Politics ought to be about something far grander and more noble than fulfilling personal ambition, self-aggrandisement or personal vindication.

Its engagement should include setting a philosophical framework for members of a society to achieve their best intellectually and economically, while enjoying a high degree of freedom. Politics in a democracy should be about balancing social cohesion and individual freedom.

We are willing to be challenged on our interpretation on what she said but, unfortunately, this bigger idea for political engagement is not what we sense to be the intention of Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, president of the People's National Party (PNP), for wanting to return to government.

Creaky government

Mrs Simpson Miller, who served for 18 months as prime minister, until her party lost in a general election last September, staked out her position in an interview in this week's edition of The Sunday Gleaner. As we expected she might, she reserved a failing grade for Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party administration, which is now in power.

That, of itself, is not bad - or unexpected. It is what politicians do; in liberal democracies, they point to the perceived failings of their opponents and claim to have the capacity to do better. In the case of Jamaica, after eight months in office and faced with rising crime and a difficult global economic environment, Mr Golding's government seems decidedly creaky, as even some of its supporters concede.

So, Mrs Simpson Miller, the populist and popular politician who gained the leadership of her party as the "only hope" for a fifth consecutive term in office, may perceive the potential for the PNP's relatively early return to office. Perhaps it is possible. But to what end?

Which is where we have a problem. For, Mrs Simpson Miller provides us with no cogent or coherent reasons. Except the fact of Mrs Simpson Miller.

Lack of substance

With suggestions that she may be challenged for the party's top post, the opposition leader declares she is not going anywhere. Presumably, she will fight off any challenge, then "reorganise the party and take it back to victory". No one in or outside the PNP should have a problem with that. That's her right.

The problem is the lack of substance that accompanies Mrs Simpson Miller's statement unless we translate into vision and substance the declaration that she enjoys support and when she is on the streets people shout: "Portia, we want you back!" Oh, she feels it "in my bones" that she is destined again to occupy Jamaica House. And, she has more energy, strength and determination than before.

More 'vision' statements needed

It could well be a fact that Mrs Portia Simpson Miller remains the best person to lead her party and to be the prime minister of Jamaica. But that is a case she has to make anew - in a far more substantial and substantive manner.

As the PNP leader is aware, her party has been stained by a perception of corruption and cronyism and lethargy during its long period in office. At the same time, in less than a year that it has been out of office, the world has shifted dramatically.

We, therefore, expect to hear from Mrs Simpson Miller a clear vision for Jamaica and how she and her party will respond to the challenges. Not declarations of "me!"