absence of party affiliation or a fully articulated platform … means an Independent MP can offer [instead] a consistent set of guiding values, such as transparency… An independent MP can offer to constituents the capacity to evolve with both them and the ever-changing future contexts for any given issue or spending.”
I feel the same today. Now in 2025, I also see far more clearly that the ‘problem’ is not parties, or groups, or alliances, or movements: likeminded people will always clump together—it’s why we have churches and sports teams and bowling leagues and bridge clubs and so on. The problem of the party system is the use of the parliamentary whip. To be an Independent, to my mind, means to be free of this. The whip is what causes all the MPs in a party to vote as a lump, with no dissent or variation.
To my mind, this causes terrible waste in the form of all the IQ not used, all the opinions and options not expressed, all the representation not made by MPs at the expense of their constituents. Due to the structure imposed by the parliamentary whip, many thoughtful MPs are often unable to speak up for those constituents who have ‘opposing’ views due to a legitimate fear of losing the whip and its resultant party exile. Such a system does not allow either the MPs or the people primacy over the whipped party people. It also pays MPs simply to be predetermined votes, no thinking or dissent or alterative expressing allowed. This seems to be a waste of money too.
In 2017 and 2020 I gave a great deal of thought to what government could do, what it could change, what new direction it should take with new policies and legislation. This was in a context of believing, then and still, that government is not the same as civil society, only a subordinate part; the smaller and more efficient a part, the better. The only wealth in a society is created by the people in it and no government can be anything but a consumer of the people’s wealth. Given this truth, all governments should be kept on a strict diet, and restricted to only the essentials.
In 2025, I find myself reflecting far more on what the next government can stop doing. Change of direction requires a halt first—to go somewhere else, you must first stop where you were going. If I were to be elected, I am certain that there would be dozens and dozens of other MPs focused on vision questing new directions, policies, and legislation. I would stay focused on what we could immediately stop doing that would quickly make all people feel better.
The fastest way to make all feel wealthier is to stop taking so much out of pockets in the first place. The next government could simply decide to reduce all taxes, fees, duties, licenses by 50 %–across the board for everyone and force itself to find the waste in our current spending to offset. Perhaps the government travel ‘budget’ and external consultant fees to start with? The next government could also just stop making all social and economic activity as burdened by excessive regulation and administrative gatekeeping as it currently is. Again, this would require a voluntary shrinking of government micro-management, influence, and patronage.
To paraphrase Marc Bean, the best government is not there to do for the people, but to enable the people to do for themselves. Like Marc, I share a great faith in and optimism about the ‘average’ person’s ability to figure out what is best for themselves and their ability to benefit from maximum freedom to actualize as they so choose. In Bermuda today, the average person would so benefit from having less taken from them, and greater freedom from excessive permission seeking.
If elected MP for #33, I would eschew the efficiencies of power and systems of patronage that the whip can bring in favour of the freedom to speak for and to all the varied residents of #33, on policies and legislation as they arise. I can also pledge to all in #33 honesty, transparency, humility, bravery, open-mindedness, and accessibility.
Finally, I implore anyone who has the right to vote, and manages to be on island to do so, to go get your ballot. I especially urge and beg those who intend to express themselves by not voting–do not silence yourselves!
To those many, many alienated people, across the spectrum, I say this: ‘spoilt’ ballots are counted and recorded. Imagine if all those who silently stay away were in fact anonymously and publicly recorded in their expression of ‘none of the above’? It took too long and too much for those who do have the right to vote to get that right to discard it; expressing yourself through voluntary absence is so impotent. Go get your ballot and be a voice that has spoken to be heard.
- Dr. Christina Storey, a lifelong resident of #33 is an independent academic and angel investor.
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For full coverage of the 2025 Election and past elections, visit the links below, with comprehensive coverage available on our network website BermudaElections.com, the leading source of data and election videos.
- All: Our coverage of the 2025 General Election here
- 2025 Candidates: List of the 109 candidates
- Constituencies: Data/past results of all 36 constituencies
- Videos: Over 200 videos spanning multiple elections here
- Official: The Government’s election website here
- Comprehensive: Our BermudaElection.com website here
THE LAME DUCK HAS NO MONEY MONEY
I have alway though that the end was more important than the begning but that is only a half the truth.
Three way Devision with in a Government and our people becomes a quick disaster.
let me refer that as it could be too many cooks in the kitchen.
” Cats and Dogs do not walk on the same road”.
” Birds of a feather only fly together” .
