H L Mencken was perfectly right, as many visionaries are. However, to continue to claim that the US is a democracy is completely false. A vote every few years for one of two evils, who then ignore the will of the people, is not a democracy. US citizens overwhelmingly want clean water and air, free public higher education, universal health care and on and on. The politicians represent the business interests, no more, no less. Wall Street has taken over, not just the US, but the world. Who has a problem seeing this? Seriously? Do your politicians represent you? No matter where you live. Same problem all over. We just make ourselves feel better by saying it is a democracy, rather than what we've got.
The US is not a democracy. The founding slave owning fathers made that quite clear. Why do we still believe in fairy tales? Ask the native Americans, the African slaves, Mexicans, Muslims, Japanese, Iranians,....... how well US democracy worked for them. Last week 54 million Americans were reliant on food banks to stay alive. There will be a massive wave of home foreclosures, homelessness, joblessness and poverty-related drug overdoses, suicides and domestic abuse in the next few months. While the stock market surges and more billionaires and millionaires receive even more tax breaks. More African Americans are in jail in the US than anywhere in the world. The racism and economic disparity are contributing to the world's highest death rate from Covid. Let's hear it for American democracy. Scholarly study after scholarly study state conclusively that public opinion has little to no bearing on political decisions. Is that democracy? Is the dumbing down of the world's people complete?

But, it's OK for you to get into gutter warfare by calling people names? Get lost Mr. Oil Isle of Man.

Shut up Kevin. All decent people felt terrible about the Ferreira's loss. All parents could relate to that grief. To make the statement, Kevin, that " This shocking display of nonchalance underscores the narrative that these moneyed environment lobbyists care more about Mother Nature than human beings" is about the most disgusting and ignorant comments I have ever read. The oil drilling rig is on the way. When should those who care about the future of this country, the people in this country, put off this action to seek to stop this madness? Until you say it is morally OK to do so, Kevingod?
What happened Kevin? It all relates to a childhood experience, hey? Let's drill for oil. Let's banish the gays. Let's demonize the Rastafarians. Let's keep Cuba in chains for the benefit of our own economy. You are about as lost Kevin, as anyone I have read. Your regressive and myopic thought process is helping hold this country back, Kevin.

This is a child's argument moncurcool, and you know it.
This is about to getting our society on the right track.
Do some reading other than the Tribune. Spend some time researching the issue, and then come back and give your report. If you're honest, you will see the world's thinkers realize that oil is killing the life force of our planet. Mr. Johnson's points here are perfectly valid and true. You don't have a cogent argument. You're using child's thinking here, moncurcool. Most people don't have a choice but to drive or ride the bus to get to work or to anyplace else. Few people have a choice but to use electricity. Stop with the stupidity, moncurcopol. It truly does hurt the country. There is a limit to how much an individual can do to help change the system. And, is this the only system in this country that needs changing? For how many generations did decent people know that slavery was wrong? Not just the slaves, but the slave owners, as well. Would you have been one of the ones who said, "Well, just stop being a slave, and there won't be any slavery." Same difference. First, we must speak out. And, speak out loudly when we see what is wrong. The fossil fuel industry, the oil companies, if you bother to do any reading at all, have a long history of subverting the will of the people, the best interests of the "people", democracy, their health, and the environment, solely for the sake of personal profits. What is it about this sordid history that you do not understand or are ignorant of? It is right there in the literature, moncurcool. And yet, you would use your voice to demean those who truly do have an interest in making The Bahamas a "better place" that you would cast your vote with the oil drillers. How truly sad what the lack of education has brought to us, moncurcool. There is overwhelming evidence that the burning of fossil fuels is bad for life on this planet, The evidence is arriving by leaps and bounds everyday. Only a child would ignore this at all of our peril. .

She is paid by BPC, right?
She sings for her supper.
"It is difficult to get someone to understand something, when their salary depends upon them not understanding it." Upton Sinclair.

Do you actually read? If there is a difference between Repubs and Dems, why has the US been on the same trajectory for 4 decades? Same wars, same bank giveaways, same divisiveness, increasing inequality.

So is the emerging science missing. You are stuck in last century because you don't have the brain power. Go back and read your informative posts here. A sucker for BPC.

Is this how they do it in England?

Chaps? Where do people use this term? Not The Bahamas

"We will use...........?." Who are you, Topdude?
Did you notice that the world is in crisis?
Because of tourism?
Get a slight grip on reality, dude.
The intelligent world has agreed that we need to move away from oil. Those, like you are stuck in the information of last century. A true leader.