Apparently people are fed up. A Gleaner editorial advises the People's National Party (PNP) not to get into a "celebratory tizzy" over the recent Bill Johnson poll showing it ahead of the Jamaica Labour Party.

With quite a big lead, six points - 37 per cent (PNP) to 31 per cent (JLP) - one might conclude that the PNP would stumble into a "celebratory tizzy".

Their strategists as opposed to their 'diehard' supporters, however, should strongly advise against launching into this tizzy. Should we accept the accuracy of the poll findings, agree that the questions asked were as free of ambiguity as they could have been, that the sampling frame and method-ology are appropriate for Jamaican social and political conditions, there is still much to be said about interpreting its results.

The editorial goes on to comment on an interesting feature of Jamaican politics: former Prime Minister Seaga's view that the PNP has always enjoyed a "natural majority" among voters. If this is true though, the real question not answered is why. It also highlighted the more significant revelation that 55 per cent of Jamaicans of voting age disapprove of how the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government has handled the economy, over two-thirds feel the country is heading in the wrong direction and that their situation has deteriorated in the two years of JLP government.

Yet, only 38 per cent of respondents would welcome an early election rematch - unsurprisingly, given our system of political spoils, the vast majority of that group consists of PNP supporters.

We need to interpret these two views. First, that the PNP sustains a natural majority. Second, and perhaps more important, that in the opinion of the majority of respondents, we're moving in the wrong direction, yet they don't want an early election rematch.

The latter is critical to both the governing JLP and the people of Jamaica. A simple though not simplistic view of the idea of a natural PNP majority among voters harks back to notions of parties of merchants and planters and/or their interests as represented by the JLP. This 'natural' majority may then have been buttressed by superior branding capability of the PNP electoral machinery over the years.

It is no secret that an election campaign is costly. It is no secret that business interests fund both parties' coffers in a general election. It is even argued that tainted monies find their way into these coffers. Could it be that this 'natural majority' in some way derives from perception of these, among other assumed relationships? Perhaps the political analysts can provide clearer answers. But the other question must be of greater interest and importance for the country.

With what can only be described as clear dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Golding and his team's handling of the affairs of state and economy, the majority of voting-age Jamaicans resolve to 'mek it gwaan'.

This is an awful judgement. Can the Government be happy with this report card? No further data or information is presented from the polls but one might speculate. Is the prime minister seen as indecisive? Does the Cabinet appear to the public to be competent? Has the corruption label which tainted the PNP been transfixed on to the JLP with its handling of a minister's housing arrangements?

Disinterest

Were proposals for free heath care and education properly investigated before announcement? Perhaps a whole raft of questions was dealt with in the polls that have not yet been reported. Yet, even without answers, the general attitude to be gleaned from respondents' unwillingness to swap the PNP for the JLP suggests disinterest caused by disgust. We neither want monkey nor black dog, so there it is.

Prime Minister Golding and his government need to let us know where they plan to take us, with our help. At least they need to let us know what it is that they contemplate. If they don't, it is quite likely, perhaps more than likely, that the population will continue in the feeling that Government is headed in the wrong direction, advised and guided by interests that don't coincide with those of the mass of Jamaicans, indeed unknowing, even for itself, where it is actually headed.

In frustration the population will also continue to feel that a divided PNP, not yet absolved from the taint of corruption, can do no better. What would we not swap for a clearer view?

wilbe65@yahoo.com