Forget fine-toothed combs, many people read newspaper columns with more than optical microscopes; they use scanning electron microscopes to seek out possible inaccuracies, contradictions, innuendoes and even political leanings. I, therefore, categorically state that I am not a political animal - I am simply a concerned citizen who wonders why we cling to things that burn us to the core. What if we allowed ourselves to evolve past the old-style confrontational, combative, selfish politics, wouldn't that help to heal our ailing nation?

Although many Jamaicans claimed frustration and disillusion-ment with the People's National Party (PNP) administration, and although they asserted that it lacked solid leadership, was divided against itself and was responsible for our financial woes and infrastructural degradation, a deep-pocketed Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) only managed a four-seat majority in the lower House. Before the Court of Appeal upheld the decision by Chief Justice Zaila McCalla to declare the West Portland seat vacant and order a by-election, the ruling JLP held 32 Parliamentary seats while the Opposition PNP held 28.

Not an impressive showing

This was far from an impressive showing at the polls - in fact, some speculate that if all the alleged dual-citizens were disqualified from competing, the JLP would have a two-seat majority, or no majority at all. What if that had occurred, would we be willing to have a coalition government (as some were intimating) or would old rivalries preclude such a move?

The PNP's Errol Innis was ensconced for 18 years in the West Portland constituency. Conse-quently, the JLP's Daryl Vaz won the seat by under 1,000 votes (944 to be exact) when he defeated the PNP's Abe Dabdoub (a JLP defector). Today's by-election has a great deal riding on it - evidenced by the high-profile politicking by both party leaders, the over exuberant show of confidence on both sides, the transmutation of candidates (controversial dual Commonwealth citizen and another JLP defector, PNP candidate Kenneth Rowe has been substituted for Dabdoub), the usual mudslinging, accusations, distractions and complaints to the political ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair.

The JLP envisions that a Vaz win would bleed over its dominance into adjoining PNP-held constituencies. They also hope that a win in this single, rural constituency will be seen as a vote of confidence for their entire party and validate its policies in this challenging atmosphere of severe and protracted global financial downturn.

What if Vaz triumphs today? Would his coming full circle and ending up right back where he started seem like a grand waste of time, energy and scarce financial resources? Would this allow people to see that politics wields too much influence over everything? And, what if Vaz loses today's contest? Will the PNP see it as the beginning of the end of the JLP reign? Will the disturbance in the already teetering balance of power highlight the need for more cooperation between the parties and less-politically motivated criticisms that do the nation absolutely no good?

What if?

I can only hope that, no matter what happens today, people will ask themselves what if? What if we stopped all this politicking driven by degenerative 'enlightened' self-interest, won't combining forces give us a better chance at peace and prosperity? What if we had the good sense and vision to abash politicians who put their party before our country, won't we begin to heal as a nation? But, given some politicians' lust for power and our people's predilection for dependency and tribalism, cynicism makes me wonder; what if pigs flew and what if hell freezes over?

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com