One Saturday, soon after the 1976 general election, the domino game nearly collapsed.

Blank refused to play. "Me nah play no domino," he lamented, "you no see sey Mikell Manley a sell out!"

"Blank," said Autry sternly, "you're always bringing politics to domino. The two don't mix. Leave the politics alone - it'll mad you."

"Yu no onnerstan'? Politics is heveryt'ing. Oonu 'sons of gentry' don't have no problem. Yu t'ink it was heasy for me to become senior lecturer at de university? If not fe politics, me couldn't get nowhere. Now de man tell we sey 'WE ARE NOT FOR SALE' mek me tu'n heediat and dutty up me finger fe him. An den de fus' t'ing him do a go a Washington HIMSELF and sell we out to de IMF (International Monetary Fund)? 'im a traitor. Watch me an' im next time."

If a macca, mek it jook yu ... The Dunce had arrived.

It took lots of cajoling before Blank would sit around the table that Saturday, sparing us the pairing of Jimmy Hunchback and The Dunce. But Dr S. Blank neither forgot nor forgave. And, in 1980, Jamaicans of all ages, sizes, shapes and preferences joined him in an unprecedented show of unity to boot Manley and the People's National Party (PNP).

I saw Blank shortly after the election. He was overjoyed. "Is country bus time for Mikell," he exulted, "ta-ta!"

Or, so he thought.

Available alternative

In 1989, when it was time to 'vote out' Edward Seaga, the only available alternative was the same Michael Manley. So, the nation executed a volte-face thought impossible nine short years before. The PNP quickly fell out of favour but P.J. Patterson was able to serve a record number of terms simply because, in order to vote him out, Jamaicans had to "tu'n heediat" again and vote in the same Seaga they had voted out in 1989.

"Round and round the cobbler's bench the monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought it was all in fun. Pop! Goes the weasel!"

Real leadership

In 2007, the system allowed the electorate its first real leadership choice since 1980. After 27 years! So, I must ask every Jamaican, how often do we intend to "t'un heediat" for these people? How much longer are we going to run around in ever-decreasing circles until we disappear up our own rear ends?

So, 30 years later, the IMF again rescues us from the excesses of political leaders behaving like drunken sailors on shore leave with stolen money. In April, to cover their overspending, they imposed a massive tax package on an overtaxed nation. The result: less tax collected than expected. Their solution: more new taxes (GCT on phone calls hiked); higher expenditure; and more borrowing.

Folks, this MUST be The Guy Lombardo Show!

It's time to stop playing the giddy idiot. We must take control now. We must insist that there be massive expenditure cuts - no more borrowing. Talk is cheap and, over the years, this prime minister has been a big spender of this commodity. When he was the Jamaica Labour Party's finance spokesman, his final Budget Debate presentation pooh-poohed Separation of Powers. Months later, he formed the National Demorcratic Movement whose fundamental platform was Separation of Powers. He decried garrison politics and disassociated himself forever from that. But, when given a choice of seats, he decided to represent 'The mother of all garrisons'.

By thy deeds ...

Paradigm shift

Now, after decades in politics, it has suddenly dawned on him that the cost of Government is neither productive nor sustainable. He calls for a paradigm shift. But, the price of talk has not increased so we want action, not a bag a mout'. No more studies/reports. Let specialist agencies like Jamaica Tourist Board, CHASE and Sports Development Foundation do their jobs. Abolish over-staffed ministries providing unnecessary political supervision (e.g., incorporate all related matters including youth, sport and culture within the Ministry of Education). Use the savings to computerise the police force and recruit young computer science and forensics graduates. Let's shift this paradigm away from the breeding of opportunities for corruption and towards peace and safety now, not next year. No cosmetics please; only fundamental cuts.

And we must have the self-esteem to refuse to be treated like fools. We must insist, as a bare minimum, that any sitting prime minister voted out of office be barred from running again. We must insist on leadership by example. Our MPs must live with us; use our health-care facilities; and their children must go to our schools.

If a macca, mek it jook yu ...

Peace and love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.