Every so often we hear the argument that Bermuda’s political
system is broken and that we need to find an alternative that
works better. While alternatives do exist — even if they are not
as plentiful as some imagine — none is inherently superior or
more democratic. It might just make more sense to explore how we
can fine-tune our current system into a more effective vessel of
the people’s will. We need to first dispense with the fantasy of
abolishing political parties and returning to a parliament of
independents. There is the first political reality that no party
— not Progressive Labour Party, not the One Bermuda Alliance and
not the United Bermuda Party — will pass legislation to abolish
its own existence. Moreover, political parties are a creature of
democracy, an inevitable outcome of vesting power with the
people. Voters will have shared ideas, concerns and objectives;
they are far better positioned to have these addressed by coming
together rather than lobbying separately. The PLP, for example,
was fo