A Snap election in desperation has never been an ideal situation for any country .
People zoning changes from Parish to Parish every week the Parish voting system has been failure
EG : We have not seen or heard from an incumbent with a town hall debate or vis it this House is years.
St Georges is not Sandys.
Bermuda is a country and not a village .
Recently I wrote an article an opinion no less here about the game of chess and the sacrificial pawn having no value to be discarded as inconsequential being stuck with the hope of placing our voting trust in other persons and then sit back and being micromanaged and controled .
You and I are not pawns.
Will the next four years be a dream ?
it will be a like plying the game with” 50 footballs not knowing which one to kick an where to kick it “.
Stop dreaming people with a government of three the future reality becomes is a long list of broken promices sitting on all of our door steps .
Nothing will come true or the night mare having a Governmeant with a slim majority not with standing we will have a predominant group of people planing our destiny we will call them dictators and with several others as permanent spectators.
As it is the majority not the spectators who will holds the gold , that is the way it was years ago and still is today, to day the majority will be responsible for the enormous debt and the parliament and the country become a “LAME DUCK” same as being stuck on zero as all our eggs went into one basket towards the building of our concrete empire sad to say progress and quality of life will come to a stand still.
There is always a price to pay .
COvid 19 and Inflation took most of our remaining money what is left for taxes will go as Mr. Joe Blood forecasts to go for interest on our national debt.
After the election is over i am sure that you aware that the people are looking for change as thay have done for many years in the past .
They did not say what change they wanted and left that up to the elected few with no such luck to the system .
Far be it that i would wish to change out long standing constitution if that works fine if not fix it .
i will mention. what is missing id required to to keep Bermuda on track.
Systems and people have to function efficiently.
I am sure the public want our tax money to bear results has the Westminster system got a strangle hold on Bermuda and it people.
WE ARE NOT CHILDREN
Not one business will succeed if ever body showed up being laid back, that can no longer function any more .
Too many mistakes are made , the system is out of control, budgets back fire or are ignored , much goes un accounted for time is being abused.
Bermuda can no longer function properly un less every body towes the line.
Bermuda needs to function like a well oiled machine and to do that effectively we need to be accuntable to one another and accountable to the country and the government and its people.
The court system has rigid rules . The country need rigid rules .
A I will be on on our doorstep soon . Bermuda has to be ready for it .
Government controls the people time has come for the people to put controls on the Government and to do that the first order of business is the ACT OF ACOUNTABILITY . to take effect sooner than later .
MONEY SEEMS TO HAVE WINGS i do not buy in to that .
It is our masive tax dollars that pay all of Governments wages the do not pay us it is our money held in trust by them ..
HOBSONS CHOICE
Is defined as having no choise at all.
This is a hard road to travel or a mountain to climb when there is no money which has been spoken for ..
That choice is not what we should consider to be ideal to solve Governments problems there will be those who will be chalenged with the embodiment of many programs for either social and / or mechanical looking for an ideal solution of public sustainable ideals caused by others .
There are people who have come forward with a desire by looking to take a seat to form part if not all of the next Government.
All we can rely on is their desire of a persons with common sence and ability to do the right thing and to be in possession of good judgement for thought and opinion.
May i ask how can each individual can do all with out the benefit of a group of knowledgable suporting group of people as advisors consultants.
There are people here who are more the willing to be part of the solution.
” The most intelligent person in the world is not the man who knows alot but the man who knows where he can find it out .”
IMPORT DUTY AND TAXATION..
i can tell you about money as that will control the vote in our 2025 election
Here is the proof .
” Never put your hands in another mans pocket.”
I can not think of one thing thay comes into this island that is not DUTY FREE they even got you for the staff of life FOOD.
We wonder why we can not keep up with the rent or the big one ” land tax” we paid duty on building materials before that .
How many are they who are now dipping into savings?
The latest slap in the face came from BELCo the cover up can from Mr. Walter who blinked ,alter getting the money from your tax burden you did no get a free ride from the R.A. or the monopoly .
L.E.D. bulbs cost $12.oo each no saving there ! like expemsive solar panels buy back that back fired .
There are many items that get taxed or licences after duty is paid and there is the double dip.
You do not need wonder why Bermuda is so expensive that is astronomical and beyond all justifiable reason an why visitors go else where is that the failed formula of tax the rich they have long gone as those People have left this island in droves.
Make us all think twice when we go to vote.
Bermuda on the 18 Feb 2025 will come to its breaking point, it will be our worst day in Bermuda’s history.