By SIMON

Throughout history, elites tend to live in bubbles, cossetted by creature and other comforts.  These are not translucent bubbles through which one can see beyond one’s isolation or limited worldview.

The bubbles and circles of the elite are often made of concrete, steel, gold, diamonds, and other material which cut them off from the daily struggles of the mass of people.  Many in the elite are often kind and generous people, though there are just as many who are indifferent and callous.

Elites tend to socialise with others in their social class or political affiliation.  They tend to reinforce each other’s opinions, conceits, mindsets.  

In The Bahamas they often do not understand what is going on in the country because they do not read the news in depth or speak in-depth with those not in their circle of circular thinking.  Bubbles are echo chambers.   

Even if one is compassionate and concerned for others, it is easy to fail to appreciate the challenges of others who cannot afford rents, mortgages, light bills, medicine, car payments, appliances, and other necessities.

Then there is the bubble or rarefied environment of the cabinet room and parliament which leaves one intoxicated and driven by magical thinking.

In The Bahamas, many of the elites and super elites flaunt their material wealth, constantly perfuming the air with their privilege.  There is a smug narcissism designed to trigger envy in others.  

It recalls the line from that well-known song, “I’m a better woman than you.” Substitute the word “women” with “person” and one gets what many are communicating by flaunting their consumerist excess.  It is often those with the proverbial new money who show off the most.

The recent images of the PLP candidate for Fort Charlotte, Sebas Bastian, showing off his new campaign buses is but another gross and obscene example of advertising one’s wealth as many Bahamians are in desperate financial straits.  

A friend recalled an economic briefing with a high-ranking government official a few years ago. She recalled that many of the wealthier older money participants and some others were driving modest cars and trucks, while quite a number of bourgeoise professionals were driving luxury cars with high monthly payments.

With our proximity to and constant bombardment of advertising by the hyper consumerist culture of the US, Bahamians have material expectations often greater than that of our Caribbean neighbors.

One of the reasons Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement won back-to-back elections from 1992 to 1997 was because of the high growth in the country during that decade.  No government has come close to that level of growth since.

While there were myriad reasons that former Prime Minister Perry Christie was ejected from office, a primary reason was that his government could not meet the economic expectations and demands of many Bahamians, which Christie realised and publicly acknowledged after his second loss.

These demands include jobs that pay decent wages, affordable housing, help with healthcare, and a range of other economic needs.  In The Bahamas, especially New Providence, Bahamians see upfront and on a daily basis how the upper middle class, the wealthy, and tourists live in luxury hotels.

Proximity can breed anger and resentment that one cannot afford the lifestyles of others. The appearance or flaunting of wealth, luxury cars for cabinet ministers, ostentatious homes, and other signs of privilege, juxtaposed to how the majority of Bahamians live, may be a reason that Bahamian voters are often angry and ready to dismiss a government.

As noted last week, currently in Nepal, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Morocco, citizens, especially younger and Generation Z protestors, are sickened by political and economic elites indifferent to their daily struggles and survival.

They have gone to the streets to demand economic relief and advancement as “entrepreneurs” with monopolies and hands in numerous businesses, giddily flaunt their wealth and power, with little self-awareness or restraint.

Bahamians do not tend to participate in demonstrations for a variety of reasons, including not wanting to be victimised.  

Still, when they see others demonstration there is a vicarious solidarity.  They feel their anger being vented by others because they too would like to say, “Screw (a euphemism) the political class.”

Recall the 2016 Black Friday demonstrations that presaged the public mood that eventually fully erupted and threw the Christie government out of office.  

While the recent demonstrations to Parliament Square by two unions is not the same type of demonstration, there is a compelling parallel: Demonstrations are often a sign to the larger voting public and an example of the public mood.  Such moods can be contagious especially in a small country.

There are many angry Bahamians who are struggling financially and who, as in the past, believe that the political and economic elites are cohabitating in bubbles, disconnected from what the majority of Bahamians, including the proverbial grassroots, are experiencing.

As one voter told this columnist: wBoth the PLP and FNM brands are in decline.  Bahamians do not believe that either party has a vision to significantly improve their economic prospects.  

Some look with curiosity to the bombastic populist gadfly Lincoln Bain as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with the major parties.  Recently, Bain’s standing has taken a massive hit because of his increasingly more bizarre antics.

While Bain and his oddly named Coalition of Independents will garner votes this election, it appears that many Bahamians are turned off by him and would rather not vote, than vote for someone whom they believe is undeserving of their support.

Another name for anger is rage.  Rage is historic anger.  There is a rage in many Bahamians that their economic plight will not significantly improve.  With lowered expectations of politicians and high expectations for what they need, many voters may still be debating their choice for the next election.

Thus far, neither party has articulated an economic and social vision with compelling and believable ideas to respond to the great needs of a country beset by dysfunction, social decay, inequality, and a lack of sustained economic growth and prospects.

Lincoln Bain has made many unrealistic promises that may attract some.  Nevertheless, there remains a desire for a message of genuine change and hope for the mass of Bahamians desperate for a truly new direction that serves more Bahamians, beyo“I don’t know what people mean when they say making ends meet, because I don’t know where the end supposed to be!”  The anger against the elites is nonpartisan. 

And the elites in their bubbles, many of whom do exceedingly well no matter who has temporary political power.